this is bbc news with the latest headlines... the eu backs down from using emergency brexit measures to restrict the movement of vaccines to northern ireland. the restrict the movement of vaccines to northern ireland.— northern ireland. the plan sparked outraae northern ireland. the plan sparked outra . e in northern ireland. the plan sparked outrage in london _ northern ireland. the plan sparked outrage in london and _ northern ireland. the plan sparked outrage in london and belfast. - outrage in london and belfast. incredible act of hostility against those of us in northern ireland, nothing to do with making sure northern ireland was in a peaceful state and all to do with the eu's vaccine embarrassment and mismanagement. but vaccine embarrassment and mismanagement.— vaccine embarrassment and mismanagement. vaccine embarrassment and mismanaaement. �* ., mismanagement. but to the eu vaccine shortfall sees — mismanagement. but to the eu vaccine shortfall sees them _ mismanagement. but to the eu vaccine shortfall sees them first _ mismanagement. but to the eu vaccine shortfall sees them first vaccine - shortfall sees them first vaccine firms to get permission before exporting european made vaccines. the who warns against vaccine nationalism over the row about eu

vaccine controls. it is nationalism over the row about eu vaccine controls.— vaccine controls. it is morally wron: vaccine controls. it is morally wrong and — vaccine controls. it is morally wrong and will _ vaccine controls. it is morally wrong and will not _ vaccine controls. it is morally wrong and will not help. - vaccine controls. it is morally wrong and will not help. the | vaccine controls. it is morally - wrong and will not help. the prime minister publishes _ wrong and will not help. the prime minister publishes an _ wrong and will not help. the prime minister publishes an open - wrong and will not help. the prime minister publishes an open letter. wrong and will not help. the prime | minister publishes an open letter to parents saying he is in all over how they have home—schooled. and midwives warn of a lack of clarity meaning some staff are being abused. and coming up in half an hour, staff at the london royal hospital try to cope with the second wave of coronavirus. the european union is facing criticism from politicians across

the uk over its now abandoned plan to override the post—brexit withdrawal treaty to impose export controls from the eu to northern ireland as part of efforts to control the export of coronavirus vaccines. northern ireland's first minister arlene foster called it an incredible act of hostility towards those of us in northern ireland. there have been export controls to combat delivery shortfalls. ursula von der leyen tweeted that the uk and eu agreed on principle but there shouldn't be restrictions on the export of vaccines from companies fulfilling contractual responsibilities. and the who criticised the eu announcement of export controls on vaccines produced in the block, saying it risked prolonging the pandemic. how to avoid border checks between northern ireland and the irish republic was the issue that dominated the brexit

negotiations, but last night the prospect of a hard border on the island was raised again after the eu activated an emergency provision in the brexit deal in frustration over the pace of its vaccine roll—out. it's an absolutely incredible act of hostility towards those of us in northern ireland. it was nothing to do with making sure that northern ireland was in a peaceful state and all to do with the eu's vaccine embarrassment and mismanagement. the prime minister now needs to act very quickly to deal with the real trade flows that are being disrupted between great britain and northern ireland. the eu announced controls of exports of vaccines produced in the bloc and wanted to stop any doses entering northern ireland as a back route into the uk, but the commission quickly reversed its decision after condemnation from westminster, belfast and dublin. there is a joint duty of care. we need to apply that rigorously

in northern ireland and we need to have that spirit of cooperation across the new relationship that we have with our eu friends and partners. the eu is scrambling to secure vaccines for its member states. it's in a dispute with the firm astrazeneca about whether doses should be diverted from the uk to the continent to meet commitments already made. late last night the european commission's president, ursula von der leyen, said she had had a constructive conversation with borisjohnson and they had agreed there would be no export restrictions when companies were fulfilling contractual responsibilities. downing street said last night that the prime minister had grave concerns about the potential impact of the eu's actions, but ministers maintain they are confident in the uk's vaccine supplies. number ten is yet to comment on the eu's reversal over northern ireland. but this episode risks souring relations, fuelling suspicion of brussels in westminster

and raising concerns about how the eu may behave in the future if its interests are threatened. our brussels correspondent, kevin connolly, explained how the threat of border controls is being viewed in european capitals. having threatened those border controls in ireland very abruptly and then lifted that threat, if anything, even more abruptly, the european commission is taking a little bit more time to consider its next move and that's because there is, of course, considerable pressure from those european capitals. we hear stories of shortages ofjabs in paris and madrid, wealthy cities in germany with capable vaccination centres operating at a fraction of capacity because of a shortage of vaccines. now, the initial reaction in europe perhaps has been to hint at some sort of skulduggery on the part of britain, to look at how drug companies are handling their dealings, but the european commission knows that the issue in europe

is going to be how competently the european commission has handled all of this, because it was the commission that insisted on taking the responsibility away from member states, putting itself up front and centre. so how well did it get the business done, how well did it get the science understood 7 they are the big questions it faces. todayis today is the anniversary of the who first declaring the coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. the director—general has warned countries against vaccine nationalism saying drugs should be prioritised for those most in need around the globe.— prioritised for those most in need around the globe. vaccines give us another window _ around the globe. vaccines give us another window of _ around the globe. vaccines give us another window of opportunity - around the globe. vaccines give us another window of opportunity to l another window of opportunity to give 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 certain political goals but it is ultimately short—sighted and self—defeating. we will not end the pandemic anywhere until we end it everywhere. the director-general— until we end it everywhere. the director—general of the who. speaking to the bbc, the who spokeswoman urged countries to pause domestic immunisations once health workers and vulnerable groups are vaccinated so the roll—out can carry out across the rest of the world. they should wait, essentially, and enable that supply to be available to everybody. of the a0 million

vaccine doses which have been administered, 95% are in ten countries, high income countries. in lower income countries, only two countries have even begun. national leaders, you can understand the reflex of fuelling my country first but it doesn't make economic sense. we have seen some very good economic analysis indicating that until the whole world gets going, nobody is going to be able to reinvigorate their economic system. the phrase no man is an island applies to our economic and health systems. margaret harris of the who speaking to us earlier. a man has been charged after a suspicious package was sent to a coronavirus vaccine production site in north wales. the factory in wrexham

was evacuated and production of the oxford astrazeneca vaccine stopped on wednesday. police say the item was not a viable device. anthony collins from chatham in kent, has been remanded in custody to appear at maidstone crown court next month. 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. 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. 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 cannot control it, but then there is this huge reward at the end that is just so completely worth it. what 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, 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 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 is just hugely distressing to hear. you know, these are people who have worked throughout the pandemic night and day, trying to provide the highest 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. five men have been arrested following a disturbance that our former military barracks in kent used to house asylum seekers. a significant amount of damage was caused when a fire broke out. they are appealing for any information about the incident. it has been used to house asylum seekers since september. fresh protests are under in france against a controversial draft security law. the country has seen regular nationwide protests against the bill, which intensified after footage against the bill, which intensified afterfootage emerged against the bill, which intensified after footage emerged last year of

three white policemen beating a black music producer. critics say it undermines press freedom to document police brutality. the headlines on bbc news... the eu backs down from using emergency brexit measures to restrict the movement of vaccines to northern ireland. the plan sparked outrage in northern ireland and belfast. the who warns against vaccine nationalism against vaccine controls. the prime minister says he is in all of parents coping with home—school. a who team has visited a hospital in the chinese city of wuhan where some of the earliest confirmed cases of covid—i9 were found. they are trying to piece together the origin of the pandemic. they visited an exhibition

centre in wuhan. our correspondent has been following their progress. the exhibition behind me as one of the two locations that the who investigation team visited today on one of their field trips, the second full day since they completed their quarantine. while their main work here 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. the first place they went to was a hospital. it is one which dealt with many of the early coronavirus cases here in wuhan. a team of doctors there had also written a paper tracing the virus back to what they think is the first known patient, the first person they can find to have been infected, on the 1st of december. you can imagine why they would want

to speak to that doctor. the other teams at that hospital who were helping those who were very sick in that highly stressful early days of the outbreak. next stop was the exhibition. people might want to know why the who team would come to an exhibition, well, it is dedicated to those who fought against the coronavirus here. release officers, soldiers, nurses, doctors. even those who built the huge temporary isolation facilities. it is a bit of a propaganda effort, for sure. there are pictures of china's leader all over the place, but they might say we are able to learn something about the type of equipment people will use.

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 they spent several hours inside. then, when they came out, i thought we'd 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? or are they in any way being hindered in the search for the origins the coronavirus? in the coming days and weeks, they say they will be visiting the laboratory where, contentiously, some have said they coronavirus potentially escaped. they will be visiting the seafood market where 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 weeks they 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 stay calm and wait for them to go through this process as scientists would. our china correspondent reporting from wuhan. funeral directors say they may have to ask bereaved families to pay any fines incurred if a service breaches coronavirus restrictions. the national association of funeral directors said it was utterly ridiculous that its members risked penalties for doing a front linejob. its members risked penalties for doing a front line job. police its members risked penalties for doing a front linejob. police in hertfordshire find an undertaker when mourners went to a ceremony last week. the indian government has suspended mobile internet in some areas around the capital, delhi, where some farmers are protesting against agricultural laws. in the

latest action, the farmers are staging a one—day hunger strike coinciding with the anniversary of the death of the independence leader mahatma gandhi. when visitors can return to amsterdam they may find one of the most famous tourist attractions off—limits. the mayor wants to ban foreign tourists from cannabis cafe is. coffee shop owners say barring travellers will direct them into the hands of criminal gangs. amsterdam, famous for an array of things, including its thriving nightlife, red light districts, cannabis cafes and bars, attracting 20 million tourists per years. the city is currently in lockdown. some of its 850,000 residents would life prefer after covid to resemble something closer to its current state rather than return to what it was. this time last year, it would be crowded already

with drunk and stoned tourists, who are here solely to get lost, you know? the mayor has a plan. she thinks cutting off the lifeblood of cannabis tourism will deter low—budget guests and reducing anti—social behaviour regularly associated with them. they let go of all behavioural discipline and control, and theystart misbehaving, littering, shouting, peeing, pooping, puking, whatever. the council has already tried other ways to reduce the pressure that comes with overtourism. aianb style holiday rentals were recently banned from the historic centre, and the future of the red light district is under discussion, with proposals to create a six zone —— a sex zone on the outskirts instead. coffee shops are the latest pleasure seeker�*s pursuit to be targeted.

in the red light district, there are actually only eight coffee shops left, so on the one hand you could say how much do they really contribute to the disturbance in the streets? because it in this same area, there is 500 places that serve alcohol, so i think the mayorfeels like something needs to be done. although i think refusing tourists from the coffee shops is not the right way to make the centre of the city more livable for the locals. how do you stop dutch residents from simply becoming street dealers, facilitating sales to tourists, if they're baned from these cafes? no one from the council was available to answer that, but they did give us this response. none of the proposed measures can be introduced without a risk of negative side effects, and all require careful implementation, a transition period and monitoring. cannabis is a big draw for this city, and some small business owners, like this fishmonger, is worried about the impact of the proposed ban. there is going to be a lot less money here,

and we are going to sell a lot less fish to people who are stoned and hungry. with police, prosecutors and many residents onside, foreign tourists are highly likely to be barred from amsterdam's cannabis cafes from next year. the first tennis grand slam of the year, the australian open, announced that up to 30,000 fans will be allowed to attend each day. organisers hope up to 390,000 people will be able to attend the tournament in melbourne over the two weeks it is on. local officials say strict coronavirus control measures will be in place. a four—year—old girl has discovered a rare dinosaur footprint on a beach in south wales. lily wilder and herfamily footprint on a beach in south wales. lily wilder and her family made the discovery in barry injanuary. the footprint is 220 million years old

and had been preserved in mud. palaeontologists say it is one of the best examples anywhere in the uk and will help to establish more about how early dinosaurs walked. this is the palaeontology curator at the national museum wales. how excited were you when this find was made? . , excited were you when this find was made? ., , . , , , made? really excited. it is the best reserved made? really excited. it is the best preserved footprint _ made? really excited. it is the best preserved footprint we _ made? really excited. it is the best preserved footprint we have - made? really excited. it is the best preserved footprint we have ever i preserved footprint we have ever seen from this area. lil? preserved footprint we have ever seen from this area.— seen from this area. lily and her famil , seen from this area. lily and her family. where — seen from this area. lily and her family, where they _ seen from this area. lily and her family, where they off— seen from this area. lily and her family, where they off the - seen from this area. lily and her| family, where they off the beaten track? how had no one else seen this before? it track? how had no one else seen this before? . , track? how had no one else seen this before? ., , ., ., track? how had no one else seen this before? .,, ., ., , ~ before? it was on a loose block which we _ before? it was on a loose block which we think— before? it was on a loose block which we think must _ before? it was on a loose block which we think must have - before? it was on a loose block which we think must have been before? it was on a loose block- which we think must have been rolled around by the waves and it happens to be turned to the right way up after the last storms. we find a lot of areas in that —— footprints in that area but this is the best we have seen. that area but this is the best we have seen-—

that area but this is the best we have seen._ yes, i that area but this is the best we l have seen._ yes, by have seen. the clearest? yes, by far. have seen. the clearest? yes, by far- normally _ have seen. the clearest? yes, by far. normally they _ have seen. the clearest? yes, by far. normally they are _ have seen. the clearest? yes, by far. normally they are quite - far. normally they are quite squelchy but this one you can see where all the muscle and bones would have been. ~ ., i. ., have been. what can you tell about the dinosaur _ have been. what can you tell about the dinosaur that _ have been. what can you tell about the dinosaur that made _ have been. what can you tell about the dinosaur that made this - the dinosaur that made this footprint?— the dinosaur that made this footprint? the dinosaur that made this footrint? ~ .. ., , ., footprint? we can tell it was a small dinosaur, _ footprint? we can tell it was a small dinosaur, a _ footprint? we can tell it was a| small dinosaur, a meat-eating small dinosaur, a meat—eating dinosaur which walked on two legs, and it probably stood between about 50 and 70 centimetres tall, a very small dinosaur.— small dinosaur. you can tell it is a meat eater? _ small dinosaur. you can tell it is a meat eater? they _ small dinosaur. you can tell it is a meat eater? they tend _ small dinosaur. you can tell it is a meat eater? they tend to - small dinosaur. you can tell it is a meat eater? they tend to have i small dinosaur. you can tell it is a i meat eater? they tend to have three strai . ht meat eater? they tend to have three straight pointing _ meat eater? they tend to have three straight pointing toes _ meat eater? they tend to have three straight pointing toes and _ meat eater? they tend to have three straight pointing toes and it - meat eater? they tend to have three straight pointing toes and it is - straight pointing toes and it is very distinctive for meat—eating dinosaurs. it very distinctive for meat-eating dinosaurs. , very distinctive for meat-eating dinosaurs— very distinctive for meat-eating dinosaurs. , :: ., , dinosaurs. it is 220 million years old. how do you _ dinosaurs. it is 220 million years old. how do you know— dinosaurs. it is 220 million years old. how do you know that? i dinosaurs. it is 220 million years old. how do you know that? we | dinosaurs. it is 220 million years i old. how do you know that? we know what a . e old. how do you know that? we know what age the — old. how do you know that? we know what age the rocks _ old. how do you know that? we know what age the rocks are _ old. how do you know that? we know what age the rocks are in _ old. how do you know that? we know what age the rocks are in that - old. how do you know that? we know what age the rocks are in that area, l what age the rocks are in that area, they are quite well—defined, so around about 220 million years old,

the time when most of britain and wales were part of a desert, so the dinosaurs were leaving the footprints in wet mud which occurred after a flooding event. this wonderful _ after a flooding event. this wonderful find, _ after a flooding event. this wonderfulfind, i— after a flooding event. this wonderful find, i guess i after a flooding event. this wonderful find, i guess you would wonderfulfind, i guess you would encourage other people to keep their eyes open. encourage other people to keep their e es 0 en. , , encourage other people to keep their e es 0 en. , y ., eyes open. definitely. you never know what _ eyes open. definitely. you never know what you — eyes open. definitely. you never know what you would _ eyes open. definitely. you never know what you would find - eyes open. definitely. you never know what you would find down | eyes open. definitely. you never. know what you would find down at eyes open. definitely. you never i know what you would find down at the beach. most of the best finds have been done by amateurs just looking on regular walks. it is worth keeping your eye open down on the beach or anywhere out because you never know what you will find. use surprise experts sometimes. thank ou so surprise experts sometimes. thank you so much- _ time for a look at the way there. a mix of rain, sleet and snow across

parts of the uk today and particularly in parts of the midlands, the mix of snow and ice could lead to disruption. over the next few hours, the rain, sleet and snow slowly slips away to the south and this evening and tonight under clear skies and temperatures will drop quickly. ice will be a problem in wales, midlands and some other parts of southern and eastern england. even further north, a colder night, and some slippery stretches on sunday morning. a lot of dry weather on sunday for many of us, wintry sunshine, some snow in the far north of scotland, and later rain moves in from the south—west, turning to snow over the higher ground. dry and bright further east, temperatures around to.

hello, this is bbc news. the headlines. the new backs down from using emergency brexit measures to restrict the movement of vaccines in northern ireland. the plan sparked outrage in london and belfast. shah outrage in london and belfast. sift absolutely incredible act of hostility towards those of northern ireland. it was nothing to do with making sure that northern ireland within peaceful state and all to do

within peaceful state and all to do with european's vaccine embarrassment and mismanagement. but the eu's vaccine shortfall sees the block force pharmaceutical vendor to get permission before exporting european madejams. the world health organization again once against vaccine nationalism against expert controls. we: vaccine nationalism against expert controls. fl ., ., , vaccine nationalism against expert controls. �*, ., ., , ., controls. it's morally wrong in terms of _ controls. it's morally wrong in terms of arresting _ controls. it's morally wrong in terms of arresting the - controls. it's morally wrong in i terms of arresting the pandemic and it wont— terms of arresting the pandemic and it won't bring livelihoods back. the prime it won't bring livelihoods back. tue: prime minister it won't bring livelihoods back. tt;e: prime minister publishes it won't bring livelihoods back. t"t9 prime minister publishes an it won't bring livelihoods back. tt9 prime minister publishes an open letter to parents saying he is in all of the way they are coping with home—schooling. confusion over coronavirus rules on wards. lives a lack of clarity means some staff are being abused. now, britain has one of the highest death tolls from covid. this film