this is bbc world news. i'm ben brown. our top stories: mass vaccinations begin at another ten centres in england from tomorrow, as the foreign secretary pledges every adult in the uk will be offered a first dose by september. it comes as the head of england's nhs warns that there's mounting pressure on hospitals and staff. i think the facts are very clear and i think the facts are very clear and i am not going to sugar—coat them. hospitals are extreme pressure. cities across the united states are on alert for possible violent protests ahead ofjoe biden�*s inauguration. in a fresh blow to the afghan government and their attempt to maintain security, two female judges have been shot dead in kabul.

an engine test for nasa's �*megarocket�* ends early, but the space agency denies it was a failure. hello and welcome to bbc news. as countries around the world step up their coronavirus vaccination programmes, here in the uk ten new mass vaccination centres across england are set to open on monday to help meet the government's target of offering vaccines to the most vulnerable groups by the middle of february. this morning, the foreign secretary has said the government hopes to have offered every adult a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine by september. so how does the uk's progress compare the rest of the world? israel appears to be doing best with 25 doses administered per 100 people, although it has faced criticism that it has not supported inoculation

within palestinian territories. united arab emirates is second on the list, having administered over 18 doses per 100 people. the uk is next, with nearly six doses administered per 100 people. the us has administered 3.7 doses per 100 people. joe biden hasjust announced plans to boost that figure. italy, which is the first country in the eu to vaccinate a million people, has administered 1.76 doses per 100 people. the numberfor china is 0.69. because of their size, the us and china have given the most doses overall. for the latest on those uk plans to step up vaccinations, here's rebecca morelle. blackburn cathedral, transforming from a place of worship into a nhs mass vaccination centre. transforming from a place of worship last—minute preparations are under way in the crypt. it opens tomorrow. thousands ofjabs will be given here. whilst this space was not being used, we felt it would be

really appropriate to offer this space up as a place where people could come and feel safe and secure, a place that they know and a place that they feel at home in, so were delighted in, so we were delighted when it was accepted as one of the mass vaccination centres. there are ten of these new regional vaccine centres opening across england. as well as blackburn, sites are in taunton, st helens and bournemouth, then there's slough, norwich, wickford in essex, lincolnshire, york and wembley in london. theyjoin seven already in operation. appointments are by invite only to those living within a 45—minute drive away and if people don't want to go to a vaccine centre, they can wait to be contacted by their gp. the focus right now is on people who are over 80. nhs england says last week a million letters were sent to this group and another half a million will be invited to the vaccine hubs next week. what it will do is let us get

more vaccine out to more people more quickly, which will protect more people from becoming seriously ill, and that will start to lower the demand on our hospital services, and that is the way out of some of these really difficult rules that people are currently following. the government is also asking the public for help by asking them to support the over—80s to book their appointments and plan their visit. this is the biggest immunisation programme in nhs history. large vaccine hubs are already in operation in wales, northern ireland and scotland, with many more planned. across the uk, more than 3.5 million people have now been given their first dose, but the target is to offer vaccines to 15 million by the middle of february. microbiologist dr andy preston from the university of bath is an expert in vaccines and infectious diseases. is the vaccine roll—out going as

well as you would have hoped? yes. well as you would have hoped? yes, absolutely- — well as you would have hoped? yes, absolutely- we _ well as you would have hoped? yes, absolutely. we have _ well as you would have hoped? ye: absolutely. we have gone from well as you would have hoped? ia: absolutely. we have gone from zero to millions of doses over the christmas period in the middle of a raging pandemic which places major restrictions on how we can operate. those people that criticise the roll—out, how many doses do they think should have been delivered by now? ., , , ., now? the only fly in the ointment could be supplied. _ now? the only fly in the ointment could be supplied. we _ now? the only fly in the ointment could be supplied. we are - now? the only fly in the ointment| could be supplied. we are hearing that pfizer are stopping production in belgium of the vaccines are later on they can scale up production. will that interrupt supplies to the uk significantly, do you think? any uk significantly, do you think? any decrease in — uk significantly, do you think? in; decrease in output will have some filter through effect. that is why it is in a great position to be in that we are not wholly reliant on any one single vaccine supply chain. supply was always going to be the big issue. we have gone from having

zero vaccine doses at the beginning with an instant global demand of 15 billion, there is no way that demand was going to be met immediately or without a lot of scale up involved. the target, the first target for the government is to vaccinate those 15 million people in vulnerable categories by the middle of february. do you think they are on course for that is? it february. do you think they are on course for that is?— course for that is? it seems to be at the moment. _ course for that is? it seems to be at the moment. this _ course for that is? it seems to be at the moment. this scale - course for that is? it seems to be at the moment. this scale up, . course for that is? it seems to be | at the moment. this scale up, and the announcement today of the additional mass vaccination centres is all part of being able to roll out as many doses as possible as the supply of vaccine becomes more readily available. there are still plenty of opportunities for hick ups i'm always slightly wary, i think we have learnt over the pandemic that if you make a very specific quantitative target sang middle of february, the only thing you can really do is miss it, i think. i'm always cautious about that, but so far it seems to be going well,

actually. in far it seems to be going well, actuall . , ., ., ., . actually. in terms of the variance we have seen. — actually. in terms of the variance we have seen, the _ actually. in terms of the variance we have seen, the south - actually. in terms of the variance we have seen, the south africanl we have seen, the south african variant, brazil, our own variant, as well. in the future, will these variants challenge the vaccine or you do you think the vaccine can cope with them?— you do you think the vaccine can cope with them? these variants that have been selected _ cope with them? these variants that have been selected in _ cope with them? these variants that have been selected in an _ cope with them? these variants that. have been selected in an environment where there is no vaccination in place, they say is perhaps why we are seeing some of these variants are seeing some of these variants with hand —— high transmissibility. we always knew that vaccination was then going to place a new pressure on the virus and it has always been part of the landscape that we are going to have to deal with new variations coming through. it is unlikely we will see a single viral variant suddenly grew to 0% protection from the vaccine. i think it will be a more gradual erosion of that, so we will have to see what place we are in windows country, what tweaking of the vaccines, if anything, is necessary. it wouldn't

surprise me if in a couple of years time we are still against a circulation of the virus that is slightly different to the one now. with me is our political correspondent, jonathan blake. what is the latest line from the government on the vaccine roll—out? there are two big questions that everyone is asking at the moment, how quickly and effectively can the government get the vaccine administered to as much of the population as possible. tight to that, how soon will we see the tight restrictions that everyone is living under it lifted. there wasn't a huge amount of new data from the foreign secretary this morning, but dominic raab did talk about the timetable that the government has set on the lifting of restrictions being no more specific than to say that the

prime minister has said previously it would be a big bang, once the most vulnerable groups are vaccinated, the government hopes by mid—february, and likely a return to the tiered approach of what started out as three tiers that became four before the current national lockdown in england and the other nations of the uk. dominic raab did give some indication of when the government hopes to have offered the first of three jobs to all adults in the uk. the plan is to get the first 15 million — the plan is to get the first 15 million most vulnerable people vaccinated with the first dose by the middle of february. we then want to get— the middle of february. we then want to get by— the middle of february. we then want to get by early spring and another 17 million — to get by early spring and another 17 million. at that point we will have _ 17 million. at that point we will have 99% _ 17 million. at that point we will have 99% of those most at risk of dying _ have 99% of those most at risk of dying of— have 99% of those most at risk of dying of corona sparrow administered their first _ dying of corona sparrow administered their first jab. then the adult population, the entire adult population, the entire adult population, we want to have been offered _ population, we want to have been offered the first jab by september. all of—

offered the first jab by september. all of this — offered the first jab by september. all of this against the backdrop of huge pressure on the hospitals and the nhs. , ., , huge pressure on the hospitals and the nhs. , .,, ~ ., , the nhs. yes, last week in the house of commons — the nhs. yes, last week in the house of commons the _ the nhs. yes, last week in the house of commons the prime _ the nhs. yes, last week in the house of commons the prime minister - the nhs. yes, last week in the house of commons the prime minister said l of commons the prime minister said that while it was still very early days there was some indication that the lockdown measures that have been imposed were starting to have an impact and infection rates were falling in some areas. i have to say, there was little sign of that from the nhs chief executive, he has also been speaking this morning, painting a bleak picture on the pressures that the nhs is currently facing. i pressures that the nhs is currently facin. ., pressures that the nhs is currently facin. ~' ., . , pressures that the nhs is currently facin. ~' .,. , ., , facing. i think the facts are very clear and i _ facing. i think the facts are very clear and i am _ facing. i think the facts are very clear and i am not _ facing. i think the facts are very clear and i am not going - facing. i think the facts are very clear and i am not going to - facing. i think the facts are very | clear and i am not going to sugar coat them — clear and i am not going to sugar coat them. hospitals are under extreme — coat them. hospitals are under extreme pressure and staff are under extreme _ extreme pressure and staff are under extreme pressure. since christmas day we _ extreme pressure. since christmas day we have seen another 15,000 increase _ day we have seen another 15,000 increase in— day we have seen another 15,000 increase in the inpatient hospital across— increase in the inpatient hospital across england, that is the equivalent of pulling 30 hospitals full of _ equivalent of pulling 30 hospitals full of coronavirus patients and, staggeringly, every 30 seconds across— staggeringly, every 30 seconds across england and another patient is being _

across england and another patient is being admitted to hospital with coronavirus, so that means, for example. — coronavirus, so that means, for example, that between now and lunchtime this hospital would be full lunchtime this hospital would be futi of— lunchtime this hospital would be full of new coronavirus patients. we are saying _ full of new coronavirus patients. we are saying that notjust in london and the _ are saying that notjust in london and the south—east, where this new variant— and the south—east, where this new variant obviously first let rip, but that is _ variant obviously first let rip, but that is spreading into other parts of the _ that is spreading into other parts of the country, as well. you heard mr stevens _ of the country, as well. you heard mr stevens they _ of the country, as well. you heard mr stevens they are _ of the country, as well. you heard mr stevens they are saying - of the country, as well. you heard mr stevens they are saying that i mr stevens they are saying that there was a new admission to hospital with coronavirus every 30 seconds, quite a stark statistic. he said the pressure on the nhs is already severe and it is expected to get worse in the coming days and weeks. any talk of lifting restrictions seems in the face of that picture premature. 0n restrictions seems in the face of that picture premature. on a more optimistic note, he did say that the vaccination programme is currently vaccinating people for times faster than infection rates were rising, so some cause for optimism there. thank ou, some cause for optimism there. thank you. jonathan- —

all 50 us states are on alert for possible violent protests this weekend, ahead of president—electjoe biden's inauguration on wednesday. members of the national guard are patrolling the streets around the capitol in washington, following the storming of the building by supporters of president trump. so far, there have been none of the mass protests that had been feared. 0ur north america correspondent peter bowes reports. america on high alert like never before. the nation's capital has been turned into a fortress, with security worthy of a warzone. the national guard has been deployed to try to ensure a smooth transition of power whenjoe biden is inaugurated on wednesday. in the meantime, there's concern that armed supporters of donald trump may try to stage more protests, still refusing to accept the result of the election. the capitol building, which was stormed by a mob earlier this month, is now surrounded by a high fence, and the city is under lockdown.

it's a place in our history that i'm sad that we've come to. american troops should not have to be armed against their fellow americans. but what we saw was an unprecedented attack on our democracy and the cradle of that democracy. by wednesday, 25,000 troops will be in the capital to try to keep the peace. the goal is to try to prevent a repeat of the attack that led to mr trump being impeached for a second time, on a charge of incitement of insurrection. he now faces a trial in the senate. the fbi has warned police agencies around the country that state capitals could be the target of further protests in the coming days. a state of emergency has already been declared in maryland, new mexico and utah. state—by—state, members of the national guard are being deployed overfears that extremists may infiltrate planned protests. in minnesota, armed guards are stationed at the state capital,

which has already been descended on by protesters. in california, in sacramento, riot police are patrolling outside the home of the state governor, gavin newsom. in some cities around the country, the post office has removed letterboxes from the streets as part of the security clamp—down. away from the fray, for now, as he prepares to take office, joe biden has been to church and it has been revealed that within hours of moving into the white house, he will sign executive orders to reverse some of donald trump's key policies. they include rejoining the paris climate accord and scrapping a travel ban on several predominantly muslim countries. but this is a nation on edge, holding its breath for the days ahead. peter bowes, bbc news, los angeles. in a fresh blow to the afghan government and their attempt to maintain security, two female judges have been shot dead in kabul.

both justices served on afghanistan's supreme court.0ur world affairs correspondent yogita limaye is in kabul and following developments. government officials are telling us that the two female judges were on their way to work in a car when they were shot at. they were both killed, their driver was injured. so far, we don't know who carried out this attack, but it is the latest in a series of targeted killings and assassination attempts that have taken place on journalists, women's rights activists, women in prominentjobs here in afghanistan. earlier, the afghan government blamed the taliban for these attacks. a few days ago, i met afghanistan's first female director and actress, and a policewoman who was shot multiple times last year. she says the taliban was behind the attack on her and she says

it is because she was a woman in this prominent role. the taliban issued a statement denying any involvement in this and all of this is happening against a backdrop of peace talks that are taking place between the afghan government and the taliban in doha. when you have horrific killings like this, what hope is there of those peace talks succeeding? that is precisely the question that is being asked. at a time when violence is surging in this country, will there be a resolution that comes out of those talks? on friday, 2,500 troops withdrew from this country, us troops, leaving around 2,500 behind. this is part of a withdrawal plan that the trump administration had signed with the taliban. according to that deal, all foreign forces are to by spring this year.

many here are worried that if that withdrawal were to happen a sustainable peace deal is agreed between the afghan government and the taliban, then they might see the taliban coming back in power in this country. the question then will be what lasting gains have been made in 20 years of us—led war in this country? the uk government is moving to head—off a rebellion by backbench mps who could support a labour proposal to extend the temporary £20 a week increase in universal credit. the chancellor introduced the rise last april as the pandemic hitjobs and family finances, but it is due to run out in march. conservative mps have been told to abstain on labour's vote tommorrow. the foreign secretary has said this morning that the government will always look at how to protect the most vulnerable communities. let's speak to the labour mp and shadow work and pensions secretary, jonathan reynolds.

what is your view on what the government are doing on this universal credit issue?- universal credit issue? good morning- — universal credit issue? good morning. there _ universal credit issue? good morning. there is _ universal credit issue? good morning. there is absolutely universal credit issue? good i morning. there is absolutely no question that parliament this week must vote to cancel fat cats of £1000 a year to universal credit and working tax credit. first of all, it is about the impact on families. £1000 a year, that is your gas, electric, broadband bill for the year. this would have a substantial impact on families if it were to go ahead. also, it is the wrong thing for the economy. that is taking £6 billion of spending out of the economy when we need it. that money is spent on local shops and local services. i think parliament should recognise that it is the wrong thing to do and pass a motion tomorrow. quite a few tory mps, you think, support you. quite a few tory mps, you think, suoport yon-— support you. yes, i do. cutting

unemployment _ support you. yes, i do. cutting unemployment benefits - support you. yes, i do. cutting unemployment benefits in - support you. yes, i do. cutting unemployment benefits in a i support you. yes, i do. cutting - unemployment benefits in a recession is always the wrong policy. that's why governments don't do it. you have to go 100 years ago for an example of this happening. i don't think anyone believes the pandemic is over and the conditions in place when this was introduced have changed. if this cut were to go ahead, effectively unemployment support would be reduced to its lowest level since 1992, at a time when everyone knows unemployment will peak at a roundabout midpoint this year. there is absolutely no case for that. on the labour side, we want to secure the economy, protect the nhs, rebuild the country. everyone recognises this is the wrong thing to do and people need a decision now. the government are out of time on this, they have to make a decision and it is clear

what the right course of action is. one area where the government is being widely praised it is their handling of the vaccination programme. would you agree that the roll—out is going pretty well? we have the temp mass vaccination centres opening up tomorrow. i am really proud — centres opening up tomorrow. i am really proud of — centres opening up tomorrow. i am really proud of what _ centres opening up tomorrow. i —n really proud of what the local nhs and local council have been able to do in my constituency. we have the capacity to vaccinate more people if we can get the vaccine to them. when the government wants its record of the government wants its record of the pandemic ss, it has to be willing to assess all aspects of his behaviour. what the vaccine roll—out to succeed. we also have to look at how we fared in excess deaths, and we have suffered the highest number in europe. and on the economy, where we have received the biggest economic downturn in europe. we all want the vaccine roll—out to succeed.

want the vaccine roll-out to succeed-— want the vaccine roll-out to succeed. �* , ., ., _, succeed. are you worried there could be an interruption _ succeed. are you worried there could be an interruption to _ succeed. are you worried there could be an interruption to vaccine - be an interruption to vaccine supplies? we have heard that pfizer are shutting down production in the belgian plan for a short while. i think there is capacity in the country to get even more vaccines out to people because of people's willingness to do it. it is great to see so many people taking a stance against the french anti—vaccine movement. the government has to supply those vaccines to the front staff delivering it. we had problems at the start with ppe when the government couldn't get it to the right places in the right amounts. we don't want a repeat of that. they have to get the vaccines out to two centres and get it in to people. jonathan reynolds, thank you for being with us. jonathan reynolds, thank you for being with us. mexico has urged honduras to stop

the flow of migrants making their way to the united states as 9,000 people approach its southern borderfrom guatemala. the migrants are planning to walk 3,000 kilometres via mexico to escape poverty and seek a better life in the united states. tanya dendrinos reports. a sea of people, this is the border between guatemala and honduras. you can hear thejubilation as migrants press forward on their quest towards the us. it is estimated around 9,000 hondurans fleeing poverty and violence in a region battered by the pandemic and natural disaster are in this convoy, now on their way to the mexican border. translation: at first i was afraid, but when i saw the motivated, - happy and united people, my fear was gone. thank god we got through the first part in guatemala and, if god allows it, we will go further. with faith, we can achieve anything. we just have to have faith.

they are seeking a more welcoming america under the incoming president. joe biden promising a kinder approach to migration. parents and children among those making the perilous journey by foot, optimistic about a land of opportunity. translation: the first thing we will do when we arrive - in the united states is to find a job. we always try to think about our families and it motivates us to reach out and try to help those who have helped us. but security forces have been deployed in honduras, guatemala and mexico, with hundreds of migrants already detained and no promise of the rest making it all the way to the us border. nasa has tested four huge engines for its new megarocket,

which it hopes will one day take astronauts to the moon, but the exercise was stopped early, and it's not clear why. mark lobel reports. take—off. it's one of the most anticipated moments of any space mission. here igniting all four engines together for the first time to simulate the sls rocket�*s rise into orbit for the first manned trip to the moon in decades. and here they go. gearing up to one day reach 8.8 million pounds, or to those in the know, 39.1 mega newtons of thrust, to make it the most powerful rocket ever to fly to space. and to put you out of your misery, this is what lift—off should look like. later this year it is hoped these rockets will send nasa's next

generation 0rion spacecraft for an unmanned spin around the moon. the artemis missions should eventually lead to the first woman on the moon in three years or so to search lunar soil for earth—shattering scientific discoveries with economic benefits as well. but back on earth, thisjoint nasa and boeing test, already years late in a project billions over budget... well, quickly lost its sparkle as it was aborted early. seven minutes early in fact, afterjust a minute or so. just when we were going to see the rocket start to pivot. no—one ever said travelling to the moon was easy. nasa denies the exercise was a failure, despite the as yet unexplained white flash that

caused the shutdown. much more to come. you are watching bbc news. let's get the latest weather forecast. hello, there. it's a perfect sunday for getting outside and enjoying some fresh air. for most of us, it will be a dry, settled and relatively sunny afternoon, but the further north and west you go, a brisk wind driving in some showery outbreaks of rain, with gusts of 30mph to 40mph here. elsewhere, with some sunshine, the temperatures will peak between six and nine degrees — where they should be for this time of year. moving into monday, closer to this area of low pressure, it will continue to feed in showers across much of scotland and we will see weather fronts starting to gradually approach

from the south—west as low pressure edges in from the atlantic. there will be some drier, brighter weather, particularly in sheltered eastern areas. more cloud around and we have seen today. five to 10 degrees the overall high. but from tuesday onwards, it turns increasingly wet and windy across the country. milder for england and wales, but some of that rain could bring some flooding.

this is bbc news, the headlines... mass vaccinations begin at another ten centres in england from tomorrow — as the foreign secretary pledges every adult in the uk will be offered a first dose by september. it comes as the head of england's nhs warns that

there's mounting pressure on hospitals and staff. i think the facts are very clear and i'm not going to sugar—coat them. hospitals are under extreme pressure and staff are under extreme pressure. cities across the united states are on alert for possible violent protests, ahead ofjoe biden's inauguration. in a fresh blow to the afghan government and their attempt to maintain security, two female judges have been shot dead in kabul. a test for nasa's �*megarocket�* ends early — but the space agency denies it was a failure. now on bbc news... as president electjoe biden takes the oath of office to become the 46th president of the united states what will be his priorities? dealing with the pandemic tops his agenda.

hello, i'm zainab badawi. welcome to global questions. joe biden says america is back and he'll repair global alliances fractured by donald trump. the us's reputation has taken a battering after pro trump protesters hammered their way into the country's seat of democracy. can america ever be great again? that's global questions. america's place in the world. well, to bring you this edition of global questions, as always, our two panelists and our questioners join us via video link from all over the world. let me tell you who's in the hot seat this week giving the answers.

and we have two veterans and the cream of us politics.