salmond. the continuing cost of the pandemic — government borrowing hit more than £19 billion pounds last month — the highest february figure since records began. and could rachael blackmore become the first female jockey to win the cheltenham gold cup? and coming up on bbc news... uefa are investigating after rangers' claim their player was racially abused by a slavia prague player during their europa league defeat. they deny the allegation. good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. a number of eu countries have started using the oxford astrazeneca covid vaccine again, after the european medicines agency confirmed it is safe and effective. germany, france, italy and spain are among the countries that halted its use earlier this month, after concerns about blood clots. but with cases and deaths rising now across europe — and millions of people in france being placed under lockdown at midnight tonight — there's been a stark warning from germany's health minister, who said there isn't enough vaccine supply in europe to prevent a third wave. our europe correspondent nick beake reports. paris in the spring. a city where the mood is darkening. the french capital is descending into another lockdown, part of the effort to stop a third wave of the virus taking hold across europe. translation: i would say i am more pessimistic, but that's just because we don't have an end date. the curfew is the same. we have been living like this for almost two months and it's like it's normal now, when it's not. it is all a bit sad. �* ,, �* normal now, when it's not. it is all a bit sad._ when . normal now, when it's not. it is all a bit sad._ when is | normal now, when it's not. it is all. a bit sad._ when is this a bit sad. translation: when is this all auoin to a bit sad. translation: when is this all going to end? _ a bit sad. translation: when is this all going to end? what _ a bit sad. translation: when is this all going to end? what if— a bit sad. translation: when is this all going to end? what if next - a bit sad. translation: when is this all going to end? what if next year. all going to end? what if next year we haven't— all going to end? what if next year we haven't found a way out of this? what _ we haven't found a way out of this? what if _ we haven't found a way out of this? what if next — we haven't found a way out of this? what if next year we have lockdown number _ what if next year we have lockdown number eight. that's what scares me. the rise _ number eight. that's what scares me. the rise in_ number eight. that's what scares me. the rise in cases comes as europe faces a vaccination crisis. france and other big countries are once again using the astrazeneca jab after the eu drugs regulator confirmed its long—held belief that it is safe for use. at a news conference in berlin the german health minister warned there is not enough of the astrazeneca vaccine in europe to prevent a third wave by itself. he also said a rise in the number of cases could mean not only a delay in opening the country but that some restrictions may have to be reimposed. back in paris, there are now more people in intensive care beds than during the second wave last november. doctors warn the system is reaching breaking point. translation: you system is reaching breaking point. translation:— system is reaching breaking point. translation: ., ., translation: you can always expand, but the elastic— translation: you can always expand, but the elastic is _ translation: you can always expand, but the elastic is getting _ translation: you can always expand, but the elastic is getting tighter - but the elastic is getting tighter and tighter. we are not at the breaking point yet but we are coming very close, so, yes, that limit is not far away. very close, so, yes, that limit is not far away-— very close, so, yes, that limit is not far away. and the worsening icture in not far away. and the worsening picture in europe _ not far away. and the worsening picture in europe could - not far away. and the worsening picture in europe could have - not far away. and the worsening picture in europe could have an | picture in europe could have an impact on the uk, the government made clear. i impact on the uk, the government made clear-— impact on the uk, the government made clear. i think what's going on in euroe made clear. i think what's going on in eumpe is — made clear. i think what's going on in eumpe is a _ made clear. i think what's going on in europe is a real— made clear. i think what's going on in europe is a real wake-up - made clear. i think what's going on in europe is a real wake-up call- made clear. i think what's going on in europe is a real wake-up call to | in europe is a real wake—up call to us, and a warning. people that say we could ease restrictions sooner, we could ease restrictions sooner, we need to look at what's happening in the past and rises in europe have led to rises in the uk. i am hopeful it won't happen this time, not least thanks to the vaccine, but we really do have to stick by the rules to prevent this happening. in a do have to stick by the rules to prevent this happening. in a sign of how the fates _ prevent this happening. in a sign of how the fates of _ prevent this happening. in a sign of how the fates of nations _ prevent this happening. in a sign of how the fates of nations are - how the fates of nations are intertwined, the uk variant is now the most common strain in poland. it will soon account for 80% of cases. the prime minister said schools and leisure facilities would now have to close and if that didn't work everything would have to be shut down. this morning, the husband and wife team behind the biontech pfizer vaccine received germany's highest civilian honour. their creation has given hope and has helped to offer a pathway out of the covid nightmare. but in europe at least the pandemic is taking a worrying turn. and nickjoins us now live from brussels. it is really sobering now, reading and listening to tales of increasing numbers in so many countries. i think that's right. and there's also a concern that a number of factors are combining here. on the one hand you have got the increase in the number of cases we were talking about. in poland, a 30% rise in the last week. we saw the picture in paris and other parts of france so you have the number of cases increasing, but also a problem with the shortage of vaccines. this morning the european commission said the number of vaccines from astrazeneca was much fewer than they were hoping for. more than 100 million fewer, so that is a real worry. and then there is the reluctance we have been hearing about, people willing to take the vaccines that are in europe. one thing that is complicating things, some news from france in the past half an hour or some news from france in the past halfan hour orso, some news from france in the past half an hour or so, although france is one of many eu countries to now resume the use of the astrazeneca vaccine after the regulator in europe yesterday said it was absolutely fine to use and the benefits outweigh the risks, we are hearing that in france they are only going to be giving it to the over 55s. that's because of a very small part of the finding yesterday saying they want to look in more detail, they want to look in more detail, the european regulator, at the lower age group. i think that sort of mixed messages really difficult when it is so vital there needs to be public confidence in the vaccine we have got to take us out of this covid nightmare.— have got to take us out of this covid niahtmare. x' �* ., ~ ., ~ covid nightmare. nick beake, thank ou. here, borisjohnson is to receive his first dose of the oxford astrazeneca vaccine later today. ministers and health officials are reassuring the public that it is safe, as the roll—out continues. new figures show that last week coronavirus infections continued to fall across england and wales, levelled off in northern ireland, and increased in scotland. here's our health correspondent anna collinson. the message to the more than 11 million people in the uk who have received the oxford astrazeneca vaccine, and the millions more waiting, it is clear. from the regulator to the prime minister. the oxford regulator to the prime minister. iie: oxford jab regulator to the prime minister. ti;e: oxford jab is regulator to the prime minister. ti9: oxford jab is safe regulator to the prime minister. ti9 oxford jab is safe and the pfizer jab is safe. the thing that isn't safe is catching covid.- jab is safe. the thing that isn't safe is catching covid. there is no difference that _ safe is catching covid. there is no difference that blood _ safe is catching covid. there is no difference that blood clots - safe is catching covid. there is no difference that blood clots in - safe is catching covid. there is no| difference that blood clots in veins are occurring more than would be expected — are occurring more than would be expected in the absence of vaccination.— expected in the absence of vaccination. r' , , vaccination. the risk benefit is really strongly _ vaccination. the risk benefit is really strongly in _ vaccination. the risk benefit is really strongly in favour - vaccination. the risk benefit is really strongly in favour of - vaccination. the risk benefit is - really strongly in favour of getting vaccinated~ — really strongly in favour of getting vaccinated. ~ really strongly in favour of getting vaccinated. 9 :, : : : :, : vaccinated. while vaccine confidence in the uk is — vaccinated. while vaccine confidence in the uk is very _ vaccinated. while vaccine confidence in the uk is very high, _ vaccinated. while vaccine confidence in the uk is very high, doctors - vaccinated. while vaccine confidence in the uk is very high, doctors are i in the uk is very high, doctors are concerned some younger patients may be missing appointments because they think they are less at risk of the virus. and despite strong messaging from scientists there are concerns, unfounded fears about blood clots circulating in europe are damaging confidence here. irate circulating in europe are damaging confidence here.— circulating in europe are damaging confidence here. we have had people callin: us confidence here. we have had people calling us because _ confidence here. we have had people calling us because they _ confidence here. we have had people calling us because they have - calling us because they have concerns and they say, i have had a clot before so should i have it? it's taking the time, and you have to talk to them and try and reassure them. , :, :, :, them. this morning, another grim reminder of— them. this morning, another grim reminder of why _ them. this morning, another grim reminder of why the _ them. this morning, another grim reminder of why the vaccine - them. this morning, another grim i reminder of why the vaccine roll-out reminder of why the vaccine roll—out is needed. with 89,000 lives lost to coronavirus last year, new data suggest the uk was one of the top ten worst hit countries in europe in 2020. the uk did have one of the highest death rates in the first half of the year but as this graph shows, it has since been overtaken, most notably by poland. but the pandemic is of course ongoing and these figures do not take into account the pressures and loss seen at the start of this year. as we move firmly into spring, the picture is much more hopeful. a survey suggests coronavirus infections have continued to decrease across england and wales, levelled off in northern ireland, although they increased in scotland. the government has insisted a drop in supply would not disrupt the schedule of vaccinating all adults by the summer but scientists warn the pace will reduce. i scientists warn the pace will reduce. ~ , , scientists warn the pace will reduce. ~' , , :, reduce. i think the slightly lower amount of— reduce. i think the slightly lower amount of astrazeneca - reduce. i think the slightly lower amount of astrazeneca vaccine l reduce. i think the slightly lower i amount of astrazeneca vaccine we reduce. i think the slightly lower - amount of astrazeneca vaccine we are hearing about over the coming months will mean the roll—out of the second phase, which is people under the age of 50 without risk factors, will go more slowly and may even be delayed in terms of its start. fine more slowly and may even be delayed in terms of its start.— in terms of its start. one of those in terms of its start. one of those in line to get _ in terms of its start. one of those in line to get their— in terms of its start. one of those in line to get their astrazeneca i in line to get their astrazeneca vaccine today is the prime minister. borisjohnson vaccine today is the prime minister. boris johnson knows vaccine today is the prime minister. borisjohnson knows the dangers of covid all too well after he was treated in intensive care for the virus last year and will be hoping his jack will encourage others. anna collinson, bbc news. the scottish conservative leader at holyrood, ruth davidson, says nicola sturgeon should resign if she has a "shred of integrity". a majority of the committee investigating the scottish government's handling of harassment claims against alex salmond are understood to have voted last night that ms sturgeon had not given them accurate information. she's insisted she told them the truth. a report about whether the first minister broke the ministerial code is expected within the next week. our political correspondent nick eardley reports. scotland's first minister is facing significant pressure just weeks ahead of the scottish parliament election. for some time, she's faced claims she's not told the full story about what she knew when, about harassment allegations against alex salmond. i solemnly, sincerely and truly declare... now a committee of msps has concluded she misled them about meetings she had with mr salmond three years ago. by a narrow majority, split along party lines, the committee decided ms sturgeon's account to them had not been accurate. the first minister says she stands by her evidence and that some on the committee had made their minds up before she appeared. i do not believe the first minister should resign. i do not believe she has misled parliament and i have absolute confidence in her veracity of what she said in those eight hours of evidence to that committee, in her integrity and in her professionalism. and i am not going to comment on unattributed briefings about a report which has not yet been published. this row between two first ministers is reaching its climax. the most bitter battle between two former allies. alex salmond has said his one—time protege has broken the rules that ministers have to follow. ms sturgeon has said he's peddling false conspiracy theories. but this crisis couldn't come at a worse time for the snp. there's just seven weeks until scotland goes to the polls and opposition parties are claiming ms sturgeon can't be trusted. the parliament was misled by the first minister. - now, that is, to me, _ a clear breach of the ministerial code and i think if she had a shred of integrity, nicola sturgeon- would be considering her position. she has every opportunity to resign. on a campaign visit, labour's leader said the allegations were serious and could be a resignation matter. if there is a finding that the first minister has misled parliament and potentially breach the ministerial code, then that is incredibly serious. obviously, the focus is very much on the individual, nicola sturgeon. it's about the integrity of the scottish parliament, it's about the integrity of the office of first minister. the full committee report will be published on tuesday. as well as accusing ms sturgeon of misleading msps, it's expected to criticise other parts of the account she gave. when that report is published we expect it will also raise some concerns about ms sturgeon taking some time to record the meetings she had with alex salmond, with the scottish government. and also question her claim that she first found out about allegations or concerns about alex salmond in november of 2017, as she told the committee in her evidence a couple of weeks ago. in the last half an hour, herspokesman of weeks ago. in the last half an hour, her spokesman has put out a robust statement saying she stands lry robust statement saying she stands by every word of the account she gave to msps, accusing some on the committee of playing political games and saying they only want to damage the first minister because there is an election coming up. but it does set up this extraordinary row which is bound to dominate the next few weeks in the run—up to the election on the 6th of may, where nicola sturgeon's political opponents say she cannot be trusted. ms sturgeon saying they are trying to exploit a harassment allegation to try to damage her. one of the investigation will report in the coming days from ms sturgeon's independent adviser on the ministerial code, a man called james hamilton. so far, that's the one the scottish government is focusing on and if it does conclude she has broken the ministerial code, the pressure on ms sturgeon will only increase further. studio: nick eardley, thank you. with the cost of pandemic support measures continuing — new figures show the uk government borrowed £19.1 billion last month — the highest february figure since records began in 1993. let's speak to our economics correspondent andy verity. again, we are here talking about eye watering figures. is this set to continue?— watering figures. is this set to continue? :, �*, :, :, continue? that's the thing, it looks e e continue? that's the thing, it looks eye watering. _ continue? that's the thing, it looks eye watering, but _ continue? that's the thing, it looks eye watering, but the _ continue? that's the thing, it looks eye watering, but the natural - eye watering, but the natural reaction is to say, if i have big debts in my household that is scary and the bailiffs might come round sometime soon and i could be in trouble and have my house repossessed. but it's not like that for the government at all. you have £355 billion forecast to be borrowed this financial year, by far the highest in peacetime, but interest rates are solo that the cost of servicing the debt is easily manageable. —— are so low, so you don't have to cut spending to deal with it and there is no urgency to raise taxes either is. there are two ways to deal with a deficit, meaning you spend more than your income. one is to cut your way out of it, which is to cut your way out of it, which is what we have done in the last 12 years, and it didn't work well, we did not go into surplus despite austerity will stop the other way is to grow yourself out of it. the last in the budget was in surplus was in 2002, under gordon brown. looking at the obr, the official broadcaster, what it is forecasting for debt, it will climb this year and you will see a big spike where it really gets high but then it is forecasting, and then because we will get a snapback growth next year, it will drop really quickly so in two years from now, it will only be about a third of what it is before getting too much more manageable level according to the forecast by the end of five years. to the forecast by the end of five ears. : , , :, :, years. and briefly, today we are heafina years. and briefly, today we are hearing about _ years. and briefly, today we are hearing about the _ years. and briefly, today we are hearing about the impact - years. and briefly, today we are hearing about the impact of - years. and briefly, today we are hearing about the impact of the | hearing about the impact of the government decision to sell some rbs shares. , , , ~ govern