good afternoon. the scientists behind the oxford astrazeneca coronavirus vaccine say it should still prevent people needing hospital treatment or dying, despite the emerging south african variant. research has found that the jab offers only limited protection against mild cases of that variant, although that study hasn't yet been checked by other experts. the government says it is looking at ways to deal with covid variants in the long term. our health correspondent, jim reed reports. surge testing in the midlands to try and stamp out the latest variant

of coronavirus. around 100 cases of a version first found in south africa have been confirmed here to date. the worry is, a specific mutation could make our vaccines less effective. now, new trial results from south africa appear to confirm that. a small study of 2000 people published in full tomorrow has found the oxford astrazeneca jab only offered limited protection against mild and moderate disease caused by the south african variant. there were too few cases of serious disease to measure in the trial, but the developers say separate blood tests suggest the vaccine should still be able to prevent hospital admissions and deaths. maybe we won't be reducing the number of cases is much, but we still won't be seeing the deaths, the hospitalisations and the severe disease, and that's really important for health care systems, even if we are having mild and asymptomatic infections. the news today follows

similarfindings from other vaccine manufacturers. scientists in oxford are already working to tweak him vaccine and say scientists in oxford are already working to tweak their vaccine and say a new version which can better protect against the south african variant should be available by the autumn. ministers say we may need a differentjab each year to protect the population. we see very much probably an annual or a booster in the autumn or an annual, in the way we do with flu vaccinations, where you look at what variant of virus is spreading around the world, you rapidly produce a variant vaccine and then begin to vaccinate and protect the nation. 11 million people have received a vaccine so far, but a reminder that even when that programme is complete, it's unlikely to mean the end of covid. we may well have to live with this virus for many months if not years to come. jim reed, bbc news. the vaccines minister nadhim zahawi also said the government is not looking to introduce vaccine

passports that could allow people immunised against covid—19 to travel to other countries. 0ur political correspondent ben wright is here. a lot of talk about so—called vaccine passports but the government seems to be ruling it out? yes, at the moment, going on holiday is illegal. but as the jabs start to be rolled out around the world, and travel and restrictions start to be loosened, this is the subject the government will have to think about. the former prime minister tony blair has said before he thinks that faxing passports are going to be inevitable. sweden and denmark say they are going to do this soon. here this morning, nadhim zahawi emphatically squashed the idea and said it is not something the government will do anytime soon. number one because vaccines are not compulsory in the uk but also because he thought it would be discriminatory between those who had immunisation against covid and those who had not. but if people want to travel in the future to countries who need proof of a jab, they might

be able to ask their gp to that record. more broadly, he was not giving much away on when the government might start to ease lockdown restrictions. we know over the next couple of weeks, the government will be looking at all of the data around the vaccine roll—out and hospitalisation and infection rates and on the 22nd of february, the prime minister will say what he thinks should happen next. ministers are sounding pretty cautious at the moment, they do not want to overpromise.— moment, they do not want to overromise. . ~ ,, , . overpromise. thank you very much, then. let's take a look at some of today's other news. the engineering giant rolls—royce is proposing to temporarily close its factories making jet engines this summer in a bid to cut costs because of the pandemic. the shutdown, which is thought to be a first for the firm, would affect 12,500 workers in the uk and last a fortnight across its civil aerospace division. as many as 150 people are missing and feared dead after part of a himalyan glacier broke off and swept away a hydroelectric dam in northern india. most of those missing are believed to be construction

workers working on the dam. tens of thousands of protesters have poured back onto the streets of myanmar for a second day in a row amid growing outrage over last week's military coup. noisy demonstrations have been taking place across the country, with many calling for the release of the elected leader aung san suu kyi. concern is rising about the mental health of people working in agriculture. according to the office for national statistics more than 130 people working in the industry in britain took their life in 2019. since then covid restrictions on events and markets have left farmers and farm workers more isolated. but mental health groups say young farmers are changing the way the issue is discussed and viewed as our rural affairs correspondent claire marshall has been finding out. i don't think i'd be here myself if it wasn't for my daughter. andy and his daughter vicky are a team, running the family farm in leicestershire. i have lost some friends through suicide. that sort of hit home.

vicky was once a beautician. shejoined him when he felt he couldn't cope any more. we tend to sort of have this image of big but rugby players, or big men. but mental health doesn't discriminate against anybody. it's hard to take advice when you're in that dark, dark place. i still have bad days, as we both do. it'sjust coping through the bad days. and at least now we have more of an understanding of each other. the coronavirus pandemic is having a huge impact. it is shows like this, key events in the countryside calendar, that would help to keep the agricultural community together. most were cancelled. livestock markets are limited. on top of that, the weather. climate change is altering the seasons. it's been the coldest january for almost a decade and this after a wet summer when crops didn't grow well. there's lots of talk about all the subsidies get. about all the subsidies farmers get.

they make very, very little money. most of them subsist on a level that you and i wouldn't be willing to accept. you're not listening to me, all right? i can't stand it when you don't listen. you're doing my head in. this is a mental health awareness campaign. at long last, it's no longer a taboo subject. mental ill health is the biggest hidden problem in farming today. we also know 90% of them actually agree that talking about it will remove any stigma that's attached to it. the largest survey ever undertaken into the mental health of those in agriculture has just been launched. bad days aren't the end of the world, everyone has them, whether they are struggling with mental health or not, really. vicky hopes her and herfather�*s story will help others to see there can be a bright future infarming. it'sjust remembering that the bad days do end. tomorrow is a new day. claire marshall, bbc news. and for details of organisations which offer advice and support with mental health, go online to bbc.co.uk/actionline.

heavy snow is forecast to bring significant disruption to the east and south—east of england later today. snow is moving in and weather warnings have been issued by the met office for large parts of the uk with predictions of possible travel disruption. now to cricket and england have taken control in the first test against india in chennai. adam wild has the latest. before the play, the plotting. this is england planning an all—round team performance. first with the bat. and adding as many as possible to their already impressive total. this helped them towards 578 before the clatter of wickets signalled the start of phase two of the day's plan. england's bowlers, taking early wickets. here wasjofra archer, right on schedule. at lunch, england on top and still revising that strategy. dom bess here showing exactly how he intended exactly how

he intended to trapped virhat kohli. after the break... gone, got him! isn't it great when a plan comes together? but you can't always bank on brilliance. except, perhaps, when it comes tojoe root. already inspirational with the bat, this catch to get rid of ajinkya rahane was quite magnificent. if anything, that spurred india on. rishabh pant�*s method was less subtle, but every bit as effective. pant eventually took one risk too many, out for 91. india ending still more than 300 behind. another good day for england, off to plot another tomorrow. adam wild, bbc news. you can see more on all of today's stories on the bbc news channel. the next news on bbc one is at 5.15pm. bye for now.

hello, good afternoon. i have the latest for you from the bbc sports centre this sunday afternoon. the first of today's four premier league games is under way between tottenham and west brom. it's currently 0—0 early in the second half. harry kane returning from injury for spurs. later this afternoon, leicester can move level on points with second—placed manchester united if they beat wolves. chelsea face bottom side sheffield united in the late game, while champions liverpool face leaders manchester city in the big game of the day. city are seven points clear of liverpool with a game in hand, not that pep guardiola is happy to keep the gap as it is. never, never ever in my career as a manager do i prepare a game to drop,

i try to do the game, to create the problems to our opponents. saying that, sometimes it is not possible, sometimes the opponent is better, sometimes the opponent is better, sometimes in the last 15 minutes it is not possible to score, but in the beginning, no way. fix, is not possible to score, but in the beginning, no way.— is not possible to score, but in the beginning, no way. a goal from harry kane makes — beginning, no way. a goal from harry kane makes it — beginning, no way. a goal from harry kane makes it 1-0. _ rangers can take another step towards the scottish premiership title today with a win at bottom side hamilton. it's currently goalless. steven gerrard's side are 20 points clear of celtic and need just six more victories to secure their first premiership title in a decade. second—placed manchester united are taking on reading right now in the women's super league. and we can bring you live pictures of the game right now as it approaches the end of the first half. still 0-0. united are currently level on points

with leaders chelsea, who face brighton later this afternoon. you can watch this match on the bbc sport website. four wickets from dom bess have helped put england into a strong position against india after day three of the first test in chennai. having been bowled out for 578 in their first innings, jofra archer struck twice early on, and when dom bess removed india's captain virat kohli, the home side were struggling on 71 for 4. but 91 offjust 88 balls from rishabh pant helped the home side recover. they closed on 257 for 6, still trailing by 321. i was actually really confident going out that more importantly than anything it is about the collective, we have taken it six today and i think it started the game nicely. as soon as it started to spin, it is only going to get more, we are obviously pretty close to a new ball, ithink, so obviously pretty close to a new ball, i think, so i think we are in

a great seat at the moment. after wins for scotland and france yesterday, the opening weekend of the six nations is rounded off today as wales take on ireland in cardiff this afternoon. the welsh will have captain alun wynjones fit again, but they won't have any fans to roar the team on. wales coach wayne pivac says his side will be ready, despite the game being behind closed doors. we learned a lot from playing with no crowds in the autumn and i think everybody did, some did it better than others, and i think it is something that we have learnt from and we will look to, within the camp, generate some sort of spirit and the ability to go on as if there was a crowd there, to be honest. dustinjohnson underlined why he's the number one golfer in the world by winning the saudi international on the european tour. he started the day two shots ahead of the chasing pack and that's also how he finished after shooting a final round of 68, finishing on 15 under par overall. england's justin rose was joint—second on 13 under. that's all the sport for now.

thank you very much indeed, we will see you later. let's get more now on the covid vaccination programme. this time yesterday, nearly 11 and a half million people in the uk had received theirfirst dose of the jab. the government says it's on course to get all over—50s inoculated by may, should supply of the vaccine remain stable. let's talk to the labour mayor of greater manchester now, andy burnham. thank you very much indeed for joining us. you have been a critic of the government down the years, but you have to accept, do you, that this vaccine roll—out is going very well indeed? this vaccine roll-out is going very well indeed?— this vaccine roll-out is going very well indeed? , ., , , ~ well indeed? yes, absolutely. and i have said as — well indeed? yes, absolutely. and i have said as much _ well indeed? yes, absolutely. and i have said as much to _ well indeed? yes, absolutely. and i have said as much to the _ well indeed? yes, absolutely. and i have said as much to the minister i have said as much to the minister when i was chatting to him last week, he has done a really good job, as have the government. we played our part here in greater manchester and there are many people working on the ground in our 75 also

vaccination centres, so it is a big effort from lots of people, but yes, i am not going to find ways of criticising. what i am saying today is just to think of adjusting the approach as you move into the next phase of the vaccination programme, when vaccinating people between 50 and 70, because in my view, if we want to save more lives, as we do, it means notjust looking at age but looking at life expectancy in different parts of the country as well, because parts of the uk, in parts of greater manchester for instance, people's life expectancy is ten years behind what it is in the most affluent parts of the country, so to put it another way, people in their 60s have the same level of health as people in their 70s in at the more affluent areas and the vaccination programme needs to take account of that. i can and the vaccination programme needs to take account of that.— to take account of that. i can see the logic. — to take account of that. i can see the logic. but— to take account of that. i can see the logic, but at _ to take account of that. i can see the logic, but at the _ to take account of that. i can see the logic, but at the same - to take account of that. i can see the logic, but at the same time, | to take account of that. i can see. the logic, but at the same time, it is quite a divisive idea, isn't it?

i could see he would have parts of the country screaming saying that vaccine supplies are being withheld in favour of other areas of the country. in favour of other areas of the count . ~ .., in favour of other areas of the count . ~ . . , ., in favour of other areas of the count . ~ .. , ., ,., country. well, i can see what you are saying. _ country. well, i can see what you are saying. but — country. well, i can see what you are saying, but you _ country. well, i can see what you are saying, but you also - country. well, i can see what you are saying, but you also have - country. well, i can see what you are saying, but you also have to i are saying, but you also have to look at the reality that the death rate from covid—19 in parts of the north is more than twice what it is in some parts of the south. that justis in some parts of the south. that just is a fact, that is the evidence. of course, our evidence here —— ouraim evidence. of course, our evidence here —— our aim here should be to tackle need first and those at risk. i'm not saying completely stop it in other areas, i'm not saying completely stop it in otherareas, but i'm not saying completely stop it in other areas, but focus on areas where life expect to see is lowest, give more supply vaccines there so they can move more quickly through they can move more quickly through the age rate, because it is notjust the age rate, because it is notjust the case that life its potency is lower in those communities, this communities also tend to have more people out of work and actually people out of work and actually people who have been at work all the year and never stayed at home in those key professions working in

public transport, retail, people who are taxi drivers, these are the most at risk professions and they also tend to be more concentrated in the less affluent communities. all i'm saying is let's recognise the riskier that people are facing. [30 riskier that people are facing. do ou riskier that people are facing. do you think some of those key workers, you think some of those key workers, you mention people like teachers, police officers, should they be prioritised above people who may be older than them but are perhaps working at home and not perhaps on any kind of front line? i working at home and not perhaps on any kind of front line?— any kind of front line? i think you have not any kind of front line? i think you have get go _ any kind of front line? i think you have got go first _ any kind of front line? i think you have got go first with _ any kind of front line? i think you have got go first with risk - any kind of front line? i think you have got go first with risk of - any kind of front line? i think you l have got go first with risk of death and hospitalisation and that is why the government has accepted the recommendations from the jcvi, because the groups one to nine account i think the 99% of people who die from covid, so that is where the risk is. i'm just saying within that, focus more on the areas where people are more at risk and where life expectancy is lowest, because in effect, those places you could

say have more older people, because people are developing ill health at a much younger age so have the level of health of older people in different parts of the country, so thatis different parts of the country, so that is what i am saying. if a particular look was to be taken out to teachers or police officers outside of that, of course there is a case for that, but i'm talking about the main vaccination programme and how we go about it from here. just looking ahead at how we get out of a locked and restrictions, in england in particular, you have had your differences with the government are well documented in greater manchester, but borisjohnson has talked about not going back to the tier system, talked about not going back to the tiersystem, do talked about not going back to the tier system, do you agree? using out of lockdown, but not via tiers? i do. it is the second time on your programme saying i agree with the government. i think it is a sensible approach, learning from what we went through that yet because it was difficult at times stop it was

difficult, there was no way of getting away from it and it did get to the point where in one part of the region shops semesters were closed, but in others they were open and that creates an incentive for people to travel across certain areas and circulate the virus, so in my view the tiers did not work and turnaround the case rates. actually, they confused people, and set as i said, potentially gave people an incentive to move around. let's leave the tiers in 2020 and go with a phased national release from lockdown, starting with schools but then going to other sectors and what will follow from that is the sectors that take longest to return it need the support left in place for them such as to the furlough scheme. thank you for being with us on bbc news, andy burnham there, the mayor

of greater manchester. doctors in england are to be paid an extra £10 by the nhs for every person who's housebound that they vaccinate. it's part of the government's drive to protect everyone aged 70 and over, together with front line health workers, by the middle of this month. here's our science correspondent, pallab ghosh. gp george hobbs is headed out to give around 20 of his patients covid jabs at home. they're too ill or vulnerable to come in a for a vaccination. first up is diana garfitt... right, 0k. ..who has heart problems and is also losing her sight. there still is a hope in the back of my mind, however old i am, i still have that hope that... ..something will work out. right, cheerio, bye—bye! it's great because i have been a gp for over 27 years and they know me, so i think when they see someone familiar coming it makes a real difference to the experience. but quite a lot of them are quite nervous and then when they see someone they know, that is very reassuring.

hello, i am calling - from ashtree surgery. ashtree surgery in carnforth in lancashire is on course to vaccinate its most vulnerable patients by the middle of this month, but that is not the case everywhere. so gps will receive an additional £10 on top of the standard fee for every housebound person they vaccinate. yes, this will be helpful. it does take significantly longer to go out and visit someone and to take the necessary time and precautions in each and every visit, that takes people away from a vaccination centre, where they can do more vaccinations in a similar amount of time. so we do need to recognise that and it is good that nhs england have done that and have provided this additional small amount of funding to enable practices to provide vaccinations to this particularly vulnerable group of people as quickly as possible. the latest data shows that more than 11.4 million people have received their first dose. that is a rise ofjust over

494,000 on the previous 24—hour reporting period. at this rate of vaccination, the nhs would need to give jabs to an average ofjust under 393,000 people per day in order to meet the government's target of 15 million first doses by the 15th of february. and the scottish government has said that it has met its target to vaccinate the over 80s by the 5th of february. there are to be 18 more vaccination sites opening from next week, like the one at blackburn cathedral. the new sites mean the jabs are now available from more than 100 large—scale centres, 1000 local gp services, almost 200 pharmacies and over 250 hospitals. pallab ghosh, bbc news. tens of thousands of people in myanmar have demonstrated for a second day against the recent military coup and in support of the ousted leader, aung san suu kyi. in the main city of yangon,

protesters chanted slogans against military dictatorship. in the southern town of myawaddy, on the border with thailand, there are reports that shots were fired as police broke up an anti—coup protest. from bangkok, our correspondent jonathan head reports. once more they poured in along the main road from the north of yangon. more younger people this time, wearing the red colour of the national league for democracy, the party whose government was overthrown by the coup. 0thers carrying pictures of aung san suu kyi, the woman who for so many years symbolised resistance to military rule and who is once again under military detention. the crowd slowed down the sunday traffic, but drivers used their horns to show their support. some also showing the nld flag. three fingers, the new symbol of popular defiance borrowed from neighbouring thailand

and from the hunger games. many of them are students, mindful of the role played by previous generations of students in protesting against the military, but hopeful that many more burmese willjoin this movement. translation: this is really unfair. despite the landslide win in the election, the military staged a coup with false accusations. we thank the people for coming out on the streets. we have to fight together with respect for all. most internet services have been blocked in myanmar, but they are still finding ways to get these images out. and to show that the coup will not go unopposed. myanmar is a very different country from when people last came out to protest like this. this generation has experienced ten years of relative freedom, which they are not ready to give up.

but on everyone's minds is one question. will the military resort to the terrible violence and repression of the past to enforce its will? underneath this show of courage there are good reasons to fear. jonathan head, bbc news, bangkok. in the last few hours, internet services have been restored in myanmar and we've been hearing directly from pro—democracy protestors. two brothers from the city of yangon told me why this movement is so important to them. because we want our democracy back that was unlawfully taken by our military. we want our liberty back, because it is really unacceptable that they took down our elected government that we have been

voting for so many years. do you think you can win? do you think that coming out onto the street day after day will bring democracy back to myanmar? we only can win. we will surely need help from worldwide. we need to raise our voice so that everyone and everyone around the world can hear our voices. i really believe that they took our democracy. can i ask, are you scared? are you frightened when you go on the streets to protest? we know that the military in your country in the past have been pretty brutal. are you frightened ? yes, we do, we are afraid. there are so many rumours that they will shoot us, or they would detain everyone who has been part of the protest,

and we are afraid. but yet we need our democracy, because our country, the elected government and the democracy has been hijacked from us. that is why we have to fight back and take back our democracy. that is what we want. that is why we get out and we protest. do you think the military will use force? do you think they will crack down on you? that is what we are really scared of, because there will be many undercover by military institutions which might provoke the crowd or the people to act in a violent way or perhaps they will lead in riot. that is what they are doing. we are never violent. our people are peaceful protesters, we are never in a violent way. and aung san suu kyi, do you support her? do you want her released from detention? yes, we do.

yes, we fully support her. she is our only hope for our democracy. you know, we have no hope if she died or something happened to her. what is our future without her? she is our true leader and we really need her back. two brothers from myanmarfrom yangon speaking to me earlier on, they have been protesting on the streets demanding a return to democracy and the release of aung san suu kyi. a 70—year—old grandfather from 0ldham, has become the oldest man to complete a solo row across the atlantic. frank rothwell arrived in antigua yesterday, completing his journey in 56 days and a week ahead of schedule. frank has raised more than £600,000 for alzheimer's research uk and mike bushell has been following his progress.

the coral waters of the caribbean. a paradise after the atlantic. in the same view of sea and sky for two months are nearly 3000 miles. applause and 70—year—old frank rothwell arrived in nelson's dockyard in english harbour in antigua as a world record holder, the oldest person to complete this atlantic challenge and oldest person to row that ocean solo and unassisted. # i'm the kind of guy who will never settle down! # because you know that i'm around! and after 55 days, two hours and 41 minutes at sea, you might expect frank to show some signs of tiredness. but not him. the life and soul of any party. i am now a world champion. how about that? is that cool or what? i am absolutely overwhelmed! you know, the reception we got here. we came into the english harbour in antigua and all the ships, all these massive millionaires' yachts, all sounded their hooters as i

came over the line. it was fantastic! # walking down the street... after leading those allowed to be dockside in a spontaneous bit of karaoke, it was time to be reunited with his wifejudith, after their first christmas apart and 50 years of marriage. after living on freeze—dried food, especially macaroni cheese, for all these weeks, frank is now hoping for a fish salad and a proper bed. but any hardship, he says, has been worth it. he has already raised over £600,000 for alzheimer's research uk. mike bushell, bbc news. well done. he can sing a bit as well. now it's time for a look at the weather with susan powell. we have a cold week ahead, particularly biting today, thanks to easterly winds, and we will also have those tomorrow. the threat for some today of heavy, disruptive snowfall. the met office have marked out an area across parts of east anglia and the south—east that could be

at risk of up to 20 centimetres of snow falling. this is the tail end of storm darcy, bringing with it strong winds,