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. advance purchase agreements need to be respected. 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. 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 day

vaccine notjust within the eu but to all places and at 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 mess, where actually we will have to fight about responsibilities, but will be at the end will lose a lot of time relating to the goal of, yeah, 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 stephen farry mp, deputy leader of the alliance party in northern ireland.

thank you very much for being with us. ~ . thank you very much for being with us, ~ ., ., , thank you very much for being with us.~ . thank you very much for being with us. what was your reaction? do you feel as angry? _ us. what was your reaction? do you feel as angry? i _ us. what was your reaction? do you feel as angry? i certainly _ us. what was your reaction? do you feel as angry? i certainly would - us. what was your reaction? do you feel as angry? i certainly would not| feel as angry? i certainly would not describe it as _ feel as angry? i certainly would not describe it as an _ feel as angry? i certainly would not describe it as an act _ feel as angry? i certainly would not describe it as an act of— feel as angry? i certainly would not describe it as an act of aggression, | describe it as an act of aggression, and certainly the notion of the uk itself would then invoke article 16 would equally be an act of hostility and aggression. but certainly i was very disappointed in the actions of the european union. i didn't believe what they did was warranted or justified. there were other ways they could have addressed their challenges around vaccine procurement without going down this route. it is something that has shocked a lot of people will stop we certainly do more, and acknowledge that the european union to reverse course last night. i'm hoping we can reset the situation. there is a need to rebuild trust and confidence, but we need to go forward and the spirit of cooperation to ensure we

implement protocol as best we can for the people of northern ireland. we will not dwell too long on the vaccine question, because as you say, it is not entirely resolved, because the decision of exporting and getting permission, but there is no suggestion effectively checks on the border, which was of the dispute. but it leaves us problem, and highlights the problem, that are no situations in which some goods which are freely made between great britain and northern ireland are finding it difficult. our enforcer talked on the radio this morning about the issue of people wanting to buy plants for their garden. a similar article in the economist as we and talked about fresh food, that somebody in the south but said it is no longer viable for him to send it to customers in northern ireland, because the customs declarations make it ruinously expensive. these are problems that could come if they are problems that could come if they are not handled carefully, stoke

tensions in northern ireland on either side of the border, couldn't they? either side of the border, couldn't the ? , ., either side of the border, couldn't the ? , . , , , ., they? these are genuine issues and challenges- — they? these are genuine issues and challenges- it _ they? these are genuine issues and challenges. it is _ they? these are genuine issues and challenges. it is important - they? these are genuine issues and challenges. it is important to - challenges. it is important to understand why this has happened. whenever the uk has decided to go for a hard brexit, to leave the customs union and single market, that meant there had to have some sort of special arrangement for northern ireland, giving a unique situation. and unfortunately light on the map had to be done either across the island of ireland or across the island of ireland or across the island of ireland or across the ruc. it brings up challenges for sure. what we need to do is to continue the work between both the uk and the european commission to try to get many flexibilities around the protocol as we possibly can. it is having genuine teething and structural problems that have manifested, but the notion that we end up retaliating and invoking article 16 itself would be a race to the bottom and self—defeating. it will live

northern ireland in a worse situation for the legal framework for operating would be very much in question. this is not of our making. the protocol was a loose worst alternative left on the table. we need to work through this to try to get genuine solution. hopefully now the european union will be more flexible and pragmatic in that regards after what has happened over the past 2a hours. we regards after what has happened over the past 24 hours.— the past 24 hours. we have now seen the past 24 hours. we have now seen the centenary — the past 24 hours. we have now seen the centenary of _ the past 24 hours. we have now seen the centenary of the _ the past 24 hours. we have now seen the centenary of the partition - the past 24 hours. we have now seen the centenary of the partition of - the centenary of the partition of ireland, which it is hard to imagine anyone back then in 1921 would have thought would still be the case 100 years ago. are you worried that longer term, the brexit consequences at least, unintended but nonetheless part of a kind of opening up a new argument in this about the future shape of ireland, and for the northern ireland ultimately should become part of a single ireland, or can remain part of the uk? the

alliance party _ can remain part of the uk? the alliance party is _ can remain part of the uk? the alliance party is a _ can remain part of the uk? tue: alliance party is a cross can remain part of the uk? tte: alliance party is a cross union party, we are not unionist or nationalist, and we don't take it formal position on that. we are trying to overcome divisions and build reconciliation, but we do recognise that we must work through the situation where people are having multiple conversations about either a united or shared ireland, but also how you would reimagine the uk in the aftermath of the brexit. so a lot of the old certainties that may be exhausted as recently as 2015 are up in the air. and it is important that we work together to try to build as much consensus on the way forward. the protocol is not perfect, but it may be a means by which we can try to curtail some of these are different dynamics that have been unleashed. the good friday agreement was doing that previously. brexit has been very challenging to it, and the protocol as a response to that situation.— to that situation. interesting at least at the _ to that situation. interesting at least at the eu _ to that situation. interesting at least at the eu decision - to that situation. interesting at least at the eu decision to - to that situation. interesting at - least at the eu decision to provoke absolute unanimity from parties in northern ireland and parties in the

republic. so, something perhaps was achieved even if that was by accident or by design.- accident or by design. yes, absolutely. _ accident or by design. yes, absolutely. there - accident or by design. yes, absolutely. there are - accident or by design. yes, . absolutely. there are different analysis across northern ireland of parties were people are seeking retaliation, which will be counter—productive and self—defeating. the only real alternative here is working collaboratively through the institution. there are but a lot of calls last night from a number of the here including our own. there are a lot of problems are under european union tried to get this issue resolved, and it certainly that people like michel barnier have not been fully sighted on the decisions made, and it is a genuine issue in ensuring that everyone is fully aware of the implications of decisions that they may well be making on the brexit process in northern ireland.— making on the brexit process in northern ireland. ., ~ . northern ireland. thank you so much for bein: northern ireland. thank you so much for being with — northern ireland. thank you so much for being with us _ northern ireland. thank you so much for being with us today. _ today is the anniversary

of the world health organisation first declaring the covid—19 outbreak a public health emergency this 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.

a world health organization team has visited a hospital in the chinese city of wuhan where some of the earliest confirmed cases of covid—19 were treated. the scientists are attempting to piece together the origin of the coronavirus pandemic. they also visited an exhibition centre in wuhan. 0ur correspondent in china, stephen mcdonnell, has been following their progress. the exhibition behind me as one of the exhibition behind me as one of the two locations which the who investigation team visited today on one of their field trips. the second full day since they completed their quarantine. while that men work here there is to review the research already done by chinese scientists, they are able to supplement this with face—to—face meetings and also visiting locations for some hands—on work, if you like. so, the first place ubuntu was a hospital. it is a hospital which dealt with many of

the early coronavirus cases here in wuhan stop the team of doctors there have written a paper tracing the virus back to what they think is the first known patient, the first person they can found to have been infected, back in the 1st of december. you can imagine why they would point to speak to that doctor. and also, the other teams at that hospital who were helping those who are very sick in the highly stressful early days of the outbreak. the next stop was at this exhibition. the people might want to know why they would come to an exhibition, it is an exhibition to supposedly dedicated to those who fought against the coronavirus here in wuhan. so, it could be police officers, soldiers, nurses, doctors. even those who build those huge temporary isolation facilities that everyone will remember having seen it here in wuhan. it is a bit of a

propaganda effort for sure. if you go under, there are pictures of the chinese leader all over the place, but they might say, we were able to learn something about the type of equipment people used. also, if they are honouring those who fought against the coronavirus, and many people lost their lives here doing this, well why not do that? the exhibition is quite big, and spent several hours inside. then, when they came out, i thought would have a go at trying to speak to them. excuse me! can you tell us how the trip is going? they were not really forthcoming at all, i would have to say. they didn't even acknowledge our presence, really. people will want to know, though, are they getting the access that they need to? are they getting the information they need? ardley in any way being handled as a search for the origins the coronavirus? in the coming days and weeks, they say they will be

visiting the laboratory where contentious though some have said they coronavirus potentially is great. they will be visiting the seafood market for those early clusters were said to have come from. but i should stress that they don't want people to think that after these two books you are going to come out and say they have found the origins of the coronavirus. the scientists say it is very complicated, it may even take years to get to the bottom of it, and that everybodyjust has to get to the bottom of it, and that everybody just has to to get to the bottom of it, and that everybodyjust has to stay calm and wait for them to go through this process as scientists would. a man has been charged after a suspicious package was sent to a coronavirus vaccine production site in wrexham. all staff had to be evacuated, and production stopped at the north wales site on wednesday while investigations were carried out. police say the item was not a viable

device. anthony collins from chatham, kent, was arrested on thursday. 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. 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. up to 30,000 fans a day will be allowed to attend the australian open which starts on the eight february in melbourne. in the last few days, players have started to leave hotel quarantine after completing their mandatory 14—day isolation period. one of the stars still enduring her hotel lockdown is australian tennis player ellen perez — seen here training in her rather limiting surroundings!

we can talk her now. this is your role, as it has been so long. it is night in melbourne now. how will you pairing up, and how excited are you about the prospect of real fans actually watching the matches, notjust on the telly? yeah, it is very exciting. i think all the players have been waiting for this moment. it is what we kind of love for, to be able to entertain and put on a show for the fans. it is really exciting to be able to have this opportunity.- is really exciting to be able to have this opportunity. have you and the other players — have this opportunity. have you and the other players being _ the other players being communicating, have you all been a bit worried about this? because a lot of people in the sporting world would be thinking ahead to the tokyo 0lympics, a lot of anxiety about how you protect athletes and also have spectators. a lot of sports and said we cannot do both.—

we cannot do both. yeah, it is obviously _ we cannot do both. yeah, it is obviously being _ we cannot do both. yeah, it is obviously being a _ we cannot do both. yeah, it is obviously being a worrying - we cannot do both. yeah, it is l obviously being a worrying thing going to all those different tournaments are not being sure that you will be able to go ahead, and how many fans probably there, and of the procedures and protocols will hold up throughout the whole event. but it is quite reassuring to know that we are in australia and we have got no direct cases, and the utmost extreme precautionary measures have been taken, so i feel like we are confident going forward to the australian open, and really excited to be able to play in front of people. to be able to play in front of --eole. ., �* , to be able to play in front of --eole. ., h , ~' to be able to play in front of neale, , , , people. that's stock practicalities. it must be quite _ people. that's stock practicalities. it must be quite challenging - people. that's stock practicalities. it must be quite challenging to - it must be quite challenging to maintain your fitness, and also mimic the kind of activity you would normally be performing when you are preparing for a major tournament like this. how have you done? tt’s preparing for a major tournament like this. how have you done? tt’s a like this. how have you done? it's a balance. obviously, _ like this. how have you done? it's a balance. obviously, you _ like this. how have you done? tt�*s —. balance. obviously, you cannot get the same repetition of things you normally would, but it is maintaining positivity, doing a little bit of something. i try to do a bicycle section in the morning, something in the afternoon,

footwork, ground strokes, some strength or court rehab. i am also mixing it up, trying to do things differently to keep it entertaining. there is nothing like match fitness and being out on court, hurting the ball. you cannot replicate it. as much as i try and hear, it is probably not the same. hand much as i try and hear, it is probably not the same. and you haven't done — probably not the same. and you haven't done any _ probably not the same. and you haven't done any damage - probably not the same. and you haven't done any damage to - probably not the same. and you haven't done any damage to the probably not the same. and you - haven't done any damage to the hotel room in the process, have you? this. room in the process, have you? no, no damage — room in the process, have you? no, no damage yet- _ room in the process, have you? no, no damage yet. i'm _ room in the process, have you? ttrr, no damage yet. i'm very conscious of the guests and enables next to me. i don't have the luxury of having tennis players next to me, so i kinda feel like that is the last thing we want to hear in their 14 daysis thing we want to hear in their 14 days is nice for me.— days is nice for me. that is very considerate _ days is nice for me. that is very considerate of _ days is nice for me. that is very considerate of you. _ days is nice for me. that is very considerate of you. good - days is nice for me. that is very considerate of you. good luck. l days is nice for me. that is very i considerate of you. good luck. and days is nice for me. that is very - considerate of you. good luck. and i have to say, if you do cause any damage, if i was the hotel, i would be getting a little black boots up. good luck for the australian open. thank you for talking to us. midwives are warning that confusion over coronavirus rules

in maternity wards is upsetting families — and in some cases staff are being verbally abused. 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 has 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. a four—year—girl has discovered a rare dinosaur footprint on a beach in south wales. lily wilder and her family made the discovery at bendricks bay in barry in january.

the footprint is 220 million years old and had been preserved in mud. palaeontologists say it's one of the best examples from anywhere in the uk and will help them to establish more about how early dinosaurs walked. 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.

hello. i'm shaun ley. welcome to the programme which brings together some of the uk's leading commentators, bbc specialists, and those journalists who've worked as foreign correspondents, filing stories to audiences back home from the dateline london. this week: will there be enough vaccine doses? the uk closes its doors to some — but infuriates china by opening

them for kong hongers. and what a disputed prime ministerial visit tells us about the future of the union. on dateline's panel this week: janet daley, whose columns appear weekly in the sunday telegraph. jeffrey kofman is a former tv anchor and foreign correspondent in canada and the united states. and with me in the studio is vincent knee, a china specialist with bbc world news. warm welcome to all of you. the european commission has been piling pressure on the vaccine manufacturer astrazeneca all week, angry that the millions of doses it agreed to supply to the eu before the end of march may be cut by up to 60% because of manufacturing problems. yet it's decision friday to invoke part of the brexit deal, an emergency power to potentially introduce checks on the border between northern ireland — part of the uk — and the republic of ireland was incendiary. before the night was over, brussels executed a humiliating u—turn.