awards. welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and around the globe. the world health organisation says vaccination programmes should not be halted — after a growing list of eu countries decided to suspend the use of the oxford—astrazeneca jab over safety concerns. germany, france, spain and italy are all taking the precautionary measure — of suspending use of the vaccine — because of fears about possible side—effects, including blood clots. our medical editor fergus walsh has the latest. a public display of confidence in the oxford astrazeneca vaccine from northern ireland's chief medical officer today. by contrast, you cannot have the jab in the irish republic, in france, germany and is 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, kills people my age, younger people and older people and the benefits are strongly in favour of people getting this vaccine at that time. the eu roll—out was already lagging well behind 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 is being taken - is to suspend, as a precaution of vaccinating with the astrazeneca vaccine, in the hope we can carry on quickly if the opinion of the european medicines agency allows. ten european countries have suspended the use of the oxford astrazeneca vaccine pending safety investigations. germany, italy, france, the netherlands and spain are the latest. ireland paused at the weekend following denmark, iceland. several other countries, including austria have stopped using certain batches of the vaccine. that leaves several eu nations using the jab, which has been approved in over 70 countries around the world. astrazeneca says more than 17 million people in the uk and european union have now had its vaccine. that fewer than a0 cases of blood clots have been reported. it says the risks of having a clot are significantly lower among those who have been vaccinated compared to the general population. we know that blood clots are remarkably common and we would expect them to happen in one to two people per thousands, per year. which is a very large number. and much higher than the sorts of levels we are talking about in this particular 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 will not be protected from covid and that it will damage public confidence in a highly effective vaccine. fergus walsh, bbc news. a day before the us secretary of state, antony blinken and the us secretary of defence, lloyd austin are due to arrive in seoul for theirfirst talks with south korean counterparts, north korea has warned the us to avoid "causing a stink" — if it wants peace. in a statement carried by the state news agency, the sister of north korean leader, kim yojong, also criticised ongoing military drills in south korea. earlier, the white house said north korea has so far not responded to invitations to engage in dialogue. our correspondent laura bicker is in seoul. i asked her what north korea likely means by the us �*causing a stink�*. it may be interpreted and a number of ways. it is clear that capital is watching. it may not have responded to the white house's recent attempts to try to get in touch and we do know from us officials that the biden administration has been trying to reach north korea through a number of channels and north korea has not responded. it has responded today in a way but perhaps the united states does not like what it appears. in terms of interpretation it may well be that north korea is hinting at further missile tests in the future. they have refrained from testing. we know that they have new missiles to test because they showed them off in october so it may be hinting at something like that but it is worth pointing out this is not entirely unexpected. every year when these drills happen we expect some kind of reaction. sometimes that comes in the form of a missile test for the short range a long range and on this occasion a kind of a string of angry words. and he is using his favourite attack dog, his sister. it is notjust aimed at washington. aimed very much at south korea where the statement really criticises south korea for going on with what it calls the march of crisis and the march of war. what it calls the march of crisis and the march of war. let's get some of the day's other news. two men in the united states have been arrested and charged with assaulting a police officer who died after the attack on the capitol building injanuary. prosecutors believe brian sicknick was targeted with a chemical spray that's designed to incapacitate. libya's new unity government has been sworn in, marking the end of years of rival administrations. the interim prime minister abdul hamid dbeibah who was selected during un—brokered peace talks last month will lead the country until elections planned for december. 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. in london police have arrested a number of demonstrators, gathering to protest about male violence against women despite covid restrictions against large gatherings. campaigners marched from parliament square, while followed by a large number of police officers, vans and motorbikes. there is fresh condemnation of myanmar�*s military, after yet another day of the army using lethal force against unarmed protestors. the united nations secretary—general has said he is appalled by the escalating violence. latest estimates from an activist group say 20 more people were shot dead on monday. the group says in total 183 people have been killed by security forces. phil robertson is from human rights watch. he is the deputy director for the asia division. good to talk to you. i am sure you are very busy with this. you are seeing a lot of horrific video?- you are seeing a lot of horrific video? , , ., horrific video? yes. every date is coming _ horrific video? yes. every date is coming in — horrific video? yes. every date is coming in and _ horrific video? yes. every date is coming in and we've - horrific video? yes. every date is coming in and we've got - is coming in and we've got people shut down and security forces dragging people away, dragging bodies away, funerals, video from medical technicians trying to treat people with horrific wounds. it is a daily chore to go through all this and see the suffering of the people. you know, taken with their own cell phones. these people are very courageous in trying to document what is happening to them from the security forces. i happening to them from the security forces.— security forces. i guess this level of video _ security forces. i guess this level of video coverage - security forces. i guess this level of video coverage and| level of video coverage and exposure on social media is new. do you think it might make a difference or is the military simply not embarrassed. well, i think it has _ simply not embarrassed. well, i think it has to _ simply not embarrassed. well, i think it has to cause _ simply not embarrassed. well, i think it has to cause a _ simply not embarrassed. well, i think it has to cause a real- think it has to cause a real reaction from the international community and we are waiting for that to happen. very happy the un secretary—general is continuing to issue statements but the time the statements is rapidly ending and we need to see real action. we need to see the security council resolution for an arms embargo and economic sanctions. we need more action by companies in the uk and and the european union as well. ~ ., ., uk and and the european union as well. ~ . . . ., . , as well. what are the chances of that, realistically? - as well. what are the chances of that, realistically? several| of that, realistically? several analysts suggested many businesses are prepared to carry on once things have died down in china protecting the military they are pretty well protected, and?— protected, and? china is protecting _ protected, and? china is protecting them - protected, and? china is protecting them at - protected, and? china is protecting them at the l protected, and? china is i protecting them at the un security council but we saw a resolution went through last week, statement, excuse me, that set out that there is some points of agreement between the un security council members so it is possible to work in china. they're not terribly happy because it is destabilising the economic relationships in myanmar so i think there is possibilities for doing something that has to be some real teeth on the targeted economic sanctions against the military. iliaiith targeted economic sanctions against the military. with what military goods _ against the military. with what military goods to _ against the military. with what military goods to certain - military goods to certain groups and with unrest in the country they are prepared to use any level of force. would it be possible for them to put down this unrest? is it possible for them to rule a country in this way with so much force and fear?- country in this way with so much force and fear? well i think what _ much force and fear? well i think what we're _ much force and fear? well i think what we're seeing - much force and fear? well i | think what we're seeing now much force and fear? well i i think what we're seeing now is a tug of war that is not over yet. i think that the protesters have essentially shut down the economy. that's what this disobedience is. nationwide strike. they are shutting down the economy and the military is trying to force them off the streets. it is unclear how this is going to end and i think this is a bigger challenge than the military has ever seen before. but thank you for talking to us. but thank you for talking to us. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: the 2021 oscar nominations are out — and the acting categories are the most ethnically diverse in the awards history. today we have closed the book on apartheid and that chapter... cheering and applause. more than 3,000 subway passengers were affected. nausea, bleeding, headaches and a dimming of vision. all of this caused by an apparently organised attack. the trophy itself was on the pedestal in the middle of the cabinet here. this was an international trophy and we understand now that the search for it has become an international search. above all, this was a chance for the christian democratsl of the west, offering i reunification as quickly as possible, and that's. what the voters wanted. this is bbc world news, the latest headlines the world health organisation urges countries to keep using the astrazeneca coronavirus vaccine — as a growing list of european nations suspend injections. the influential sister of north korea's leader, says the us must avoid causing a stink if it wants peace — as america's top diplomat heads to the region. in france, the number of people in intensive care with covid—i9 is at its highest level since late november. patients in the capital paris have been sent to other parts of the country to relieve the pressure on hospitals there, as france's prime minister says a third national lockdown remains a possibility. mark lobel reports. airborne assistance. a patient from paris touches down for life—saving treatment. translation: they arrived by special trains in the spring, - by helicopter in autumn, and each time, it is- a big mobilisation. inside this hospital in western france, things are feeling precarious. translation: it's| a duty of solidarity. right now, it's not very easy because since we are nearlyl saturated, or even already saturated, we have to find i solutions to increase our care capacity in intensive care. - the number of people in intensive care across france has reached its highest level since november. cases are rising once again. testing the limits of a 6pm nationwide curfew which has closed restaurants and businesses. translation: we will likely have to make new decisions | in the coming days, based on those developments, l and i asked the governmentl to get to work so we can give citizens a timeframe - within the next few days. there are already weekend lockdowns in nice, and several towns along the french riviera. and restrictions further north in dunkirk, and pas de calais. there have been two national lockdowns, one a year ago last march, and the second in december. could there be a third in paris and the surrounding area? translation: i believe that we must not resort| to a lockdown, which is not out of the question. _ i say clearly, it is not out of the question, i but we must use all the weapons at our disposal to avoid - another lockdown. french pharmacies, the latest frontier in the fight against coronavirus. now, opening their doors as vaccination centres. but, with a slow start, there are fears the country's death toll may begin to rise again soon, prompting the pressure for locking down again. mark lobel, bbc news. brazil's president, jair bolsonaro, has sacked his health minister, general eduardo pazuello — an army officer with no medical training.he was a controversial appointment who supported the president's policy of promoting an unproven drug to treat coronavirus and downplayed the need for social distancing. the new health minister is doctor marcelo queiroga. he takes over as the number of deaths in brazil approaches 280—thousand — the second highest total in the world. republicans have stepped up their attacks on president biden — for his handling of a surge of migrant arrivals, including many unaccompanied children at the country's frontier with mexico. last month us officials detained at least 100—housand people, including more than 9,000 unaccompanied children, who had crossed into the united states. the house republican leader kevin mccarthy visited the border in texas and said the blame for the current situation lies firmly with president biden. deb haaland is the new head of the us interior department — making her the first native american to take on the role. this is the moment senators confirmed her appointment — as part of her remit she will oversee the us government's relationship with tribal nations. she is also expected to play a key role in realising president biden's plans to fight climate change. our north america correspondent, peter bowes has more. deb haaland, she is from new mexico when she is a native american. she is from the laguna pueblo tribe, just one of hundreds of tribes across the united states. she is a long—time campaigner for the rights of america's indigenous people. she is an environmental campaigner and her there has been a big campaign on her behalf by environmentalist to get her pointed to this role in the department of the interior. she did this with president biden on some policies. she does not support fracking. she does support the green new deal which includes some radical policies to tackle climate change and the reason her new important is that the department she will be in charge of controls and manages about one fifth of all the public land across the united states. if you look at the extraction and use of fossil fuels from those lands that results in about a quarter of the greenhouse gas emissions from the us. she is going to be in charge of a key department at a time when president biden is looking at environmental policies. she is in a position to have her say and that is exactly what her supporters wanted. the nominees for this year's much—delayed academy awards are finally out. it's the most diverse oscars ever, with nine of the 20 acting nominees from ethnic minority backgrounds — and two women nominated for best director. our arts editor will gompertz takes us through the nominations for a ceremony that will be unlike any other — taking place in a railway station. (tx welcome to the 2021 oscar nominations, not coming from sunny hollywood, sadly, but from a rather damp leicester square where the cinemas have been shut all year but, by hook or by crook, the films have been released so we have got a shortlist to discuss with larushka from the metro newspaper. let's start with the acting nominations and best actress. who should win? who will win? i think who should win is vanessa kirby, the british actress, for pieces of a woman. i still haven't got over the 20—minute birth scene that she does at the beginning of that film. but i think who will win is andra day, who puts in a terrific transformational performance as billie holiday. # blood on the leaves and blood at the root.#. best actor, who is in the running and who is going to win? i would love to see riz ahmed win for sound of metal. he plays this ex—drug addict drummer who goes suddenly deaf. he is electrifying in this role. but who can begrudge chadwick boseman for winning for his final role in ma rainey�*s black bottom that he shotjust months before he died from cancer? if my daddy had known i was going to turn out like this, he would have named me gabriel. best supporting actress? could it be eighth time a charm for glenn close? she's got the record for the most nominated and never won actresses, for hillbilly elegy. unfortunately, everyone hates the film. that's a bit of a problem. and i'd love to see maria bakalova win for borat 2. who would have thought borat 2 would have been in the running for the oscars race? i want this one with the baby on it. 0k. ok, larushka, best supporting actor? daniel kaluuya is winning all the awards forjudas and the black messiah. a revolutionary! but here he is up against his co—star lakeith stanfield in the same category, both up for best supporting. where is best actor in this film? any last words? welcome to san simeon. we haven't talked about mank, although it does lead the way with ten nominations, the film about the writing of citizen kane, starring gary oldman. it's up for best picture. will it win? no. in a word, no. so what will win best picture? nomadland, no doubt. it is a timely portrait of a woman who is living in isolation. to me, this is the great film of the pandemic era. you're my sister. when you were growing up you were eccentric to other people. it wasjust because you were braver. let's finish with best director. who's going to win? who should win? first of all, let's just say two women up for best director at the oscars this year for the first time in history. emerald fennell up for promising young woman, the me too revenge drama starring carey mulligan who's also up for an award in the best actress category. but it's going to be chloe zhao for nomadland. she is going to become the second woman ever to win best director at the oscars. and if she does she will also become the first female asian director to win in what has been called the most diverse academy awards of all time. will gompertz, bbc news. clayton davis is the film awards editor for variety says the nominations reflect the diversity in the academy membership... it's good news for representation and inclusion in the industry today. we had a record number of women nominated as best director, two, first time we had more than one. we had nine people of colour nominated in the acting categories, which broke a record. formerly, it was seven, back in 2006. it has just been a really great day for representation and inclusion, and i think as we have been through this pandemic, and it has brought about a lot of challenges, actually, i think one of the good takeaway is, the academy members were able to stay home and watch all of the films that had these great performances and film—makers behind them. it has a lot to do with talent, obviously, but it has also got a lot to do, hasn't it, with a much broader pool of people voting. absolutely. from 2016, the academy really took the initiative to diversify their membership. started to bring in may be about between 1900 and 3,000, new members, all from different cultures, backgrounds, ages, within the academy and then, now, we've seen that, over the last few years, with winners like moonlight, parasite, and now having this very representative year, this shows, when you do the work, and you diversify the membership, no one is asking for token spots and acting line—ups. you diversify what's there, you get a little bit for everyone, and this is what we saw today. there's still work to do, but it's a great step in the right direction. who are the big surprises for you? thomas vinterberg, getting into the best director for another round, was a surprise. even though bath added nominate him. we didn't think he was going to make the cut in the end, but he did. regina king for one night in miami, and also the film itself not been nominated for best picture, was quite a bummer. ma rainey�*s black bottom also didn't make the cut in best picture. but then we had surprising inclusions, like lakeith stanfied from judas and the black messiah making it, a brilliant actor, for his fantastic performance alongside his co—star, daniel kaluuya, the first time that two black actors have been nominated from the same film and the same category. so those are some of the big highlights and surprises, but some, a little all around for many, but i am very excited by those. so, clayton, nominations are just the start, of course. who would you like to see get the actual awards? who do you think will get them? oh, well, my will win, should win, actually is the same, which never really happens, in this time of the year, but nomadland, i think is probably going to walk away with best picture and best director and chloe zhao, who received four oscar nominations today, most nominated woman in oscar history in one ceremony, beating out fran walsh, for lord of the rings, return of the king back in 2003. also, sofia coppola for lost in translation i think nomadland is probably the one to beat right now, but i would say watch out for promising young woman, the chicago 7, or minari, all of those have the goods, maybe, to win. for the last 12 months — international borders have been shut and global travel has been a bureaucratic nightmare. covid tests, paperwork, quarantines — such a headache. that is, of course, if you're a human. if you're a giant walrus on the other hand — the world is your oyster. this marine mammal the size of a bull was spotted off the coast of ireland, the first ever recorded sighting of a walrus there. marine biologists are unsure how the animal swam there from its arctic habitat — with some theorising it may have been carried much of the journey after falling asleep on a drifting iceberg. and you can get in touch with me and most of the team on twitter — i'm embley mike. hello there. in comparison to this time last week, it is a much quieter weather story to tell. but i suspect we will be chasing cloud amounts around over the next few days, just like we had on monday. in cornwall, it was a beautiful day with blue sky and sunshine, similar story for northern ireland. but further north and west, cloud gathered as we went through the day, rather threatening looking skies, indication of what's to come. yes, we have some weather fronts bringing some rain into the far northwest. high—pressure is trying to build in from the southwest, but some of this rain will be heavy through the night. isobars squeezing together as well, strengthening winds particularly in the far north of scotland. now, the rain will sink its way south and east, a lot of cloud across the country, so a relatively mild night for many. so as we start off tuesday, there will still be some heavy rain to come, particularly across scotland accompanied by some strong gusty winds from the northwest. widely, we could see gusts in excess of 13 mph first thing, but in the far north, 40—115 mph not out of the question. that strong wind will help push the rain south and east as we go through the day, quite a clearance, the winds will fall light, the sunshine will come through. the only exception, perhaps, across east anglia, essex and kent, it may well stay cloudy for much of the day. top temperatures though through the afternoon, generally around 10—15 celsius — not bad. now, high—pressure will anchor itself across northern ireland. a little bit more of a breeze always around the periphery of the high, and that is going to continue to drag in cloud amounts, hence the reason that we will be chasing cloud from time to time. so on wednesday, there will be quite cloudy skies with the odd light shower into the far north and some cloud coming in off the north sea, so sheltered westerns parts of england and wales seeing the best of the sunshine potentially. now, as we move into the end of the week, the high—pressure just moves a little bit further west again, and that allows more of a northeasterly flow, a cooler source, particularly across east anglia and southeast england. so what that will do is it potentially breaks up the cloud to allow more sunshine to come through, but it means that it might feel just that little bit cooler the further south and east you are by the end of the week. further west, it stays largely dry, but there is always the risk of a little more cloud. that's it, take care. this is bbc world news, the latest headlines. this is bbc news, the headlines. the world health organisation has urged countries to keep using the astrazeneca coronavirus vaccine — france, italy, germany and spainjoined the list of countries who have halted injections. concerns were initially raised by norway — when a small number of people suffered blood clots. astrazeneca insists the vaccine is safe. the influential sister of north korea's leader — kimjong—un — has warned the us not to "cause a stink" — as the biden administration prepares to set out its korean policy. her comments come hours before america's top diplomat, anthony blinken, is due to visit the region. the us senate has voted to confirm deb haaland to head the department of the interior — making her the first native american cabinet secretary. the congresswoman from new mexico is expected to have a key role in efforts to move the united states towards carbon neutrality.