i'm kasia madera with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. president biden signs a series of executive orders signalling a new course for america's environmental policy. in my view we've already waited too long to deal with this climate crisis. we can't wait any longer. and we see it with our own eyes, we feel it, we know it in our bones. the row between the pharmaceutical company astrazeneca and the european union over a shortage of coronavirus vaccines escalates. and the games must go on olympic officials say the tokyo games will take place this summerjust two months afterjapan�*s vaccination programme begins.

hello and welcome. president biden has set out his plans for dealing with climate change, describing it as an existential threat. he said the us must lead the global response, having already waited too long to tackle the climate crisis. mr biden has signed a raft of executive orders marking a sharp contrast with the policies of the trump administration. among the measures are a moratorium on new oil and gas leases on public land and making climate considerations a part of us foreign and national security policy. our chief environment correspondentjustin rowlatt reports. if ever america needed a warning of what climate change could mean for the country, it got it last year, with record wildfires and an unprecedented

series of hurricanes. there is no time to waste, president biden said today. we can't wait any longer. we see it with our own eyes, we feel it, we know it in our bones, and it's time to act. and by appointing one of the country's most senior politicians, john kerry, as his climate envoy, joe biden is demonstrating once more that tackling climate change will be at the heart of his presidency. it is clearly one of his very top priorities. it's why he rejoined the paris agreement within hours of being sworn in as president. it's why today he's issued executive orders, mobilising every department, every agency of the united states government to focus on climate. california has experienced record droughts, as well as record fires, in recent years, evidence that even one of the richest states in the richest nation on earth can't immunise itself against the kind of weather climate change

is expected to bring. heat, cold, all of thesei weather patterns aren't in and of themselves that strange. - it's the frequency with i which they're happening, and how unpredictable everything is, - and it's very difficult for a farmer. - john kerry was instrumental in negotiating the landmark global climate accord in paris in 2015, when he was president obama's secretary of state. he says a key objective now is to try and persuade other nations to raise their carbon—cutting game in the run—up to the big global summit glasgow will be hosting in november. glasgow will be extremely important. in fact, i would say in myjudgment it is the last best chance the world has to come together in order to do the things we need to do to avoid the worst consequences of the climate crisis. the uk government, as host

of the glasgow conference, will be hoping mr kerry's efforts pay off. in his first interview since becoming full—time president of the summit, alok sharma says having a us administration that's really engaged on the climate issue is good news indeed. i think it's great to have the us administration back at that table on the global fight against climate change. i think what's incredibly encouraging is that, within hours of the inauguration being completed, president biden, one of the first executive orders he signed was to rejoin the paris agreement. it is only a week since the new administration took power, and it has already taken big steps to reverse trump's policies on climate, but the agenda is ambitious, and bothjoe biden and john kerry know their efforts will have to overcome opposition from within the us. justin rowlatt, bbc news. earlier i spoke to our washington correspondent lebo diseko and remarked that president biden�*s

administration is linking climate change to national security. they have tasked the intelligence services with preparing a briefing on the securities right that it poses. also that it's going to be central to foreign policy as well for w heard therejohn well for w heard there john gary well for w heard therejohn gary is going to be trying to convince other nations to release set more ambitious targets improve on the target from the paris climate deal. —— john kerry. they also set the executive orders did outline things around conservation and water and conservation land in the us setting a target of 30% for those. also targets for wind as wealth was up really quite ambitious targets. but it's worth bearing in mind that everything that was signed in the executive order, these are steps that they can take without congress. the difficult period, the real progress that job i wants to make, he is going to have to get through congress was to he will face opposition from both

republicans and people in his own party that represent coal, energy producing states. find energy producing states. and when it comes _ energy producing states. and when it comes to _ energy producing states. and when it comes to the difference between this administration and the previous in menstruation, my goodness, it's on comparable.- my goodness, it's on comparable. my goodness, it's on comarable. �* ., ~ ., comparable. and how mark that differences. _ comparable. and how mark that differences. yes, _ comparable. and how mark that differences. yes, there - comparable. and how mark that differences. yes, there were . differences. yes, there were several themes, differences. yes, there were severalthemes, i differences. yes, there were several themes, i think that we hear them set out today. one of them was science. and that we are led by science. this is an issue of science. also saying that the science is going to leave government policy across the board for supper it's going to be something that influences everywhere. alsojobs, you heard a lot of opposition to efforts to curtail the effects of the impact of the environment. placed in terms of jobs and that we need to keep the fossil industry, we need to keep the energy industries going becausejobs keep the energy industries going because jobs are at stake. todayjoe biden said that he wants to create clean jobs. we've heard him say this before but that was part of the executive order that he signed.

and ambitious targets thereto. the current lockdown restrictions in england will remain in place until at least the eighth of march when schools in all parts of england might be allowed to reopen if the conditions are right. it adds to the burden of those with limited space at home. alex forsyth has been talking to people in birmingham and coventry living in high—rise flats about their experience of lockdown. living above a city has brought highs and lows to life in lockdown. neighbours nearby, but close quarters means tight spaces, precious little outdoors and, forsome, isolation. in birmingham, this tower has been home to mark for more than two decades. but even a familiar four walls can feel lonely when going out is so limited. i've enjoyed living in a tower block, but this year in particular has been...vile. as you can see, the lift is very small. he fears the virus will spread in shared spaces he says

aren't always clean. despite council assurances, he's nervous. well, living in a tower block when you are, like, 70 feet, 80 feet in the air, six other flats on the floor, very small spaces to work in, to go out in, you can't really act normally, because you're wondering whether your neighbour could be infected. not the biggest of hallways, but you've got to make the most of the space that you've got. in coventry, susie lives in a two—bedroom maisonette with her husband and two sons, jackson and his older brother. they're learning for school and uni from home. so in that door there is another little bedroom for my 21—year—old. and this is the bedroom for my six—year—old. it might not be huge, but for them it's a happy home. their balcony ready for summer, with grass and fairy lights. it's kind of like having your own little space, but i can imagine for those who live in flats without even this small bit of space,

it must be even harder. here, proximity has meant community. a chance for neighbours to chat, while their children play water pistols across the balconies. i've got good neighbours. we get along - together very well. michelle does always ring me, don't you, once or twice a week? just to see how i am. so it's good. but for some, lockdown in a tower block has compounded their isolation. high above coventry, karen's bedsit seems smaller now she's so often in. struggling for money and work, she feels unsupported and trapped. the walls are very thin, so you can hear people a lot. i kind of feel we are living on top of each other. i don't want to be in the inner city. and i don't want to be in a high rise. i would love to have walks from the door, not to have to take the dogs everywhere, to be able to just let them off the lead. the fear of being stuck

here forever is terrifying. home has rarely mattered so much, now that we are restricted to it. the plan for a way out might be coming, but for many it still feels some way off. alex forsyth, bbc news. the european union says the drug company astra—zeneca should honour a contract to supply vaccines by using its british factories to make up a shortfall. the european commission is angry that the company might provide the eu with up to 80 million fewer doses than it had initially promised. our europe correspondent nick beake has this update from brussels. the eu certainly think it's in a very strong legal position and is asking astrazeneca to publish the contract that was agreed. but really this row has escalated very publicly today felt up at its heart the eu believes that astrazeneca is favouring the uk over european countries. astrazeneca says that isn't the case, it's sticking to the terms of its agreement and is pointing out that the eu signed its contract three months after the uk did.

that prompted a senior european commission figure today to say the idea of first—come first—served is all going to good if you are pumping into the local butchers. but not if you signed a contract for millions of life—saving vaccines. it's also prompted the likes of germany to call for restrictions or even a ban on eu made vaccines going to other countries. including the united kingdom. the commission is downplaying that idea. i could tell you, there's been a meeting tonight between the two sides, both are using the word constructive. but still the eu is saying that even though it has not yet approved this vaccine it wants all of the micro once it ordered to be delivered and to be delivered on time. america's top infectious disease expert doctor fauci has been telling the team at the us is able to counter new variants of coronavirus but in the future booster shots may be needed.

let's have a listen. we have to be concerned _ let's have a listen. we have to be concerned looking - let's have a listen. we have to be concerned looking forward i be concerned looking forward with the further evolution of this might be. i want to make my mention about the monoclonal antibodies because they are more seriously inhibited in the sense of impacting on their efficacy by their south african strain. that's the reason why there will be to develop even other antibodies that might be able to avert this particular problem. so looking forward, what we plan to do in collaboration with the companies is to develop what we would call alternative or booths that would use the same platform but that would incorporate a particular m&a that would address these particular variants —— immunogens. for that reason we will always want to be a step or two ahead of what might be a problem in the future.— problem in the future. doctor anthony felty _ problem in the future. doctor anthony felty just _ problem in the future. doctor anthony feltyjust updating i anthony feltyjust updating what is happening in the united

states. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: south africa calls for a fairer global distribution of coronavirus vaccines as it suffers from a new, more aggressive mutation of the virus. the shuttle challenger exploded soon after lift off. there were seven astronauts on board, one of them a woman schoolteacher. all of them are believed to have been killed. by the evening the square the heart of official cairo was in the hands of the demonstrators. they were using the word revolution. the earthquake singled out buildings and brought - them down in seconds. tonight the search - for any survivors as an increasing desperation about it as the hours passed. _ the new government is firmly in control of the entire republic of uganda.

survivors of the auschwitz concentration camp or being commemorating the 40th interfirst erie other relevant liberation. they toured the gas chambers and crematory and relived their horrifying experiences. this is bbc news, the latest headlines president biden has signed a series of executive orders to tackle climate change — which he's described as an existential threat. the eu has insisted that astrazeneca come up with a clear plan to deliver on their contractual obligations to supply covid vaccines. a team of world health organ are preparing to begin the work at hand. they've been isolating and the chinese city for the last two weeks. our china

correspondent looks at what the group of scientists will be doing in wou hand now that they are out of quarantine. practically speaking it means they can have some face—to—face meetings. they are saying this art really started having meetings via video links and the like but they will be able to come out of quarantine, move around the city. but i'm going to make a bit of a bold prediction here and say that at the end of this visit they are not going to come out and tell us they've discovered how the coronavirus started. because it's a very difficult thing to work out. the who has already been stressing how much time is going to be required, how complex the task is. one of the things they won't be doing is even looking at the theory of a lab leak. if they are at certainly not in any of the documents that i've seen associated with this trip. it's more like examining the possibility that this virus

jumped from some sort of an animal, it may be by an intermediary animal and then into humans. another thing they won't be doing is they are own research. what it mostly is is a trip looking at the work that's already been done by chinese scientists and then trying to map out where the holes might be pulled up to try and say ok, what else needs to be done to get back to the origins of this coronavirus. they've even said that after wuhan, naturally it started here because it's where the first clusters were. it's where the outbreak started. but actually, the scientists are saying in theory it could have come from somewhere else. so they are not ruling out the possibility that after this trip they will go to another chinese city or even to another country to try and get to the bottom of the origins of this virus. that obviously makes their chinese government happy to hear language like that. because that's the line that's

being pushed quite a bit by the communist party for something we've even had a foreign ministry spokesperson here saying that it definitely came from overseas. either way, we've had politicians and government officials especially from us and china throwing mad at each other over this issue, spreading conspiracy theories over the coronavirus was up what many will be hoping though is that this group of scientist can somehow get above the clamour of the politics and find a way to discover what the real origins of this debilitating virus have been. but really, it's not going to be easy and it's not going to be easy and it's not going to be quick. hundreds of protesters have marched through central warsaw after the polish government said it would put an abortion ban into effect. the government had delayed the ban on terminations of pregnancies with foetal

defects, after weeks of protests. once the ban is in place, abortions will only be permitted in poland in cases of rape or incest, or when the mother's life or health is endangered. after much debate, the delayed olympic games set to take place in tokyo this summer will go ahead. the president of the international olympics committee said speculation over the event was hurting the athletes and they were working on coronavirus precautions for every possible scenario. but while most developed countries have begin their covid—i9 vaccination programmes, japan is lagging far behind, and doesn't plan to start inoculating frontline workers until the end of february. the general public won't get access to the jab until may just two months before the olympic games are due to start. to understand why, i spoke to dr riko muranaka, a vaccinations expert from kyoto university for her reaction to the decision.

the original plan was to vaccinate older people injapan before the olympic game. —— all. we were actually too relaxed about securing the vaccine. because there is no pressing need for the vaccine, in fact. because japan didn't have a severe outbreak so far. so actually there is a silent consensus that between public and experts that we first have to look at the data from the other countries started vaccinating already. and decide what will do. but it was too late. i what will do. but it was too late. ~ , ., what will do. but it was too late. ~' ,, . ~' what will do. but it was too late. ~ ., ~ ., what will do. but it was too late. ~ .,~ ., ., , late. i think you make a really aood late. i think you make a really good point — late. i think you make a really good point regarding - late. i think you make a really good point regarding the - late. i think you make a really good point regarding the data| good point regarding the data figures just remind us where we are when it comes to the number of deaths injapan. bearing in mind its population is 126 million. , ~ ., mind its population is 126 million. ,~ ., ., million. yes. we were to relax but only after— million. yes. we were to relax but only after this _ million. yes. we were to relax but only after this year - million. yes. we were to relax but only after this year and - but only after this year and winter came we realised the

virus starts to spread again. yes, there is some news that there is a specific contract with pfizer to secure this vaccine. so we are waiting for a lot more details about it. when you say it's relaxed the country had just over 5000 deaths since the start of the pandemic. a population of 126 million. when you look at the uk the number of deaths over 100,000. you can kind of understand arguably the relaxed feeling of japanese authorities. but this idea, this feeling that now the olympics potentially having so many people come to japan. what kind of reaction has there been amongst the citizens of japan? well, i don't think people are really connecting the olympic game and the vaccination or the epidemic we are experiencing now. it's a separate story. we

really don't think about olympic will bring more virus to our country and possibly spreading through the world again. spreading through the world aaain. �* . ., , spreading through the world aaain. �* , ., again. and when it comes to the o enness again. and when it comes to the openness of _ again. and when it comes to the openness of japanese _ again. and when it comes to the openness of japanese society i again. and when it comes to the openness of japanese society to | openness of japanese society to vaccination, is there an eagerness to embrace a? well, i thinkjapan _ eagerness to embrace a? well, i thinkjapan is— eagerness to embrace a? well, i thinkjapan is not _ eagerness to embrace a? well, i thinkjapan is not essentially - thinkjapan is not essentially an under relaxed country. for example the uptake of the vaccine, measles vaccine is over 95%. which is much better than most european countries. but there is a problem actually in public communication, i guess. not like experts and other countries, japanese experts are overly conscious about their scientific accuracy when they are talking about the vaccine. say if the experts in other countries start from talking about the key messages like the vaccine saved or we must vaccinate many people as possible, japanese doctors tend to say that well, there are

risks and benefits in vaccines all the time so we have to be careful. because the media picked up the negative parts of comments and sensational headlines. so we realise surrounded by miss information of the vaccine.— of the vaccine. that's an interesting _ of the vaccine. that's an interesting point. - of the vaccine. that's an interesting point. in - of the vaccine. that's an i interesting point. in terms of the vaccine. that's an - interesting point. in terms of the vaccination process will stop if the general public won't get access to the vaccination until around may, that's two months before the olympic games start. the population ofjapan, 126 population of japan, 126 million, population ofjapan, 126 million, how does that work on? they will be people who will have not been vaccinated when the games start, when the games are fully under way. 50 the games start, when the games are fully under way.— are fully under way. so the government _ are fully under way. so the government actually - are fully under way. so the i government actually publicly announce that we would hold olympic game even without vaccination. i think we are not expecting other people to be vaccinated. south africa has called for a fairer global distribution of covid19 vaccines, telling the bbc that britain and other wealthier

nations won't be safe until "everyone is safe." britain has moved to restrict travellers from south africa, because of an aggressive new mutation of the virus there. but one of south africa's top scientists has described the move as "silly." our africa correspondent andrew harding reports from johannesburg. live samples of covid—19, handled in a secure south african laboratory. scientists here are racing to understand more about a sudden surge of mutations. the virus has already become far more infectious. there are signs it may also have at least some resistance to current vaccines. when we look at the 501y.v2 variant... but south africa's leading covid expert told me his biggest concern was that the virus is clearly mutating so fast. we are going to see this recurring much more commonly. i think that's the message. and, if it's

going to occur more commonly, we are going to have to ensure that our vaccines are able to neutralise them because, if they are not, that means we are back to square one. right now, south african hospitals are battling a huge second wave of infections, a wave driven by the new mutations. but scientists here have criticised today's move by britain, to restrict travellers from south africa, saying there's no point in singling out countries or even regions. i find it almost quite silly, this trying to block a country, because we know how fast this virus has spread and how many places. so, by the time you try to block visitors from one country, it's too late. that's what the pandemic shows. and there is another key point that south africa is making today, about the roll—out of vaccines, urging richer nations not to be selfish, not

to hoard supplies because, if that happens, then the virus will remain free to keep circulating and mutating and threatening all of us. so, fundamentally, there is a mistaken belief by some countries that they can vaccinate their populations and that they will be safe. it simply is not true. in this world that we live in, with this coronavirus, no one is safe until everyone is safe. can the world show that kind of unity? here in south africa, more than 100,000 deaths are now being linked to the pandemic — a fast—mutating virus requires an aggressive and collective global response. andrew harding, bbc news, johannesburg. don't forget you can get in touch with me and some

of the team on twitter — i'm @bbckasiamadera. thanks for watching. bye—bye. hello there. a bit of a weather tussle going on over the skies of the uk over the next few days. between cold air to the north and east of us and milder air to the south and west. during the next 2a hours it's the mild ear that will win through for many. but on this dividing line we could see quite an active weather system. and that's going to produce on one side, pretty heavy rainfall, northern ireland, northern west england of greatest concern. where we could see nearly two inches of rain in one or two spots. adding to the flood risk that still ongoing.

on the colder side of a weather system, the hills of nova in england, southern scotland and into central northern scotland we could see significant snow. which could have an impact for some of the higher roots. and it's here where we start the day of course coldest of all, maybe temperatures low as minus six degrees. compared to ten or 11 in parts of cornwall. big north, south contrast was not there is the dividing line. that area of rain, sleet and snow through the morning rush hour pushing its way slowly northwards. drying up and brightening up to the south without quite misty and murky underneath that weather front. but you can see it's on these higher sites were more likely to see the snow. that rain, sleet, snow mix is going to hang around across parts of central scotland moving into northern scotland as we go through the day. that will allow skies to brighten for england and wales. mostly misty and murky in the north. but with some sunnier skies and still a bit of a breeze is going to be incredibly mild. temperatures could get up to 1a degrees compared to just four in aberdeen. for it should stay dry and bright through much of the day. another batch of rain that comes through thursday evening. rain this time rather than snow. it's in the milder air. snow continues to fall in northern parts of scotland. some heavy, thundery showers into the first

part of friday morning. across the south. we still got that north, south contrast as far as temperatures are concerned. widespread frost in the far north of scotland where you've got some snow and icy conditions to start friday. that will still be there on friday morning. rain across southern scotland, northern england fizzling out. a few heavy, maybe thundery showers across the south but a chance for some sunshine through on friday. temperatures still" figures in the south by the colder air starting to fight its way back. and it will continue to try and push back as we go notice how it's pushing its way southward. this swirl is an indication of a weather system which could bring another mix of rain, sleet, snow on saturday cross england and wales ahead of potentially another one late on sunday. that fight goes on into next week too.

this is bbc news, the headlines

president biden has signed a series of executive orders to tackle climate change which he's described as an existential threat. mr biden designated it a national security priority and said the us must lead the global response. among new measures announced is a moratorium on new oil and gas leases on public land. the row between the pharmaceutical company astrazeneca and the european union over a shortage of coronavirus vaccines has escalated. the eu's health commissioner has insisted that astrazeneca come up with a clear plan to deliver on their contractual obligations to supply vaccines. the ioc has dismissed suggestions that the delayed tokyo 2020 games could be cancelled. olympic officials said it was not about whether the competition happened, more a question of how. the games are set to take place this summer — just two months afterjapan's vaccination programme begins. now, it's time for hardtalk.