this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk australia receives its first —— australia receives its first doses of the pfizer vaccine — with inoculations due to begin next week. we have the latest stories with you. myanmar�*s military crackdown. clashes with protesters — tanks on the streets — and harsh new punishments, for those who challenge military rule.

hello. a warm welcome to bbc. the leader of myanmar�*s coup — general min aung hlaing — says he will try to handle the protests rocking the country softly, although he didn't clarify specifically what this would mean. this comes after threats that protestors could face up to 20 years injail, if they obstruct the armed forces — or long sentences — if they incite hatred towards the coup leaders. there've also been cuts to internet services, and a further detention for the civilian leader, aung san suu kyi. meanwhile — there are more reports — of soldiers using rubber bullets against protestors as demonstrations continue. here's our south east asia correspondentjonathan head. gunfire. even for a country shocked at being back under military rule, it has been a stressful 2a hours. rumours of a full—scale army operation were strong, and here in myitkyina, repeated bursts of gunfire from the security forces made people think it was already happening. most of the shots, though,

were fired into the air. then, an eight—hour, nationwide internet blackout. for what purpose, we still aren't clear. this morning, the military was making itself visible in yangon and other cities. that didn't stop people from protesting again over their power grab, as they have for the past ten days. if anything, the soldiers provoked people to speak out even more over seeing their democracy crashed by the generals. this armoured vehicle found itself surrounded by hostile traffic, the drivers honking their anger. and here at the headquarters of the party led by aung san suu kyi, more anger. "release our leaders," they shouted at the police surrounding the building. they haven't forgotten that they re—elected

her by a landslide just three months ago. she's still in military custody, her detention extended today for who knows how long. the military�*s plans from now are hard to guess. the soldiers, though, are an ominous sign. these are combat units used to fight armed insurgents on myanmar�*s borders, and in previous unrest to shoot protesters. and they're back on the streets again. jonathan head, bbc news. i'm joined now by murray hiebert, senior associate of the southeast asia programme at the centre for disease control and prevention strategic and international studies. thanks forjoining us. are you concerned that events might now be taking an ominous turn in me and mark? ~ ., , , ., ., .,

mark? well, as you heard in that re ort mark? well, as you heard in that report from _ mark? well, as you heard in that report from your _ mark? well, as you heard in that report from yourjournalist, - mark? well, as you heard in that report from yourjournalist, yes, | report from yourjournalist, yes, there is a lot of concern with the extra armoured personnel carriers and tanks in the streets with more soldiers, with the cutting of the internet, with introducing a whole slog of new very draconian laws that were on the books or had been on the books before when the military was in charge. i think we can expect, i think, most analysts expect that there will be some kind of crackdown sometime soon. they are not going to, nobody thinks that they are going to want to put up with daily protests, with basically a government shutdown with civil disobedience and a lot of government ministries and hospitals, schools. the economy is grinding to a halt. i can't imagine the military is going to be patient for very much longer. we have been here before, haven't we? 1988, the uprising was crushed.

and in 2007 again, the saffron revolution, as they called it, led by monks, yes, both times, they were crushed rather brutally with forces coming in and firing guns and killing. we still don't know how many people, something thousands and certainly hundreds may be in 2007. but lots of people, yes. what certainly hundreds may be in 2007. but lots of people, yes.— but lots of people, yes. what role is china playing — but lots of people, yes. what role is china playing in _ but lots of people, yes. what role is china playing in this? _ but lots of people, yes. what role is china playing in this? china - is china playing in this? china would have been informed about the coup, presumably. would have been informed about the twp. presumably-— coup, presumably. welcome you are uuuessin coup, presumably. welcome you are guessing they _ coup, presumably. welcome you are guessing they might _ coup, presumably. welcome you are guessing they might have, _ coup, presumably. welcome you are guessing they might have, but - coup, presumably. welcome you are guessing they might have, but it - coup, presumably. welcome you are | guessing they might have, but it was very bizarre that the foreign minister came to visit me and mara three weeks before the coup, i'm not sure chinese foreign minister who met the other leaders, i'm not sure china would've sent a leader if it's that soon before a coup if they had known all about it. china and the

myanmar military have a very complicated relationship after the communists won in china in 19119. communists won in china in 1919. they supported armed insurgency, communist armed insurgency, and almost all the countries in southeast asia myanmar. china is supporting with arms a lot of the armed ethnic groups that are still fighting the military on the border. so, they have a difficult relationship, but once the coup happened, china sort of circled the wagons, and joined the russians in locking any strong measures by the united nations. however, one thing that has happened in the last few daysis that has happened in the last few days is that chinese internet experts have been brought in to help them install more safeguards, probably myanmar version of the great wall of china to block the internet, it's plain, you know, we

don't know yet what all the rules are that china will play, but they will certainly make sure that the military can survive if it wants to. murray, we must leave it there. a thank you very much indeed for joining us on bbc news. the uk's prime minister says he plans to set out a road map for relaxing covid restrictions next monday now that 15 million people in the country have received their vaccines. to stop the spread of coronavirus variants, new quarantine rules have been put in place. travellers heading to england after being in a high—risk covid country now have to quarantine in a government—approved hotel. the list of 33 countries includes portugal, brazil and south africa. in scotland, the rule applies to travellers returning from all countries. caroline davies reports. a different arrival to the uk. some of the first passengers destined for quarantine hotels escorted out of the airport through photographers' flashes and on to their rooms. coaches have been arriving throughout the course of the morning, bringing passengers

from heathrow airport to the quarantine hotels. everybody on board will have declared that they've been in a red list country in the course of the last ten days. guests won't leave these walls for 11 nights or ten full days. but for those arriving today, there was some company outside their windows. how's the room? good, thanks. it's ok. this man flew from south africa via qatar. he's starting a newjob here in march, and his visa only started today. he says that passengers that travelled from red list countries and those that didn't were together on the flight and in the airport. i was probably about two seats from someone that doesn't come from a red list country. we're all in the same vicinity, breathing the same air. he split the room with a friend for the 11 nights. we're either going to as really good friends or we're going to hate each other. so, i guess only time will tell. windows unfortunately don't open. it would have been nice to maybe get some fresh air in every now and then. i'm not particularly looking forward

to the next 11 days, but, yeah, just hoping it goes by quickly. there are no internationalflights into northern ireland or wales at the moment, but those flying into scotland have to quarantine regardless of which international country they started from. this man and his eight—year—old daughter flew in from america this morning to be reunited with his wife after 16 months apart. i got my covid shot already. whatever it takes to make everybody safe, i'm all for it. they'll have to wait another ten days before all three can be together as a family again. there is a loophole for scottish arrivals. if they fly into england and they haven't come from a red list country, they're expected to isolate at home, not a hotel. the scottish government want them to be put up in english hotels. negotiations on that are ongoing. early indications suggest that the number of passengers flying into the uk today was low and that the queues were relatively short. but there are concerns that

new checks will mean delays, which could be a risk to passengers and staff. every additional check the officer i has to do slows up that transaction, increases the risk of infection to the officer and to - the traveller from the officer. and as those queues build, . of course the different planes mixing with one another, i that builds up and increases the risk from traveller to traveller that the virus willjust spread. - the government say that every step is taken to reduce risks and to minimise any potential for passenger interaction, and that some airports including heathrow have introduced additional measures to separate passengers from red list destinations before immigration. the policy doesn't have an end date, and the number of countries on the red list could still get longer. so these hotels may well see more passengers through their doors in the next few weeks and months. caroline davies, bbc news. the first doses of the pfizer vaccine have landed in australia with the first stage of inoculations due to begin in the coming week.

just under 150,000 doses have arrived with front line health, quarantine and care workers to be given priority for the first jabs. the deputy prime minister michael mccormack has described the operation as "one of the largest logistic tasks australia has ever underta ken". professorjodie mcvernon, director of doherty epidemiology joins us now from melbourne — the city in the middle of another lockdown — although this time a five—day snap closure. welcome to bbc news. for those of us watching in britain. we think these vaccines have arrived quite late. why is that? 50. these vaccines have arrived quite late. why is that?— these vaccines have arrived quite late. why is that? so, australia has been very early _ late. why is that? so, australia has been very early in _ late. why is that? so, australia has been very early in negotiating - been very early in negotiating access to vaccines since these were first being developed last year. we do acknowledge that we are not in the same situation as the uk and many other countries where emergency use authorisations have been socked. so we are in this fortunate position, we have very few cases, in

fact, no community transmission, basically come at the present time, so we have opted to go through a full registration process rather than that emergency use process. so a registration process, deeming further checks, and is not to reassure people? because you are obviously geographically more isolated than the rest of europe and msa, south america, is that to reassure people that when the vaccines are there in bulk, people should take them up? absolutely. so it's very important — should take them up? absolutely. so it's very important for _ should take them up? absolutely. so it's very important for our _ it's very important for our population to be confident of the safety of the vaccine. and obviously, we have had the benefit of additional trial date of coming out, population use of vaccines and how that roll—out has occurred. so we can also take that extra data on board. but yes, our population is very risk—averse in terms of covid out this time. we are, you know, in elimination, and that's a state that we preciously are guarding, but then to be sure that the vaccines that we are using will be safe and effective is critical to inspire public confidence.— is critical to inspire public confidence. . , , , is critical to inspire public

confidence. . ,, , ., confidence. what responsibility do ou have confidence. what responsibility do you have for _ confidence. what responsibility do you have for the _ confidence. what responsibility do you have for the wider _ confidence. what responsibility do you have for the wider region? - confidence. what responsibility do j you have for the wider region? i'm thinking about, for example, the pacific islands and things? is australia allocating vaccines for those populations?— australia allocating vaccines for those populations? sure. so, many countries in — those populations? sure. so, many countries in the _ those populations? sure. so, many countries in the pacific— those populations? sure. so, many countries in the pacific are - those populations? sure. so, many countries in the pacific are in - those populations? sure. so, many countries in the pacific are in the i countries in the pacific are in the same state as us, but obviously border closures and many of those nations are having devastating economic impacts, so australia through kovacs has devoted 200 million, 18 million is for low middle income countries, also $500 million investment over three years for vaccine access and health security in the region. find for vaccine access and health security in the region. and the messa . e security in the region. and the message from _ security in the region. and the message from the _ security in the region. and the j message from the authorities, security in the region. and the - message from the authorities, from scientists is that once these vaccines are rolled out, it's not going to mean the end, though, of dealing with this pandemic. and our people happy to take that on board? 0r people happy to take that on board? or is there pandemic fatigue? it’s a or is there pandemic fatigue? it's a com - lex or is there pandemic fatigue? it's a complex conversation. _ or is there pandemic fatigue? it's a complex conversation. i _ or is there pandemic fatigue? it�*s —. complex conversation. i think our risk tolerance here in australia is vastly different from what is experienced in the eu because we

have been so free of covid for so long. so we do have a complex conversation and a transition plan to be developed over the next year to be developed over the next year to work out how we can with other countries make vaccine part of our fight against covert, how use that to relax our social measures and reconnect with the world, and as you know, we are all looking to do, covid won't go away, we want to avoid it, but how do we help move vaccines to move it towards illustrate —— less life—threatening disease. illustrate -- less life-threatening disease. ., ., illustrate -- less life-threatening disease. ., disease. professor, good to speak to. thank disease. professor, good to speak to- thank you _ disease. professor, good to speak to. thank you so _ disease. professor, good to speak to. thank you so much _ disease. professor, good to speak to. thank you so much for- disease. professor, good to speak to. thank you so much forjoiningl disease. professor, good to speak. to. thank you so much forjoining us on bbc news. stay with us on bbc world news, still to come: we speak to bill gates — about his plan to tackle climate change. nine years and 15,000 deaths after going into afghanistan, the last soviet troops were finally coming home. the withdrawal completed in good order, but the army defeated in the task it had been sent to perform.

malcolm has been murdered. that has a terrible effect for the morale of the people. i'm terrified of the repercussions in the streets. one wonders who is next? as the airlift got under way, there was no let up in the erruption itself. lava streams — from a vent low in the crater — flow down to the sea on the east of the islands, away from the town for the time being. it could start flowing again at any time. the russians heralded _ their new generation space station with a spectacular night launch. they've called it mir, i the russian for peace. this is bbc news, the latest headlines. myanmar�*s military warns anti—coup protestors that they could face up

to 20 years in prison if they obstruct the armed forces. uk quarantine hotels begin their operations today, british citizens arriving from high risk countries must spend ten days shut in government approved facilities. yemen is one of the most dangerous places on the planet — its population suffering from a civil war that's lasted for six years. but the city of taa—iz is one of the most dangerous places to be a child. human rights workers say more than a50 children have been killed or wounded by houthi rebel sniper fire. the houthis deny it. taiz in yemen's south—west, is home to one of the longest—running battles of the conflict. it's under virtual siege, divided between yemeni government forces — backed by a saudi—led coalition including the uk and the us — and the iranian—backed houthis, who still control most of the population.

our international correspondent 0rla guerin, cameraman goktay koraltan and producer claire read sent this report from the so—called "city of snipers". a warning, some of you may find the report distressing. in taiz, city of snipers. a family on the front line. ruweida saleh is eight years old. her big brother amry is ten. she probably owes him her life. here she lay last august after she was shot in the head. who took aim and pulled the trigger, herfamily have no doubt — a houthi sniper. it was amry who dragged her to safety.

ruweida arrived in hospital unconscious and had to have brain surgery. she has made a remarkable recovery, physically at least. but she's still trapped in a city at war, and that's taking its toll, says herfather, saleh bin saleh.

in front of the family's home, right where ruweida was shot, kids just want to be kids. her attack caused outrage. since then, snipers have left the children alone on this street. under armed escort, we travelled to another front line area. human rights workers document every attack. they say houthi snipers have killed or injured more than a50 children in taiz. houthi officials say these are completely false accusations by their opponents. the makeshift barricades are to block the snipers' line of sight. well, we have to move carefully

here and take cover in these front line districts. nowhere is safe and no one is spared — especially, it seems, the children. you can go from building to building here, from family to family, and hear more stories of children that have been deliberately targeted by snipers. 0ne father wanted to tell us his story, so we followed him to his home. he runs this risk every day. so do his children. this photo of 10—year—old saber was taken last april. days later, he was dead. abdu tells me saber was shot out of a tree after climbing to pick fruit. the bullet passed through his body. saber�*s younger brother mohammed was there and saw him die.

he got shot in the stomach. the seven—year—old made it home and hid under a blanket, too scared to tell their mother they had climbed the tree. while mohammed survived, he's deeply traumatised. his mother says when he's not happy, he tells her, "i'll go to the sniper so he can shoot me again." across yemen the young are at risk from all sides, and death often comes from the skies. air strikes by the saudi—led

coalition, which supports the yemeni government and is backed by the uk, kill many children. human rights workers here in taiz say the difference is houthi snipers are systematically trying to kill them. back in ruweida's neighbourhood, a young boy plays dead. hard to watch. too often here, it's not a game. 0rla guerin, bbc news, taiz. much more on that story, of course, on the website. bill gates, the founder of microsoft, and one of the world's most prominent philanthropists, says that tackling the global pandemic will appear "very, very easy", compared with the challenge posed by climate change. he says innovation will have a big role to play, but that governments around the world must send clear signals to industry,

that change has to come, if net zero carbon emissions are to be achieved. mr gates has been speaking to our chief environment correspondentjustin rowlatt. shuttered shops and bankrupt businesses are one tragic legacy of the coronavirus pandemic. it's why governments around the world are talking about stimulus packages to kickstart their economies. and today, bill gates told the bbc he believes tackling climate change should be a key part of this effort to build back better. if you look in the history of the physical economy, we've never made a transition like we're talking about doing in the next 30 years. there is no precedent for this. and so if we don't do something amazing and surprising with all sorts of innovative policies, then we will not get there. 0ne policy could be to change the tax system, because at the moment it sends some confusing signals. despite the government's drive to reduce emissions, you pay the same 20% vat if you buy an emission—free electric vehicle

as if you buy the petrol or diesel equivalent. or how about this? you pay 20% vat on a solar panel, but only 5% vat if you buy polluting coal to heat your home. a green energy company is leading a campaign demanding the government introduces a zero vat rating for green products and services at the next budget. the uk hasjust left the eu and with that comes much more freedom on how we set our taxes. and we think the chancellor should use that freedom to remove vat on green products. we don't think families should be taxed for choosing green options and we think that green technology should be available to everyone. and that includes developing countries, says the new head of the world trade organisation. she says wealthy nations need to make good their promises to help finance decarbonisation. so how do we use carbon taxes, for instance? and all these have to be done, bearing in mind that poor countries and developing countries that

will need time to transition and also the resources they need to transition to low carbon emission economies has to be found. the challenges may be huge, but bill gates says he's optimistic that the world can succeed in avoiding a climate disaster. i'm hopeful, because young people care about natural ecosystems. they care about people's livelihoods. but it's not going to be easy. and my optimism requires every year that this be a huge priority, and that with the innovations, you know, we get a bit lucky and some of them really do solve the hard areas. ending the pandemic isn'tjust easy compared to fixing the climate, says bill gates. it is very, very easy. that's why he believes if we do manage to solve global warming, it will be the most amazing thing humanity has ever done. justin rowlatt, bbc news.

that's it from us. i'll see you soon. hello. well, it's frost free out there again, second night in a row. it's certainly turned very mild across the uk. monday was a mild day and tuesday is going to be every bit as mild. but the mild south—westerly winds have also brought some rain. this is where our weather is coming from, all the way, in fact, from the south almost. last week, it was all coming out of eastern europe, those cold easterly winds, but a complete reversal in the weather patterns. in fact, over the next few days, not only is the weather going to be coming in from the southwest, these passes of mild air, towards the weekend, it looks like a dip in thejet stream will make the air come right from the south. so that means that those temperatures will shoot up to quite possibly 17 celsius. but at the moment, we have the mild south—westerly winds,

and they are strong. off the coast of scotland, gusting to 65 mph. on top of that, we've got plenty of rain splashing its way through the country during the early hours. these are the morning temperatures between 5—10 celsius. so, on tuesday, the low pressure is sweeping just to the northwest of scotland. gale force winds there in the hebrides, gusting again to 65 mph and frequent heavy showers. now, this is a weather front here. it's just clearing east anglia and the southeast in the afternoon. it may take time before it clears away completely, and then behind it, it's a mixture of sunny spells and showers, and the temperature is between 10—12 celsius. so even for february, quite a mild day. and as i say, that rain will take time to clear away from the southeast. here's a look at wednesday's weather forecast. 0ne low—pressure moves away — in fact, it's over iceland — and another one replaces it. in fact, we are going to see a series of low pressure

coming our way, bringing spells of rain, weatherfronts, this is the beginning of that really unsettled spell of weather, which will then turn very mild weather as we head into the weekend. but look at wednesday, lots of showers, outbreaks of rain heading toward some southern parts of the country. temperatures, again, fairly similar around 10—12 celsius. now, the rise in the temperature will be very significant as we head towards saturday and sunday. that's the day where in some southern and eastern areas, it could hit 17 celsius.

this is bbc world news, the headlines. myanmar�*s coup leader says he will try to handle the mass protests against the overthrow, as he put it, softly. but warned that effective action would be taken against those he said were harming myanmar. new quarantine restrictions have come into effect in britain, with people arriving at airports having to pay for ten—day stays in hotels. the "red list" of 33 countries includes portugal, brazil and south africa. the former nigerian finance minister ngozi 0konjo—ewalla — has been confirmed as the new head of the world trade organisation — the first woman and the first african to hold the job. microsoft founder bill gates says finding a solution to the covid pandemic is easy compared to solving climate change. speaking to the bbc he says it will take the biggest innovation effort the world has ever seen to do it.