this is bbc news. the headlines at five. the government calls for a reset in relations with northern ireland — following a row with the european union over the supply of vaccines there. i think the eu recognise they made a mistake in triggering article 16 which would have meant the imposition of a border on the island of ireland. the prime minister publishes an open letter to parents, saying he's "in awe" of the way they're coping with home schooling. a four—year—girl has discovered a rare dinosaur footprint on a beach in south wales. and in half an hour here on bbc news — after social media suspended donald trump, �*global questions asks — has big tech gone too far?

the cabinet minister, michael gove, has said the european union has realised it made a mistake over its now—abandoned attempt to impose vaccine export controls on the northern irish border — overriding part of the post—brexit agreement. mr gove said the government will work with the eu to help them get more vaccines, as long as it doesn't have an impact on agreements the uk has reached with manufacturers. he added that a "reset" on the eu's relations with northern ireland is now needed. earliertoday, northern ireland's first minister, arlene foster called it "an incredible act of hostility towards those of us in northern ireland". following talks with borisjohnson, european commission president ursula von der leyen tweeted that the uk and eu had "agreed on the principle

that there should not be restrictions on the export of vaccines by companies where they are fulfilling contractual responsibilities". the world health organization today criticised the eu's announcement of export controls on vaccines produced within the bloc, saying such measures risked prolonging the pandemic. this afternoon we've heard from cabinet office michael gove — he was asked if the row meant the government should change its vaccination strategy so that those in the uk who have already had the pfizerjab should be given their second dose sooner to avoid potentially missing out. well, we are confident that we can proceed with our vaccine programme exactly as planned. last night, the prime minister talked to president von der leyen, the president of the european commission, and made clear that we need to have the contracts that have been entered into on it properly, and it was made clear that that supply would not be interrupted, so we can proceed with our plans and make sure that our so far highly successful vaccination programme can continue.

but what about that point specifically? why not start injecting those who have had the first pfizerjab with the second one now there seems to be some doubt about supply? we are confident, we have assurances, that the supply that we have procured, the supply that we have paid for, is going to be delivered. that's why we are carrying on with our programme, and i'm working with ministers across the united kingdom in order to make sure that we can accelerate the roll—out of that vaccine programme, to make sure that there are more jabs in more arms, exactly as we have planned. how do you see the government's relationship now with the european union going forward? has it been soured by this? well, i think the european union will recognise that they made a mistake in triggering article 16, which would have meant the reimposition of a border on the island of ireland, but now the european union have stepped back and they have stepped back following clear conversations that the prime minister has had

with the european commission president, and i have had vice president, they recognise that they have made a mistake, and i believe that we can now concentrate on making sure that our vaccine programme is successful, and also that we can resolve our issues in northern ireland that have been such a concern to the people of northern ireland. you talk about the european union making a mistake. does the uk feel that it's got the upper hand now? no, we want to work with our friends and neighbours in the european union. we recognise some of the difficulties and the pressures that they face, but the decision yesterday to trigger article 16, to, you know, in effect see the reimposition of a border on the island of ireland, that was a mistake, that's been acknowledged. now we can move on, and we can ensure that the issues that the people of northern ireland are legitimately concerned about can be addressed. i've spoken to the european commission vice president, maros sefcovic, about this, and we have both agreed that we need a reset, that we need to put the people of northern ireland first. you talked about supply,

and you are confident about supply. was the prime minister reassured when he spoke to ursula von der leyen about vaccine supplies? did she give assurances about, for example, the demand to divert astrazeneca vaccines to the european union? the premise was very clear. we have entered into contractual arrangements with astrazeneca and pfizer. we expect those arrangements to be on it, and president von der leyen was clear that she understood exactly the uk government's position, so we expect that those contracts will be honoured, we expect the vaccines will continue to be supplied. the uk government's position is absolutely clear, we expect companies and contracts to be honoured. the european union know that, and, of course, we will work with them in order to make sure that their own problems can be tackled. because, as i say, ourfirst priority is vaccinating people in united kingdom, but we also want to work with our friends and neighbours in the european union in order to them, as well.

and a little earlier we heard from northern ireland's first minister arlene foster — who leads the democratic unionist party i think it is important that you look at the wording of the statement from the european commission last night. they were saying they weren't invoking it now, but they didn't take away the threat of using it in future. i think that sends a very powerful message because right throughout the process between the european referendum taking place and the end of the negotiations we were told that under no circumstances could the european commission countenance a border between northern ireland and the republic of ireland and yet 29 days into the protocol they are quite happy to invoke it, when it is in their interests and the interests of the european bloc. i think we have seen throughout the 29 days now, the 30th day, of the protocol that it is causing grave difficulties for trade between great britain and northern ireland, everything from flower seeds to potatoes, parcels, the travelling of pets between northern ireland and great britain. all of these things have caused huge upset in the unionist community

and i would argue right across the community, actually in northern ireland. i noticed that simon coveney said last night that the protocol was about protecting peace and trade. well, unfortunately it is certainly not protecting trade at the moment and it is causing grave disruption in northern ireland and i have to say i am concerned about the tension within the union's community at the moment. you will have noted what the assistant chief constable has said, mark mcewan, last week in relation to the tension and the fact that if it wasn't for the covid restrictions, that tension may well have gone on to the streets. that causes me great concern and i think that not only london needs to take attention to that but also dublin. the latest covid figures for the uk have been released. there's been another 1,200 deaths in the last 2a hours — that's a slight drop from yesterday there's also been a further 23,275 recorded cases — again, a down from yesterday's figures. meanwhile official data shows that

nearly half a million first doses of a vaccine were given in the last 2a hours. and that means 8.38 million people have now been given a first dose in the uk overall. in a moment kate silverton will be here with the national news, but first... 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.

good evening. the government says the european commission recognises it made a mistake threatening to impose controls on the export of coronavirus vaccines from the eu into northern ireland. it was a decision that could have seen checks on its border with the republic of ireland. the move, which was reversed late last night, came amidst a deepening row over vaccines supplies. the first minister of northern ireland accused brussels of an "incredible act of hostility". michael gove insists the uk will work with the eu to address issues and that the uk's vaccine programme is still on track. our political correspondent nick eardley reports. the great hope for so many of us, vaccines, could be a way out of the coronavirus crisis. this wasjoanna, a nurse, becoming the first person to get the jab in northern ireland last month. ministers think the uk

roll—out is going well, but in europe there is frustration at delays, prompting brussels to introduce controls on vaccines leaving the eu. the plan, though, would have meant controls here on the border between ireland and northern ireland. that is despite the brexit deal being designed to keep goods flowing. there was a furious response last night, which led to europe changing its mind and saying the proposal had been an error. i saying the proposal had been an error. ~' saying the proposal had been an error. ~ ., , ., ., error. i think the european union now recognises _ error. i think the european union now recognises that _ error. i think the european union now recognises that the - error. i think the european union i now recognises that the commission made a mistake yesterday. they didn't consult us, they didn't consult our friends didn't consult us, they didn't consult ourfriends in dublin, and the united parties in northern ireland, from sinn fein on one side to the dup on the other, in condemnation. people in northern ireland were bewildered by this step. ireland were bewildered by this ste -. . , ., , ireland were bewildered by this ste. . step. last night was something rare, unitin: step. last night was something rare, uniting different _ step. last night was something rare, uniting different sides _ step. last night was something rare, uniting different sides of _ step. last night was something rare, uniting different sides of the - uniting different sides of the political divide in the uk in opposition to brussels. ministers here are pleased that an immediate

crisis has been avoided, but they face because from some to use emergency powers themselves to protect trade between northern ireland and the rest of the uk. we were told that under no circumstances could the european commission countenanced a border between _ commission countenanced a border between northern ireland and the republic— between northern ireland and the republic of ireland. but 29 days into the — republic of ireland. but 29 days into the protocol, they are quite happy— into the protocol, they are quite happy to— into the protocol, they are quite happy to invoke it when it is in their— happy to invoke it when it is in their interests yellow so i do fear that it _ their interests yellow so i do fear that it has — their interests yellow so i do fear that it has caused some political damage — that it has caused some political damage and it has given the brexiteers and opportunity to use it to their— brexiteers and opportunity to use it to their own advantage and i think that is_ to their own advantage and i think that is very— to their own advantage and i think that is very unfortunate, given the fact that _ that is very unfortunate, given the fact that there was a lot of attention and effort and dedication put into— attention and effort and dedication put into protecting the all ireland economy — put into protecting the all ireland econom . �* ., put into protecting the all ireland econom . ~ ., ., ., economy. avoiding a hard border in ireland was — economy. avoiding a hard border in ireland was one _ economy. avoiding a hard border in ireland was one of _ economy. avoiding a hard border in ireland was one of the _ economy. avoiding a hard border in ireland was one of the hardest - economy. avoiding a hard border in| ireland was one of the hardest tasks of the brexit negotiation, and that is why some here are so frustrated that europe seems to be willing to use its emergency powers so quickly. and although it has now changed its mind, there are questions over what this will do to trust between

brussels and london, and whether something similar could happen again. some are calling for a more conciliatory approach. we again. some are calling for a more conciliatory approach.— conciliatory approach. we must do eve hinu conciliatory approach. we must do everything that — conciliatory approach. we must do everything that we _ conciliatory approach. we must do everything that we can, _ conciliatory approach. we must do | everything that we can, everything that we have in our power, to find a solution, and any kind of vaccine nationalism i think is simply wrong. the european commission is still imposing some controls, as it tries to speed up its vaccine programme. but for now, a major row has been averted. nick eardley, bbc news, westminster. kevin connolly is in brussels. not much further news from the eu today, but how is this all being viewed in european capitals? we heard from finland there? yes, it is interesting. _ we heard from finland there? yes, it is interesting, kate, _ we heard from finland there? yes, it is interesting, kate, and _ we heard from finland there? yes, it is interesting, kate, and it _ we heard from finland there? yes, it is interesting, kate, and it is - is interesting, kate, and it is confusing. we know that the european commission still says that there are going to be some sort of vaccine controls based on export authorisation, but we know now, as nick was saying, that that will not affect arrangements on the irish

border, and they have also said it should not affect companies making deliveries under existing contractual arrangements, either. deliveries under existing contractualarrangements, either. so contractual arrangements, either. so that contractualarrangements, either. so that would appear to rule out any impact on exports from the pfizer factory here in belgium, for example, into the uk market. we will have to wait and see exactly what those controls mean, but the takeaway from this is political. the european commission put itself at the centre of this, taking vaccine powers off individual member states and insisting on doing the dealmaking itself. its impulse might be to look for evidence of british skulduggery to explain any failures, but the european commission knows that it but the european commission knows thatitis but the european commission knows that it is going to be judged but the european commission knows that it is going to bejudged on this itself in the end perhaps pretty harshly. as we heard there, governments across the world are grappling with how best to roll out vaccines, with varying degrees of success. our health correspondent katharine da costa explains how the uk is faring. the uk's mass vaccination programme is well underway, with more than 300 million doses on orderfrom seven

different companies. three have already been approved, but only the oxford astrazeneca and pfizer/biontech vaccines are in use. supplies of moderna are expected in the spring. this week, two more vaccines were found to be highly effective at protecting people from falling seriously ill with covid. if they're approved by the uk regulator, novavax could be available from the second half of this year. it is not clear when supplies of janssen would be available, but unlike the other vaccines, that one only needs one shot, and it can be stored in a fridge, which could make a significant impact on the pandemic globally. so, how is the vaccination campaign going around the world? well, israel has taken an early lead, with 53 doses per 100 people. the uk is on 12 per 100. supply issues affecting pfizer and astrazeneca have meant countries like germany, spain and france are still lagging behind. one major concern scientists have is whether new variants

could stop current vaccines from working as effectively. the good news is that novavax was found to be 86% effective against the uk variant, and both novavax and janssen were found to be around 60% effective against the south african version. scientists are still studying the impact on current vaccines. early evidence shows that they are still pretty efficient. the companies say, if changes are needed, they could be tweaked within weeks or months, and like flu, we may need new vaccines each year. katharine da costa reporting there. let's take a look at the latest government figures. there were 23,275 new coronavirus infections recorded in the latest 24—hour period, which means that on average the number of new cases reported per day in the last week is 25,519. the number of people in hospital is falling, with an average of 34,783 currently in hospital.

with 34,783 currently in hospital. 1,200 deaths were reported, that's people who died within 28 days of a positive covid—19 test. on average in the past week, 1,177 deaths were announced every day. the total number of deaths so far across the uk is 105,571. there are also figures for the numbers of people vacinnated. 487,756 people have had their first dose of one of the three approved covid—19 vaccines in the latest 24—hour period, meaning nearly 8.4 million people in the uk have had theirfirstjab. a man has been charged after a suspicious package was sent to a coronavirus vaccine production site in north wales. all staff had to be evacuated from the wockhardt site in wrexham on wednesday and production halted while the package was investigated. anthony collins, who's 53 and from chatham, has been remanded in custody to attend maidstone crown court next month.

football now, and in the premier league, newcastle united ended their run of five straight defeats with a 2—0 win at everton. nesta mcgregor reports. everton started this game with european football in mind. newcastle's ambition more modest — their first points of the year. callum wilson's always been described as a handful and it was a hand that left yerry mina needing treatment, albeit, accidental. shortly after, wilson was involved again, forcing a fingertip save from jordan pickford. more frustration for steve bruce. well into the second half, wilson eventually found a way through for his 50th goal in the premier league. everton committed men forward looking for an equaliser. the result — wilson left free to secure victory at last. it's been a difficult few weeks, of course. the one thing that breathes a bit of confidence is a good performance and a good team performance and i thought all round

today was excellent. one very tired striker, one very happy manager and the pressure perhaps eased slightly for now. a dinosaur footprint has been discovered by a four—year—old girl on a beach near barry in south wales. lily wilder made the discovery while on a walk with her father. the footprint, which is 220 million years old, has been described as one of the best examples from anywhere in the uk and will help establish more about how early dinosaurs walked. that's it. we're back with the late news at ten. now on bbc one, it's time for the news where you are. goodbye.

hello. this is bbc news. 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 and 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 of the pandemic, vaccines, may exacerbate those same inequalities. vaccine nationalism might serve short—term political goals but it is ultimately short sighted and self—defeating. we will not end the pandemic anywhere until we end it everywhere. dr ifeanyi nsofor is the director of policy and advocacy at nigeria health watch and is a senior fellow at the aspen institute. hejoins me now. hello, dr nsofor. how concerned are you at the unequal distribution of vaccines across the

world? ., ., ., �* world? thanks for having me. i'm very concerned, _ world? thanks for having me. i'm very concerned, because - world? thanks for having me. i'm very concerned, because i - world? thanks for having me. i'm very concerned, because i think. world? thanks for having me. i'm| very concerned, because i think he really hit the nail on the head, that if you want to end the pandemic as quickly as possible, there has to be some level of equity in this distribution of vaccines, and not just across countries, buying the available stock of vaccines, because this is a pandemic, so the word is strong as its weakest link, as for the is concerned, so the world are still at risk, really. i the is concerned, so the world are still at risk, really.— still at risk, really. i was very struck, because _ still at risk, really. i was very struck, because you - still at risk, really. i was very struck, because you wrote i still at risk, really. i was very struck, because you wrote an still at risk, really. i was very - struck, because you wrote an article recently pointing out the inequality of distribution. you quoted the world health organization's director—general talking about the number of doses that has been officially administered in any

african country so far, and that is 25. , ~' ., african country so far, and that is 25. , ~ ., , , 25. yes, 25. i know, interestingly, if ou 25. yes, 25. i know, interestingly, if you watch _ 25. yes, 25. i know, interestingly, if you watch the _ 25. yes, 25. i know, interestingly, if you watch the interview - 25. yes, 25. i know, interestingly, if you watch the interview of - 25. yes, 25. i know, interestingly, | if you watch the interview of doctor tedros adhanom, he is stressing, it's not 25 million, not 25,000, not 2500, 25, and that is the country of guinea. about 39 million doses have been administered in the richest countries. you can see the disparity, and that will not help us in the long term. but there are international programmes. there is, so why is this not helping? no vaccine has gone to the countries where these vaccines will be

administered. if i use africa as a continent, for instance, it's probably until the end of 2021 that vaccines from covax will reach these countries. so while there are commendable and equitable, it is not helping the situation right now, and even after the covax vaccines are distributed, it will only cover 20% of the continent, and we are told that we need 60 to 70% to achieve immunity, so even after they've been distributed from the continent, and 20% of the population immunised, it still wouldn't solve the problem of ending transmission nerve covid—19 across the continent. d0 ending transmission nerve covid-19 across the continent.— ending transmission nerve covid-19 across the continent. do you lay any ofthe across the continent. do you lay any of the blame — across the continent. do you lay any of the blame at _ across the continent. do you lay any of the blame at the _ across the continent. do you lay any of the blame at the door _ across the continent. do you lay any of the blame at the door of - across the continent. do you lay any of the blame at the door of the - of the blame at the door of the leaders of individual african countries?— leaders of individual african countries? ~ , , countries? absolutely, even in my iece, i

countries? absolutely, even in my piece. i was _ countries? absolutely, even in my piece, i was clear— countries? absolutely, even in my piece, i was clear i _ countries? absolutely, even in my piece, i was clear i am _ countries? absolutely, even in my piece, i was clear i am angry - countries? absolutely, even in my| piece, i was clear i am angry about african leaders, because we knew we were going to get to this point in time, so, ideally, a lot of planning should have gone into this, a lot of relocation of resources to procure vaccines for the continent. however, i also give them some slack, because evenif i also give them some slack, because even if the funds were really available from african countries, we will still not be able to buy, because western countries have all the available vaccines. it is almost like we are between the rock and a hard place. it is such a sour situation, but most importantly, i want african leaders to begin to look at the future, because this will not be the last pandemic. the next pandemic, nobody knows when, beyond that, we have others like meningitis and different infections like that, and we cannot keep depending on richer western nations to keep providing vaccines for our

people. so, it's really in the long run, our leaders have to step up. thank you so much for talking to us. that's dr ifeanyi nsofor from the institute. more now on four—year—old lily wilder who discovered a rare dinosaur footprint on a beach in south wales. a little earlier, i caught up with lily and her family who told me of when they realised they'd discovered something spectatular. i was also schooled by lily as to which dinosaur the footprint could belong to. well, we were just literally walking along the beach doing the usual thing, looking at shells and what have you, and lily said, daddy, look at this, and there it was, this amazing footprint. just unbelievably realistic, couldn't believe it was real. ~ . , realistic, couldn't believe it was real. ., , , ., ., , realistic, couldn't believe it was real. ., , , ., ., real. we are seeing photographs of it now and you _ real. we are seeing photographs of it now and you will— real. we are seeing photographs of it now and you will pointing - real. we are seeing photographs of it now and you will pointing at - real. we are seeing photographs of it now and you will pointing at the l it now and you will pointing at the footprint. when you sew it, did you

think, has somebody drawn that, or has somebody edged it out?- think, has somebody drawn that, or has somebody edged it out? yeah, i thou . ht has somebody edged it out? yeah, i thought maybe _ has somebody edged it out? yeah, i thought maybe somebody... - has somebody edged it out? yeah, i thought maybe somebody... it's - thought maybe somebody... it's popular with fishermen down there, i thought maybe someone has been sat on a rock and etched it out. it wasn't really until we got it home and i showed sally, and even she thought, is it real? and the first archaeologist we showed it to, likewise, he was like, is this a... 7 likewise, he was like, is this a... ? is this a wind—up, i think you said— ? is this a wind—up, i think you said to— ? is this a wind—up, i think you said to me! _ ? is this a wind—up, i think you said to me! at ? is this a wind-up, i think you said to me!— ? is this a wind-up, i think you said to me! at what point did you think you'd _ said to me! at what point did you think you'd find _ said to me! at what point did you think you'd find something - said to me! at what point did you think you'd find something really| think you'd find something really important? i think you'd find something really im ortant? ~ ., , , important? i think it was when my mum sorry. _ important? i think it was when my mum sorry. we — important? i think it was when my mum sorry, we posted _ important? i think it was when my mum sorry, we posted a - important? i think it was when my mum sorry, we posted a picture . important? i think it was when my l mum sorry, we posted a picture and she said. _ mum sorry, we posted a picture and she said. you — mum sorry, we posted a picture and she said, you need to report it, it looks— she said, you need to report it, it looks amazing. i put it on a fossil identification facebook page, and it caused _ identification facebook page, and it caused a _ identification facebook page, and it caused a bit of a stir, and that's when _ caused a bit of a stir, and that's when i — caused a bit of a stir, and that's when i was _ caused a bit of a stir, and that's when i was put in touch with the archaeologist, cindy from cardiff museum. — archaeologist, cindy from cardiff museum, so they took over from there _ museum, so they took over from there. ~ ., ., , �* , .,

there. wow, that must've been a treat there. wow, that must've been a great moment- _ there. wow, that must've been a great moment. lily, _