this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. overnight curfew and internet shut down, as tanks roll into cities in myanmar. valentine's day in russia sees more protests in support of the jailed opposition leader, alexei navalny more than fifteen—million people in the uk have had their first coronavirus jab — the prime minister calls it "an extraordinary feat". and — the duke and duchess of sussex announce they're expecting a second child — harry and meghan are said to be �*overjoyed'.

there is now a nationwide internet blackout underway in myanmar. there are also troop deployments around the country which has seen mass demonstrations against the military coup which took place two weeks ago. western embassies in myanmar have called on the country's military to "refrain from violence against demonstrators and civilians" after reports that security forces have opened fire to disperse a protest. armoured vehicles have been seen driving round the streets of central yangon for first time since the coup two weeks ago. many drivers expressed their anger by beeping their horns. our reporter nyein chan ay filed this report from yangon just before the blackout began. for the first time since the coup, for the first time since

the military have returned to central yangon. tonight, the generals want to send a powerful message to those planning to take part in a nationwide strike on monday. tensions are high across the city. as news of more arrests filter out and people are taking to the streets tonight. setting up barricades and patrolling the neighbourhoods. the people here want to stop more night—time raids from the military. all across the city, you will find things like this one. dozens of people are staying up all night to protect their neighbours. if police arrive to make more arrests, they bang their pots and pans to sound a warning. there's also many rumours here. people are worried about attacks on their homes by strangers.

translation: we are hearing things about attempted - arsons and chaos. they're trying to create an impression that there is a lack of security. that is why we are making our own arrangements together to protect our communities, our towns and villages. we are providing security from 9pm to five am. western embassies here, including the british are calling for the countries military to refrain from violence against demonstrators and civilians. but there is already reports of shooting in the northern part of the country. for more about these videos circulating online showing gunfire during protests, here's soe win than from the bbc�*s burmese service. there was a standoff between protesters and the soldiers, soldiers occupied the power plant in the town. so,

residents feared that the military and soldiers would cut the power and make the town blackout. they feared that during this blackout that the security troops would come and take their leaders. that is why they have been surrounding the power plant the whole day. as the night—time fell, soldiers, troops and police came in trucks and asked the protesters to disperse. when the protesters refused and they started to shoot, we do not know if they used live rounds or not, but we saw later on on the foot of —— on the video footage, buses are people who were tear gassed. young people were tear gassed. young people were brushing their faces. were tear gassed. young people were brushing theirfaces. we have seen in the recent days a large number of people going onto the streets and protesting this military takeover, so the

plan to continue what they are protesting. tomorrow, they have called in a nationwide strike in 9am tomorrow and they're quite determined that they would go on. but that also could depend on how much crackdown that the security troops have done during this night. in russia, valentine's day has seen more protests in support of the jailed opposition leader, alexei navalny. women took to the streets with flowers — and this evening supporters across the country lit torches and candles, some forming heart shapes in the snow of their courtyards. there was no repeat of the violence and arrests of previous demonstrations, as our moscow correspondent sarah rainsford reports. the cold was toe—numbing in moscow today. but these women defied the frost and their fear to turn out for a valentine's day protest. they called it a chain of solidarity and love, and they carried flowers, not placards. but the hearts were black, in memory of all the russian

women detained and persecuted because of their politics. i want to support all these women, and all these prisoners. there are some of my acquaintances in prison. we hoped that today it wasn't to be so many arrests. because we are here for love. not for struggle. the numbers here are not huge, but the message the women are sending is a strong one. about the right to political, peaceful protest, and for an end to arrests of people just for expressing their views. today's protest was inspired by alexei navalny�*s gesture to his wife in court. yulia was there as the opposition politician was sentenced to almost three years behind bars. that ruling brought crowds onto the streets last month, chanting for navalny�*s freedom. there were the biggest protests against president putin for years. and the response was tough.

thousands detained and dozens facing serious criminal charges. the kremlin calls the rallies illegal, fomented by the west, it says, to weaken russia. so, navalny�*s team have switched tack. across russia tonight, his supporters are forming torchlit hearts in their own backyards, peaceful and police—proof. they want to show that the protests have moved off the streets for now, but haven't faded. there were both arrested last month at the first st rally. locked in the same police than in shared a cell for ten days. undeterred, theyjoin the flash mob. locked in the same police than

in shared a cell for ten days. undeterred, theyjoin the flash mob. we want to feel free. we want to say our opinions and we would like to change something. you do not feel free now? no, no. the protests of moved off the frozen streets for now. but it seems the protest mood has not faded here. let's get some of the day's other news. early results in spain's semi—autonomous catalonia show separatist parties increasing their representation in the regional government. with more than sixty per cent of the votes counted, the socialists of the spanish prime minister pedro sanchez look likely to win the biggest single share of the vote, but the three separatist parties are set to gain 7a of the 135 five seats, allowing them to continue to govern. the world health organisation is planning rapid assistance to guinea, where an ebola epidemic has been declared. eight cases have been confirmed, with three deaths. people contracted the disease after attending a burial in the south of the country. the world's oldest brewery has been uncovered at the ancient egyptian city of abydos. british archaeologists first

mentioned the existence of the brewery in the early 1900s but could not pinpoint its location. it is thought to have made about twenty—two thousand litres of beer at a time and was built to provide beer for rituals that were taking place inside funeral facilities for the kings of egypt. us presidentjoe biden has called for congress to pass gun law reforms, including a ban on assault weapons. his comments come three years after the parkland school shooting in florida which left 17 people dead. in a statement, mr biden said "this administration will not wait for the next mass shooting to heed that call. we will take action to end our epidemic of gun violence and make our schools and communities safer." he added that "congress must also eliminate immunity for gun manufacturers who knowingly put weapons of war on our streets. the time to act is now." his statement marks the 2018 valentine's day shooting, when 17 people at marjory stoneman douglas high school

were killed by an ex—student. the shooting sparked outrage across the us and prompted fresh demands for firearms control. many of the school's teenage survivors went on to become prominent advocates for gun legislation reform. let's speak to our north america correspondent, david willis. more precisely what reforms and what they are. jae more precisely what reforms and what they are-— what they are. joe biden is lookin: what they are. joe biden is looking to _ what they are. joe biden is looking to and _ what they are. joe biden is looking to and what - what they are. joe biden is looking to and what he - what they are. joe biden is | looking to and what he calls the epidemic of gun violence in this country and he wants to put in place the measures that many of his predecessors of also unsuccessfully sought to bring about, including tougher background checks for those buying firearms and a ban on assault rifles, the semi automatic weapons capable of firing a number of bullets in quick succession. the 19—year—old nicholas kruse who

killed 17 people in the park than school shooting referred to in florida, but his assault weapon completely freely without a background check despite the fact that he was known to be suffering from mental health issues. this is of course, an extremely controversial subject in this country and about 40% of the american population either owns a weapon or has access to a firearm and of course, it is enshrined in the us constitution that people here have the right to bear arms. hugely contentious and so many presidents have tried to bring about change in the past, what are his chances?— about change in the past, what are his chances? good question. the democrats _ are his chances? good question. the democrats are _ are his chances? good question. the democrats are hoping - are his chances? good question. the democrats are hoping that l the democrats are hoping that this is the best window that they've had for many years to bring about some sort of gun—control reform. they have control over both chambers of the us congress and the white

house. added to which that national rifle association long one of the most powerful lobby groups in this country is on the back foot at the moment and is reeling from a series of scandals that is generally thought to be not quite the force that it once was. so, perhaps the time is right for this legislation but it will require some republicans, at least ten of them in the senate to support it and that is still something of a stretch, lucy. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: a brother or sisterfor archie — the duke and duchess of sussex announce they are expecting their second child. nine years and 15,000 deaths after going into afghanistan, the less soviet troops are finally coming home. the withdrawal repeated in good

order with the army defeated in the task that it had been sent to perform. the task that it had been sent to perform-— the task that it had been sent to perform. malcolm has been murdered. _ to perform. malcolm has been murdered, that _ to perform. malcolm has been murdered, that is _ to perform. malcolm has been murdered, that is a _ to perform. malcolm has been murdered, that is a terrible i murdered, that is a terrible effect on the morale. one wonders who was left. as the airlift got under way, there — as the airlift got under way, there was no let up in the irruption _ there was no let up in the irruption itself, lava streams from — irruption itself, lava streams from low _ irruption itself, lava streams from low and the creator flowed down _ from low and the creator flowed down to — from low and the creator flowed down to the sea on the east of the island, away from the town for the — the island, away from the town for the time being. the island, away from the town forthe time being. it the island, away from the town for the time being. it could start— for the time being. it could start flowing again at any time _ start flowing again at any time. the russians heralded their— time. the russians heralded their new generational space station — their new generational space station with the ninth lunch, dave — this is bbc news,

the latest headlines. in myanmar the internet as been suspended and a curfew imposed as protests against the military coup continue. western ambassadors have warned the burmese military not to harm civilians. supporters ofjailed russian opposition leader alexei navalny have held valentine's day protests across the country with the slogan �*love is stronger than fear�*. a human rights monitor said several people had been detained. there's some positive news from israel on the effectiveness of vaccines on the spread of coronavirus. the country's largest healthcare provider has reported a 94 per cent drop in symptomatic coronavirus in those who have been fully vaccinated. the results are preliminary but involve one of the biggest real—world studies so far of vaccine effectiveness comparing 600,000 israelis who have received two doses of the pfizer—biontech vaccine with an unvaccinated group of the same size. here in the uk, the prime minister's announced that fifteen million people

have now had their first dose of coronavirus vaccine — calling it "an extraordinary feat". borisjohnson said jabs had been offered to everyone in the top four priority groups in england —— that's all those aged 70 and over, care home staff and residents and the clinically extremely vulnerable. some of mrjohnson�*s mps are now urging ministers to commit to lifting lockdown restrictions by the end of april. our political correspondent, jonathan blake reports. lining up in lancashire for the coronavirus vaccine — some of those getting their first jab today, and taking the total number to be offered an injection to 15 million across the uk. in a video posted online, the prime minister confirmed the government had met its target of offering the four most vulnerable groups in england their first jab by mid—february. it has been a truly national, uk—wide effort. we've done it together. and i want to thank each

and every person who has helped make it happen. you can be incredibly proud of the part you played. with vaccinations in full flow, the prime ministers promised a road map the road map out of lockdown in england a week on monday, the 22nd of february. schools are expected to open to all pupils on the 8th of march. next, more outdoor recreation is likely to be allowed, followed by more shops being able to open and, finally, hospitality venues. but with the aim now to offer others the first jab but with the aim now to offer others the firstjab by but with the aim now to offer others the first jab by the but with the aim now to offer others the firstjab by the end of april, some argue all legal restrictions should end by then. it's completely tied to the roll—out of the vaccination programme and that they are protecting the most vulnerable people from death and serious disease from covid—19 from the fantastically successful vaccination that the nhs programme is undertaken. and in the industry is worst affected, there is an urgency

to start trading soon. we think we can open safely - for easter weekend and we have decided that there will be | social restrictions in place like there were injuly- and will absolutely administer those to the letter— and we will ensure that we've got a responsibility for our customers. and our staff. some conservative mps are growing increasingly frustrated and want firm commitment from the prime minister about when restrictions will be lifted. although borisjohnson cannot ignore the political pressure from his own party, the risks of opening things up too soon seem to be weighing more heavily in the government they are urging caution until the impact of the vaccines becomes clear. clinical opponents will be the first to accuse borisjohnson of easing restrictions before coronavirus this locked has to be the final lockdown. l

the strategic aim is to do everything we can. now so we don't have to go into lockdown. i seizing on the success of the programme, the prime minister acknowledged there was much more work to do. return to normal still some way off. in less than four hours, travellers arriving in england from 33 countries will have to quarantine in a government approved hotel for ten days. it's part of efforts to try to stop new coronavirus variants taking hold, but there are questions over whether the travel industry and the border force are fully prepared, here's our correspondent katy austin. the union which represents immigration star says there's the lack of clarity over some details on the comes to implementing the policy at the border at heathrow airport, which is expected to handle most passengers arriving from affected countries it says the concerned whether the border forts will cope and if it is about incoming flights having to be delayed. the home office tortoise this evening that it has maintained staffing levels at heathrow airport for the

pandemic and people should only be travelling when it is only strictly necessary. the government is thinking by introducing this policy as an extra layer of security, if you like, against new variants of coronavirus and it is secured ten hotels for the purpose although that number could expand and what people are staying there, they will have to take two covid—19 tests during that ten day period. and let's stay with the topic of quarantine, because it was this time last year the news was dominated by reports of tens of thousands of cruise ship passengers being stranded at sea or laid up in harbours, as the coronavirus pandemic began to emerge. within a matter of weeks the virus swept through dozens of ocean liners around the world. our correspondent rupert wingfield—hayes takes a look back. the diamond princess had set off from her home port injapan in late january with more than three and a half thousand passengers and crew on board. three days after, an elderly

passenger fell ill will stop a serious cough and was taken to hospital on arrival in hong kong. no one was particularly worried in the ship continued itsjourney, but on board, other passengers were starting to become ill. in hong kong, the authorities came from the elderly man had tested positive for covid—19. back in yokohama on february three, japanese authorities refused to let anyone disembark but on board the ship, infections were continuing to grow. from ten on the day the ship arrives, infection soared to nearly 700. despite what the japanese government was saying, it was very obvious that the quarantine on board that ship was not working. you can imagine the situation for the 20 half thousand passengers locked up in their cabins 2a hours a day, how frightening it must�*ve been when they wondered how is this fire is continuing to spread and my going to be the next to be infected? i don't know how we've been

sitting here for seven days were getting contaminated, but something is going wrong. this is a field quarantine. br; is a field quarantine. by february _ is a field quarantine. by february 20, _ is a field quarantine. by february 20, under huge pressure from the united states and other countries, japan allowed the passengers to be evacuated to their home countries where they faced more quarantines. the diamond princess may have been the first cruise ship to be struck try first cruise ship to be struck by covid—19, but soon more followed. in early march, the sister ship, the grand princess was ordered to dock in san francisco after a former passenger fell ill and died from covid—19. president trump notoriously tried to stop the passengers from being allowed onto us soil in order to prevent them from being counted in us numbers. i prevent them from being counted in us numbers.— in us numbers. i would say everyone — in us numbers. i would say everyone should _ in us numbers. i would say everyone should be - in us numbers. i would say everyone should be left - in us numbers. i would say everyone should be left on | in us numbers. i would say. everyone should be left on the ship and — everyone should be left on the ship and use the ship as your base, — ship and use the ship as your base, but— ship and use the ship as your base, but a lot of people would rather — base, but a lot of people would rather do — base, but a lot of people would rather do it a different way and — rather do it a different way and they— rather do it a different way and they would rather quarantine people and when they do that, — quarantine people and when they do that, our numbers are going to on — do that, our numbers are going to u. ., .,

do that, our numbers are going to u -. ., ., ., ., to up. the owner of the diamond princess and _ to up. the owner of the diamond princess and the _ to up. the owner of the diamond princess and the industry - to up. the owner of the diamond princess and the industry in - princess and the industry in general has strenuously defended its safety record. by mid-2020, defended its safety record. by mid—2020, most of the cruise industry was completely shutdown. some ships have tentatively been put back to see in the few months on cruises to nowhere. many remain idle, like the funds anchored in manila bay in the philippines. according to the website, the diamond princess is hoping to welcome its first passengers in over a year sometime thisjuly. a 22—year—old indian climate activist has been arrested after sharing a document intended to help farmers protest against new agricultural laws. disha ravi is accused of sedition and criminal conspiracy. the protests, now in their third month, mark the biggest challenge india's prime minister narendra modi has faced. the bbc�*s south asia editor anbarasan ethirajan has more. disha ravi, seen here with a black facemask, is being taken to the court. this young, energetic climate change activist is now under police custody in connection with an investigation into an alleged conspiracy

to bring disrepute to india. mr ravi shared document to help understand the ongoing farmers protest on social media and how to support the movement online. tens of thousands of farmers have been protesting against three new laws, which they say will benefit big private companies. translation: these laws will have an effect - on anyone who eats. if corporates are allowed to come in, they will buy from us at very low prices and we will lose our livelihoods. the document, or the toolkit, was also shared by the global climate change activist greta thunberg. the international attention rattled the indian authorities, who described the comments as sensationalist. the arrest of mr ravi has triggered shock and disbelief on indian social media circles. many activists and opposition politicians are scathing

in their criticism. critics say the hindu nationalist bjp government is trying to curb political dissent and criticism. they say mr ravi's arrest as a warning to others who are critical of the government's policies. anbarasan ethirajan, bbc news. the duke and duchess of sussex have announced that they're expecting a second child. a spokesman for the couple said: "we can confirm that archie is going to be a big brother" and described prince harry and meghan as "overjoyed". more on this from our royal correspondent nicholas witchell. they look very happy and they released the news, barefoot and under the apple blossom and this happy news comes to 72 hours after they learned that they won the case against the mail on sunday so a double celebration.

the queen, the duke of edinburgh and the prince of wales with the rest of the royal family are all delighted and they have sent the couple their good wishes and this will be the queens tenth the phillips babies are born in the sussex baby in the summer, one unusual thing about the sussex baby is certainly that it will be born in the united states. it will therefore almost certainly be a citizen of the united states, notwithstanding that will be eighth in the mind, boy or girl to the throne of the united kingdom. the united arab emirates space probe �*hope' has sent its first image of mars. the picture shows sunlight coming across the red planet's north pole. the probe entered mars' orbit last week. this is the arab world's first major venture into space, and it's part of the uae�*s effort to promote itself as a nation at the forefront of advances in technology. it's hoped the mission will inspire young people across the middle east, and attract them to careers in science. you can reach me on twitter —

i'm @ lucy e grey. hello. having another week as very cold as it was last week would be quite an achievement. so is swinging the weather pendulum to the mild category which is exactly what were doing this week. temperature so very different by day and by night. but the changes coming with a fair bit of rain rather than snow. it is a blustery way for the high pressure pumping the cold air at us from the east, it's now retreating. it's a low pressure in control this week. and the flow of air around the low pressure system drawing the air in from eight mile direction from the southwest. as long as it stays that way, we will have temperatures above the average for that time of year. it looks to be staying that way for quite a while. as we start off monday

morning, look at that frost out there. some temperatures will live headed up a few degrees overnight. plenty of cloud to start the day. misty and murky in places. a bit of rain still to clear away from parts of east anglia in southeast england. elsewhere, showers into northern ireland are going to run across scotland and a few into northern england and especially west of the pennines. one or two for whales reaching towards the midlands. away from the showers that will gradually brighten up in the afternoon. many of us will end the day drive. it will be breezy, not as windy as it was over the weekend but look, look, these temperatures will top ten to 1a degrees. talking above freezing. largely dry to end the day, here comes the next set of weather fronts. the wet weather pushing across us overnight into tuesday morning. another mild night and mild start to the day. still with a bit of rain to clear away from east anglia and southeast england on tuesday morning, brighter skies following, some showers quickly moving in towards the west. some of these can be heavy and possibly

thundery foot up a few will push further east during the day. a by strengthening wind across northwest it will stay quite into wednesday for the most part temperatures in double figures with him into wednesday looking at the area of showery rain pushing its way eastward. still with us quite strong winds in northwest scotland. a few sunny spells and then to end the day the next area of wet weather showing its hand out towards the south. that's going to push and wednesday night and into thursday with further rain could be heavy in places. temperatures take a step backwards on thursday but then into next weekend if you avoid the rain and get to see a bit of sunshine it could turn out to be exceptionally mild for you.

this is bbc news,

the headlines. in myanmar the internet as been suspended and a curfew imposed as protests against the military coup continue. western ambassadors have warned the burmese military not to harm civilians as troops are deployed across the country. the un is demanding the release of the elected leader, aung san suu kyi. supporters of russia's jailed opposition leader, alexei navalny, have held short valentine's day torchlight protests across the country. they posted photos under the hashtag �*love is stronger than fear�*. a human rights monitor said several people had been detained. in the uk, fifteen million people have now had their first dose of coronavirus vaccine. jabs have been offered to everyone in the top four priority groups in england — those aged 70 and over, people in care homes and the clinically extremely vulnerable. the prime minister called it "an extraordinary feat" now on bbc news...