welcome to world news america, in the uk, on pbs and around the globe. a third wave of coronavirus infections is sweeping across europe. large parts of france and poland are about to lockdown —and confidence in the astra zeneca vaccine has been fluctuating in the eu, after some nations stopped using it, fearing it caused blood clots. now regulators say the jab is safe, and it's being used again, as our paris correspondent lucy williamson reports. after weeks of shifting time frames the message was meant to be clear, it's safe and it works. but only an hour before he received it, the health authorities say a possible link to blood clots in younger patients that they had a vaccine should only be used for those over 55. last month it's said only those under 65 should take it. lucky that he turned 55 last year. after weeks of existing lockdown, the government is bringing in new restrictions for the worst affected areas like paris. from a bank to make them a new left on the lights will come into voice. there will be some travel restrictions and nonessential shops were closed but schools will stay open and so the book shops, music and hairdressers. at his barber in central paris he had a message for president micron today. had a message for president micron toda . . ~ had a message for president micron toda . ., ~ ,, had a message for president micron toda . ., ~ i. ., , had a message for president micron toda. ., ., today. thank you for letting us stay 0 en. today. thank you for letting us stay open. turnover _ today. thank you for letting us stay open. turnover has _ today. thank you for letting us stay open. turnover has dropped - today. thank you for letting us stay open. turnover has dropped by - today. thank you for letting us stay| open. turnover has dropped by 70% today. thank you for letting us stay - open. turnover has dropped by 70% he sa s he open. turnover has dropped by 70% he says he would — open. turnover has dropped by 70% he says he would go _ open. turnover has dropped by 70% he says he would go bankrupt _ open. turnover has dropped by 70% he says he would go bankrupt if— open. turnover has dropped by 70% he says he would go bankrupt if we - open. turnover has dropped by 70% he says he would go bankrupt if we had i says he would go bankrupt if we had to close again. he's customers says the new restrictions are just window dressing. the the new restrictions are 'ust window dressina. ., , ., dressing. the only thing that matters is — dressing. the only thing that matters is the _ dressing. the only thing that matters is the vaccine - dressing. the only thing that matters is the vaccine and i dressing. the only thing that l matters is the vaccine and that dressing. the only thing that - matters is the vaccine and that is the only thing working for now. right now it's the only thing that matters. , . , ., , right now it's the only thing that matters. , ., , ., , ., , right now it's the only thing that matters. , ., , ., , ., matters. germany had been hoping to lift some of its — matters. germany had been hoping to lift some of its restrictions _ matters. germany had been hoping to lift some of its restrictions but - lift some of its restrictions but with the virus also outpacing the vaccines there was a fresh warning from the health minister.- vaccines there was a fresh warning from the health minister. there are not et in from the health minister. there are not yet in effect _ from the health minister. there are not yet in effect seems _ from the health minister. there are not yet in effect seems to - from the health minister. there are not yet in effect seems to stop - from the health minister. there are not yet in effect seems to stop the | not yet in effect seems to stop the first wave through vaccination alone. it will still take several weeks before the risk groups are fully vaccinated. only then can we talk about wider openings in society. talk about wider openings in socie . ., ., , talk about wider openings in socie . ., ., talk about wider openings in socie . ._, ., society. poland is also facing a surue society. poland is also facing a surae in society. poland is also facing a surge in cases _ society. poland is also facing a surge in cases with _ society. poland is also facing a surge in cases with the - society. poland is also facing a surge in cases with the british| surge in cases with the british variant expected to soon account for 80% of infections. a partial lockdown will come into force for tomorrow with shops, hotels, and cultural and sporting venues to close. president micron has been counting on fans getting vaccinated to a another lockdown and its reason to a another lockdown and its reason to hold for a 7 billion euros a month, delays in vaccines can be expensive, trust in them and is priceless. here in america, the centers for disease control is hopeful that we're turning a corner on the pandemic. the biden administration has taken 58 days to get 100 millionjabs into arms. and the cdc now says children in most classrooms can be three feet apart, not six. but — nearly a third of us states have seen their cases go up, including michigan — we're joined from there by dr. payal patel, an infectious diseases physician. thank you for being with us. we have fully vaccinated 12% of the us population but why are cases coming up population but why are cases coming up in some states? i population but why are cases coming up in some states?— up in some states? i think it is a number of _ up in some states? i think it is a number of reasons. _ up in some states? i think it is a number of reasons. i _ up in some states? i think it is a number of reasons. i think- up in some states? i think it is a i number of reasons. i think variants are playing a role, i think as the open society back up, restaurants, and james and things like that, people are moving around a lot more. but i think knowing that here in michigan people over the age of 16 will soon be able to get the vaccine. if we can get more people vaccinated we don't have to be in fear. wejust vaccinated we don't have to be in fear. we just need to get those vaccination rates up quickly. in new york city for — vaccination rates up quickly. in new york city for example, _ vaccination rates up quickly. in new york city for example, in _ vaccination rates up quickly. in new york city for example, in the - york city for example, in the redbaiting is cause for celebration but has a ten feet, does that concern you?— but has a ten feet, does that concern ou? ~ . ., , concern you? what we have seen in euro -e is concern you? what we have seen in europe is concerning. _ concern you? what we have seen in europe is concerning. i— concern you? what we have seen in europe is concerning. i think - concern you? what we have seen in europe is concerning. i think that i europe is concerning. i think that india and the astrazeneca vaccine seems to safe but trust has been shaken in many people and i think thatis shaken in many people and i think that is concerning on a global level. what i would say is if you are thinking about eating in a restaurant. first of all, are you vaccinated, are the people that you are each and with vaccinated? if thatis are each and with vaccinated? if that is not true that may until you entered group are vaccinated i would still consider eating outside or taking it home.— still consider eating outside or taking it home. still consider eating outside or takin: it home. ~ taking it home. here in america the centers for — taking it home. here in america the centers for disease _ taking it home. here in america the centers for disease control- taking it home. here in america the centers for disease control is - taking it home. here in america the centers for disease control is a - taking it home. here in america the centers for disease control is a st l centers for disease control is a st kitts can be three feet apart in classrooms and most of them are not succeed. is this guidance long—overdue? 50 succeed. is this guidance long-overdue?— succeed. is this guidance long-overdue? succeed. is this guidance lonu-overdue? ., , ., long-overdue? so many of the pandemic— long-overdue? so many of the pandemic has _ long-overdue? so many of the pandemic has been _ long-overdue? so many of the pandemic has been based - long-overdue? so many of the pandemic has been based on l long-overdue? so many of the - pandemic has been based on research and sell as we find out more about masking and space, we have changed some of the rules that we came up with and this research is coming out of a study that was done in massachusetts where they compared three feet and six feet. now that we know that's when students are maxed in three feet or a six feet there was very little transmission. i think the key is going to be getting students back in school and that's what the research has shown us. the white house was saying today that their big concern is going to be not vaccine supply which was soon going to be inundated with by those people who just don't want to take the vaccine for whatever reason. how do you persuade people who are worried about the vaccine? i you persuade people who are worried about the vaccine?— about the vaccine? i think step one is listenin: about the vaccine? i think step one is listening to _ about the vaccine? i think step one is listening to what _ about the vaccine? i think step one is listening to what people - about the vaccine? i think step one is listening to what people have i about the vaccine? i think step one is listening to what people have to | is listening to what people have to say. what are their questions? i think that's always the first approach that i would take. i try to give them the facts, point them to resources, tell them my own story about how i felt after i got vaccinated and then tell them if they are going to get it later, why hesitate? it's going to be a lot safer and easier to do things if you get the vaccine early.— safer and easier to do things if you get the vaccine early. thank you for 'oinin~ us get the vaccine early. thank you for joining us with _ get the vaccine early. thank you for joining us with that _ get the vaccine early. thank you for joining us with that very _ get the vaccine early. thank you for joining us with that very good - joining us with that very good advice. during the first wave of the pandemic, russian officials claimed the death rate there was significantly lower than in other countries. but data from russia's statistics agency shows a notable gap between the official death toll, and the actual number of people with covid 19 on their death certificates. our moscow correspondent sarah rainsford went to the city of pyerm, deep in the yur—ul mountains, to find out more. they are better protected now. the virus they are fighting is more familiar. but for russia's medics, all this is a daily reminder of the risk. here in perm, covid—i9 hit hardest last autumn when the number of sick and dying suddenly surged. that's when this man began posting an online diary as his own condition got worse. he was calling for ambulances that never came. his last message before dying says he is finally in hospital but feels very bad. his son—in—law tells me his life might have been saved. but he says the health service, the authorities, were not ready for so many patients. the story is a hint that this pandemic has hit russia much harder than it likes to admit. if you take the official daily tally of covid deaths, then in 2020, here in russia, it's as if all the residents of 100 giant blocks of flats like these were all killed. but most people think a true account of the cost of covid is the number of excess deaths. and here in russia, that figure is some six times higher. that's the equivalent of a third of the population of a city this size being wiped out. many russians don't realise that. the data isn't a secret, itjust isn't mentioned by officials or state media. they talk of success instead in managing this pandemic. so life goes on in perm and across russia almost as normal. there has been no lockdown since spring. but these were the scenes here in autumn. queues of ambulances full of people with covid. and for three months the number of deaths in perm shot up. it was just terrible to see these patients. this man remembers leaving patients at home because hospitals had no space for them. i think the restrictions should be more tough. if it was done, i think we have less cases of illness and less number of deaths. the most vulnerable are now getting protected, though national roll—out of russia's sputnik v vaccine is slow. even so, the infection rate here is falling, and some think that's because so many people already had covid. but when i asked this senior doctor whether russia should have locked down tighter, he said no. translation: you can't leave people without work either. that's really bad. we always look for. a reasonable balance. obviously the best protection would be to wear a spacesuit| but you can't do that for a whole year. - covid—i9 has swept through russia like everywhere. here they say they have coped better, but that picture doesn't reflect the full cost of this pandemic in lost lives. sarah rainsford, bbc news, perm. the opening day of talks between the top us and chinese diplomats in alaska was anything but diplomatic. chinese officials rebuked the us for its human rights record — after the us secretary of state said china's actions in hong kong and taiwan threatened global stability. here's what secretary blinken had to say about the meeting. today we will have an opportunity to discuss key priorities, both domestic and global, so that china can better there are a number of areas of are at odds. with regard to hong kong and tibet and taiwan as well as actions that have taken in cyberspace. our state department correspondent barbara plett usher is in anchorage with the latest. what does it feel about the balance of power in the us chinese relations. the top chinese diplomats were so combative and assertive in public? i were so combative and assertive in ublic? ~' , ., , were so combative and assertive in ublic? ~ , ., , ., , public? i think it shows that they feel they're _ public? i think it shows that they feel they're in — public? i think it shows that they feel they're in a _ public? i think it shows that they feel they're in a position - public? i think it shows that they feel they're in a position of- feel they're in a position of strength. there is a view in china that the us is in the crime and that is something veryjoe biden administration has made much of their intention to counter. they say they are approaching china from a position of strength and they want the project up and that's one of the reasons that he went on this trip to japan and south korea before hand consulting with allies and building up consulting with allies and building up a strong position with allies. i think the chinese delegation came prepared to punch back at that. he has also been quite blunt about some of the chinese policies that involve human rights which are very sensitive with the chinese. i think the chinese delegation came prepared to punch back against that. you saw 15 minutes speech does not happen by accident. after that speech to pace by the chinese diplomats, the american had rejoined what they thought was condescending and aching things this embed into an angry response. but we were told by the administration that once the cameras left they were able to lighten the mood quickly and get down to work and as you heard mr brink and he said we were expecting a defensive response given what's at stake but he also said we got 20 came to do. we did what we came to do, we came out of a position and came to hear their position on the team to help mention of her concerns and the four areas of cooperation and he said babe did all of that and david talk about areas where they might be able to co—operate and especially on regional issues and like iran and afghanistan. meanwhile, president biden and vice president harris are in atlanta today, visiting the centers for disease control and meeting asian american leaders. their visit comes after eight people were shot dead in the city on tuesday, including six women of asian descent. vigils are being held to commemorate the victims, amid growing concern about the number of attacks on asian americans in the past year. the suspect in tuesday's shooting claimed he was motivated by "sex addiction", not racism, but investigators say they haven't ruled anything out. in other news... the bbc says it's extremely concerned about the bbc news burmese reporter, owng thoo—raa, who was taken away by unidentified men in the burmese capital earlier on friday. the bbc says it's doing everything it can to find owng thoo-raa, calling on the meanmar authorities to help locate him and confirm that he's safe. cameroon has approved russia's sputnik vaccine for use against covid—i9. that's according to russia's sovereign wealth fund, which is promoting the shot globally. the russian vaccine has now been approved in 53 countries. on thursday, cameroon's health ministry said it was also suspending astrazeneca's vaccine out of "precaution and prudence". lamborghini had its most profitable year ever in 2020, despite a two—month shutdown of its italian factory during the pandemic. its new sports utility vehicle has been hugely successful, accounting for 59% of the company's sales worldwide last year. much of the demand has come from china — set to become lamborghini's number two market this year, after the us. a number of facebook platforms — including the messaging service whatsapp and photo—sharing app instagram — went down for thousands of users today. according to one outage tracking website, there were more than 1.2 million incidents of people reporting issues with instagram and over 23,000 users posted about issues with whatsapp. you're watching bbc world news america. still to come on tonight's programme: 10 years since the start of the war in syria — we assess the damage done to this once prosperous nation. tanzania has a new president — samia suluhu hassan, who's made history as the country's first female head of state. she was sworn in this morning by the chiefjustice —following the death of presidentjohn magufuli on wednesday. the bbc�*s zuh—ura yunus reports from dar es saalam. walking down the streets here you would not know to be a president was sworn in. let alone what a historic moment it was for this country. its first female leader. many tens of millions followed the ceremony on their radios and televisions. few have a doubt of how she will fear it but the majority are optimistic. she but the ma'ority are optimistic. she called her but the majority are optimistic. she called her former boss greek and urged conveniens to show each other love, impunity, and a pulled timpani —— uphold tanzanian values. it's ten years this week since the start of the war in syria, and the uprising against the rule of president bashar al—assad. in a once—prosperous nation, three quarters of people are in need of humanitarian aid. food prices are soaring, and many children suffer from malnutrition. our middle east editor jeremy bowen has covered the conflict since it began — and a warning, his report contains distressing images. a country destroyed, perhaps half a million people killed. one estimate is 22,000 of them were children. at the centre of too many tragedies to count are the decisions taken by president bashar al—assad. he says he saved syria. with the russian air force, the president saved his regime. outside the first year of the war, a taste of freedom. it became a wire when the regime crushed peaceful demonstrations and protesters turned into armed rebels. the