this is bbc news. these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. the eu backs down from using emergency brexit measures to restrict the movement of vaccines to northern ireland. the plan sparked outrage in london and belfast. but the eu's vaccine shortfall sees the bloc force pharmaceutical firms to get permission, before exporting european—madejabs. the world health organization again warns against vaccine nationalism over the row about eu export controls. it's morally wrong in terms of the pandemic, it will not help and it would not also bring livelihoods back. the uk prime minister publishes an open letter to parents,

saying he's "in awe" of the way they're coping with home schooling. confusion over coronavirus rules in maternity wards. midwives warn a lack of clarity means some staff are being abused. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. the european union has reversed its decision to override part of the brexit withdrawal treaty, following an uproar over measures that could have placed limits on the supply of coronavirus vaccines into northern ireland. the eu is giving member states the power to block the export of vaccines, to address a major shortage, and was concerned the irish border could be used as a "back door" to bring vaccines manufactured in the eu into the uk.

prime minister borisjohnson had expressed "grave concerns" about the move in a phone call with the european commission president late friday. paul hawkins reports. no hard border between ireland and northern ireland. that point was made time and time again by the eu during the brexit negotiations. so when the eu announced late on friday that it was triggering article 16 of the northern ireland protocol, which is part of the brexit treaty, many were shocked because that meant border checks for vaccines on the island of ireland. the eu said it had to do this: in other words, to stop the vaccine getting to the uk via a back door route through northern ireland. triggering article 16 was only meant to be for serious reasons,

the nuclear option. butjust a few hours later, the eu announced it would not invoke article 16, but it added... the threat of invoking article 16 was still there. many were left wondering what was going on. i understand, and this is what i hearfrom the european commission, that there was an accident. the accident or the mishap has been repaired and i think this is important. but, again, this is not a hostile act against third countries or territories. despite backtracking on northern ireland, the eu is still introducing new controls, giving member states the power to block exports of the vaccines to countries, including the uk, should they want to. it is the latest twist in a deepening dispute over the vaccine producer astrazeneca's delivery commitments to the eu.

the bloc agreeing to buy 400 million doses of its vaccine last year, only be told that supplies would be reduced by 60% in the first quarter of this year because production problems at one of its eu factories. this approach is built on trust, transparency and responsibility. commitment needs to be kept and contracts are binding. this approach is built on trust, transparency and responsibility. commitment needs to be kept and contracts are binding. the european union, meanwhile, has been criticised by its own member states for taking too long to agree contracts with suppliers and to approve the vaccines themselves. scenes like this in madrid are rare with thousand of cancellations from vaccine shortages. some may be wishing their own countries were looking after their own vaccine programmes. staying with that story,

the eu's chief brexit negotiator, michel barnier, has urged the eu to step back from a deepening dispute with britain about a shortage of covid—19 vaccines. mr barnier told the times newspaper that the two parties should work together in the spirit of cooperation. his intervention comes after the eu announced it would impose controls on the irish border by invoking emergency clauses from the brexit divorce deal. our europe correspondent, kevin connolly, is in brussels and he explains why the european commission has now backtracked on the plan. the original decision by the european commission to threaten the imposition of border controls to stop any potential flow of vaccines from the republic of ireland into northern ireland was extraordinary, because it flew in the face of years of brexit diplomacy, in which the avoidance of exactly that type of hard border was the primary aim of european union diplomacy. so it was an extraordinary decision.

i think there was a bit of shock in brussels at the degree of angerfelt in dublin, belfast and london. so the issue, fairly quickly went away, the european commission spoke of a mishap or a mistake, but i think it was really a fairly serious political misjudgment and an indication of the depth of anger and frustration there is over the vaccine issue. over why more people are being vaccinated within the united kingdom, for example, or the united states, than within the european union. member states are angry and the politics of this is both interesting and very difficult, ithink, potentially for the european commission. the commission effectively insisted on taking over this issue of vaccine supply from the government's of individual states. so it cannot afford to look as though it has failed to demonstrate scientific

or commercial nimbleness in securing vaccine supplies, in effect, it cannot afford to look as though it has been outmanoeuvred because it took those responsibilities by choice. the last thing the european commission wants is for the government of individual member states to be left feeling that they might, left to their own devices, have done a betterjob themselves. so the state for the commission are extremely high and it is competence in this matter is now very much an issue of public debate and there is irritation within europe of the idea the uk's somehow moving ahead in what is a vaccine race, but there is also an anxiety about the possibility of a vaccine war and we will have to judge any actions the european commission might take in the coming days or weeks in the context of its ability to do better in the race, but to avoid, if possible, the war.

rasmus andresen is a german member of the european parliament. he says everyone needs to remember that we're in a pandemic. we really need to distribute the vaccine notjust within the eu, but to all places in the world. and of course we have a lot of concerns that the tension we could see in the last days will end in a big mist, where actually we will have a fight about responsibilities but we will lose a lot of time related to the goal of of time related to the distributing the vaccines.

the european commission's decision to trigger what's known as article 16 of the northern ireland protocol prompted an angry reaction, from politicians of all parties across the island of ireland. the stormont first minister arlene foster — who leads the democratic unionist party — described the move as "an incredible act of aggression" by the eu. let's speak to the conservative mp julian smith, who was northern ireland secretary in 2019. julian smith, who was northern thank julian smith, who was northern you for being with did thank you for being with us. what did you make of this decision and how relieved are you the eu backed down so rapidly? i how relieved are you the eu backed down so rapidly?— how relieved are you the eu backed down so rapidly? i welcome the fact the have down so rapidly? i welcome the fact they have backed _ down so rapidly? i welcome the fact they have backed down _ down so rapidly? i welcome the fact they have backed down and - down so rapidly? i welcome the fact| they have backed down and changed their decision. it was a classic trump's style move yesterday, which was incredibly revealing. particularly about three issues. obviously the one you mentioned on the programme about the eu position on vaccines and clearly we want to make sure that our governments and country is as supportive as possible on that front but the second thing it revealed was that within the eu commission, despite the fact that we

have spent years negotiating a brexit deal to protect the north—south border in northern ireland, within weeks, the have put that soft border under threat. and thirdly, it revealed that they have not properly understood or read the process that you would have to go through it you are ever either side to pull the emergency cord and trigger article 16.— to pull the emergency cord and trigger article 16. arlene foster said this morning _ trigger article 16. arlene foster said this morning that - trigger article 16. arlene foster said this morning that she - trigger article 16. arlene foster said this morning that she hasl trigger article 16. arlene foster - said this morning that she has been pressing the british government to invoke article 16 because she is so unhappy about the consequences of the way the brexit deal has ended up working out. she points out things like soil can no longer be sent from mainland britain to northern ireland, there have been other examples quoted, i think the

economist this week talked about pet food, pet food manufacturer in the south—west of england saying they cannot afford to send it. it's financially unviable because of the form filling. there are real problems, even leaving aside the vaccine about how this will work. there are issues and you are right to highlight the fact that work needs to be done, but that work is going to come not from either side pulling the emergency cord, it's going to come from practical working relationships, high levels of trust all the other committees and structures that have been set under the broader free—trade agreement and i really hope that after yesterday, we collectively move on to recognising the fact that close working trust has to be at the

centre, particularly of the northern ireland protocol were both the eu and uk have a joint duty of care which was nearly ripped apart last night by the eu. there is a joint duty of care we need to apply rigorously in northern ireland and windsor have that spirit of cooperation across —— and we need to have that spirit of cooperation. help? have that spirit of cooperation. new meanin: it have that spirit of cooperation. new meaning it was _ have that spirit of cooperation. new meaning it was perhaps to deflect attention from the eu problem of taking on something it has not done a very good job handling?— a very good “ob handling? someone clearl a very good job handling? someone clearly wasn't _ a very good job handling? someone clearly wasn't thinking. _ a very good job handling? someone clearly wasn't thinking. the - a very good job handling? someone clearly wasn't thinking. the issue i clearly wasn't thinking. the issue in policy have not been discussed with ireland and what was interesting last night was people assisting the united kingdom were people including the eu ambassador in london making representations back to his own team. it was including simon coveney, and the

taoiseach newhall martin, and people —— micheal martin and so the positive thing for last night as we see that actually close relationship do work and the response by the prime minister borisjohnson and michael gove was moderate and tempered and a good step to build the relationship i colleagues want to see. . ~ the relationship i colleagues want to see. ., ~' ,, , the relationship i colleagues want to see. ., ~ , . thank you very much. today is the anniversary of the world health organization first declaring the covid—19 outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. its director—general, tedros adhanom ghebreyesus, has warned countries against "vaccine nationalism", saying drugs should be prioritised for use for those most in need around the globe. vaccines are giving us another window of opportunity to bring the pandemic under control. we must not squander it.

the pandemic has exposed and exploited the inequalities of our world. there is now a real danger that the very tools that could help to end the pandemic, vaccines, may exacerbate those same inequalities. vaccine nationalism might serve short—term political goals, but it's ultimately short—sighted and self—defeating. we will not end the pandemic anywhere until we end it everywhere. speaking to the bbc, the who spokeswoman margaret harris urged countries to pause domestic immunisations once their health workers and vulnerable groups have been vaccinated, so that the rollout can be carried out across the world. essentially, they should wait. exactly.

enable that supply to be available to everybody. so far, of the over a0 million vaccine doses that have been administered, 95% have been administered in only ten countries. that's a0 high income countries, eight upper middle income countries, but in the lower middle and lower income countries, we're only seeing two countries even begin. certainly, national leaders, you can understand that reflex of feeling, my country first, but it doesn't make economic sense. we've seen some very good economic analyses that indicate that until all the world gets going, nobody is going to be able to reinvigorate the economic system. we truly, the phrase in thejohn dunne poem, "no man is an island," written over 400 years ago, super applies to our economic sysems super applies to our economic systems as well as our health systems.

margaret harris of the world health organisation, speaking to the bbc. a world health organization team investigating the origins of the pandemic have visited a hospital in the chinese city of wuhan where some of the earliest confirmed cases were treated. the scientists are interviewing people from various research institutes and hospitals, and are also visiting the seafood market thought to be linked to the initial outbreak. covid—19 was first detected in wuhan in late 2019, but china disputes that the virus originated there. germany and france have tightened their border controls, over fears new coronavirus variants might spread in europe. berlin says most visitors from britain, ireland, portugal, brazil and south africa will be banned from saturday. most non—eu nationals will be excluded from france from sunday. the european union remains opposed to a blanket travel ban. here in the uk, the prime minister has published an open letter to parents, saying he is "in awe" of how they are coping. he also promises "hundreds of millions of pounds" will be spent on a national education catch—up

programme after the pandemic. it's been confirmed that schools in england won't start re opening until march the 8th at the earliest. here's our education editor branwen jeffreys. it's tough for millions of parents right now, trying to help children learn at home. schools in england are mainly closed until march. today, borisjohnson said he couldn't thank parents enough. he said they are buying time for vaccination and that is saving lives. only a few children are still learning in school. parents and teachers are worried about lost learning. there is a promise in the letter of hundreds of millions of pounds for catch up, but it's going to be a big job. one of the schools i have responsibility for, fantastic place, serves a very deprived community, only 30% of those families have access to broadband in that area. only 30%.

this is digital poverty in a really extreme way and it means that many children, despite the very best efforts of schools and teachers, still cannot connect with that learning. this warehouse is getting laptops to kids, more than 800,000 so far. but not every child will have somewhere quiet to work or parents able to give them lots of time. leading to fears that children could pay a heavy price in this pandemic. midwives are warning that confusion over coronavirus rules in maternity wards is upsetting families, and in some cases, staff are being verbally abused. last month, nhs england changed its guidance to say pregnant women should be able to choose someone to be with them at all stages of the maternityjourney. but an investigation by bbc news has found that isn't always possible. our health correspondent anna collinson reports. gemma, this is jacqui and jacqui, this is gemma. can i have a look at your bump? yep. aw!

these two women both know what it is like to be pregnant in lockdown. gemma is due in two months. she has hardly left home since november and has gone to most appointments alone. the biggest feeling is probably anxiety at the minute. jacqui gave birth to evie last year and hopes her experiences will help gemma. you can't control it, but then there is this huge reward at the end that is just so completely worth it. how are you doing? throughout the pandemic, the priority has always been for a woman to have a partner, relative or friend present during labour and birth. but last month, nhs england updated its guidance to say a support person is an integral part of care and should also be able to attend scans, appointments, if the woman feels it is important, and antenatal and postnatal wards. we've spoken to more than 20

trusts and found this is not always happening, and depends on where you live. take london as an example. one trust in the east of the city allows support people on the postnatal and antenatal ward, but only at certain times. if you travel a few miles north to a second trust, they allow visiting and overnight stays. now, that is in stark contrast to a third trust we spoke to, which has currently suspended visiting, because of safety concerns. midwives say stricter rules may be in place because of local infection rates and limited space on the wards. you might have four or six beds in a bay and so, - you can imagine if you then have, l on top of the six women in the bay, the six babies, you know, - you have then got to think is it safe, is it possible for us to have all six partners l there as well at the same time, - and to be able to socially distance? we've been told by some trusts that families have been confused and in some cases, it is led to staff being abused.

what is your reaction to that? that isjust hugely. distressing to hear. you know, these are peoplel who have worked throughout the pandemic night and day, trying to provide the highestj quality maternity care in a really frightening situation. _ jacqui's husband tom had to leave shortly after she gave birth. it's what gemma is most worried about. if you're on your own, you miss out on that time as a family. yeah. and itjust, yeah, worries me how i would cope with all of those emotions, as well, and not knowing what i'm doing with the baby. yeah, i completely understand. there's so much support for you, be it in the form of the midwives, the nhs staff, but also the other mums that are going to be there going through it with you. in terms of tom missing out on that time as a family, as soon as i came home, he took the reins and he was like "you go have a shower, go to sleep," you know,

"i am fully rested and i have got this and i can take care of the baby" so that he got some one—on—one time with her as well. so this is evie. there she is. say hello. oh, look! hi! i cannot wait to have my baby and cuddle it. i suppose that is what i have to keep in mind with everything going on, just at some point, we will be home with the baby, so... do enjoy, like, the rest of your pregnancy but enjoy the birth as well, because, you know, when they get handed to you, it is literally the best feeling in the world. say bye—bye then. say bye—bye! bye! anna collinson, bbc news. we can get more on this and speak to elizabeth duff from the national childbirth trust, the uk's largest parent charity. thank you very much for talking to us. thank you very much for talking to us, , ., ., ., thank you very much for talking to us. ,., ., ., there thank you very much for talking to us-_ there is - thank you very much for talking to us._ there is clearly us. good morning. there is clearly an issue here _ us. good morning. there is clearly an issue here that _ us. good morning. there is clearly an issue here that has _ us. good morning. there is clearly an issue here that has to - us. good morning. there is clearly an issue here that has to be - an issue here that has to be resolved about how much it possible to balance the needs of expectant

mothers and new mothers when they have their baby and the restrictions that pandemic understandably imposes. how do you think that balance is best drawn? you imposes. how do you think that balance is best drawn?- balance is best drawn? you are absolutely _ balance is best drawn? you are absolutely right _ balance is best drawn? you are absolutely right it's _ balance is best drawn? you are absolutely right it's a _ balance is best drawn? you are absolutely right it's a balance, | balance is best drawn? you are i absolutely right it's a balance, and the whole problem arising through the whole problem arising through the pandemic are often required trade—off and balances, so absolutely we will be very much the first to say the midwifery and other disciplines involved in the maternity care, that incredibly valuable workforce must be protected against the infection and of course against the infection and of course against abuse in those very rare cases. but we are also asking for a lot of understanding of very individualised care for mums, particularly those perhaps with first babies. some of the feedback we have heard from women going through perhaps second or third dignities are able to be a bit more resilient and philosophical, because

they know what to expect and they feel they can get through without that extra support. but we do want first of all very clear communication. we have heard reports which is extra distressing where people have arrived with their partner for a scan or people have arrived with their partnerfor a scan or in labour expecting to be able for both of them to go in, and the partner has been turned away, either has to go home again or if it is too far, perhaps wait outside in a car park and that really is adding to the anxiety and stress.— anxiety and stress. there are ractical anxiety and stress. there are practical problems _ anxiety and stress. there are practical problems for - anxiety and stress. there are i practical problems for facilities and we heard from the doctor about some of those, i don't need to go over those, some of those, i don't need to go overthose, but some of those, i don't need to go over those, but are you worried there is kind of not a presumption, despite the guidance that there isn't a presumption in trust that they should be doing this unless it

is genuinely impossible to achieve it for reasons of safety? we would absolutely hope _ it for reasons of safety? we would absolutely hope people _ it for reasons of safety? we would absolutely hope people follow- it for reasons of safety? we would | absolutely hope people follow that guidance and i was particularly welcoming the phrases about the whole maternityjourney because for some women, some of the early bits, the antenatal scans are exceptionally important, for others it's a process of labour, sometimes it's a process of labour, sometimes it's those first few hours, postnatally with the errors but they are all important and extraordinary crucialfor are all important and extraordinary crucial for partners to be there for their own engagement with the baby and to support the woman having the baby. so having that partner is part of the whole maternity care team i really liked that phrasing, that is crucial. it's getting that communication right and thinking it through for each woman. we communication right and thinking it through for each woman.— communication right and thinking it through for each woman. we will have to leave it there. _ through for each woman. we will have to leave it there. thank _ through for each woman. we will have to leave it there. thank you _ through for each woman. we will have to leave it there. thank you so - to leave it there. thank you so much. . ., to leave it there. thank you so

much. ., ~ i. the first tennis grand slam of the year, the australian open, has announced that up to 30,000 fans will be allowed to attend each day. organisers hope that up to 390,000 people will be able to attend the melbourne tournament over the two weeks that it's on. local officials say that strict coronavirus infection control measures will be in place. now, it's time for a look at the weather with chris fawkes. hello there. we have got a big mixture of weather to come through the rest of today. conditions varying a lot, from place to place. satellite pictures there shows an area of low pressure, this cloud, pushing slowly northwards, and these weather fronts, as they move their way northwards, are starting to bump into colder air. so we have seen the rain turn to snow across parts of wales, we have seen a bit of snow in the midlands, as well for a time, so we could see some localised disruption for these areas through the rest of today.

some settling snow has already fallen across parts of flintshire, denbighshire and we have also seen snow in the west midlands, but it's across higher parts of wales that we have the greatest risk of transport disruption today. to the north of this, for most of northern england and northern ireland and scotland, the weather is bright, with some sunny spells around this afternoon, a few showers around eastern areas, but it's cold. temperatures at best around five or so. so the main risk of seeing any disruptive snow today is mainly across parts of wales, where we could see 15 centimetres across some higher elevation areas, bringing a significant risk of transport disruption, but there could be snow for a time in the midlands, causing a few problems as well. overnight, that rain and snow mixture clears southwards with clearing skies following, it's going to be a cold night, with a widespread frost around, and the risk of some icy patches then to take things on into sunday. sunday, i think broadly speaking, many areas of the uk will have a bright day, with spells of sunshine. but we do have this weather system trying to push in off the atlantic and that will tend to threaten thicker cloud and some rain

across parts of wales and south—west england, perhaps some of that turning to snow for a time as well as the day progresses. the rain band not far away from northern ireland, might just about stay dry until later in the day and most of scotland, for much of england, it's bright with some sunshine, but after that, colder start, those temperatures are more slow to rise, a colder day overall, with temperatures typically around 2—4. the cold weather with us again on monday, and again we have got these weather fronts trying to push an off the atlantic and they could bring some rain, perhaps with the risk of some snow across central portions of the uk. the weather is going to be driest in scotland but here it is still cold and after that frosty and icy start temperatures again really struggling. highs of four so. turns milder across southern parts of england and wales as we head towards the middle part of the week. that's your latest weather.

hello, this is bbc news. the headlines. the eu backs down from using emergency brexit measures to restrict the movement of vaccines to northern ireland. the plan sparked outrage in london and belfast. but the eu's vaccine shortfall sees the bloc force pharmaceutical firms to get permission, before exporting european—madejabs. the world health organization again warns against vaccine nationalism over the row about eu export controls. it's morally wrong in terms of arresting the pandemic it also wouldn't bring back. the uk prime minister publishes an open letter to parents, saying he's "in awe" of the way they're coping with home schooling. confusion over coronavirus rules in maternity wards — midwives warn a lack of clarity means some staff are being abused.