this is bbc news. i'm samantha simmonds with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. tanks on the street, clashes with protesters and internet blackouts. myanmar�*s military leaders intensify their crackdown. america's arctic chill — large swathes of southern and central states are hit by unprecedented snow and ice. made in cuba — the covid vaccine produced by the island's state scientists undergoing clinical trials. rapping. and the rapper who's words attacked spain's monarchy and police now barricaded inside a catalan university to avoid jail.

hello and welcome. there's been another internet blackout in myanmar where large numbers of troops continue to patrol the streets of many larger cities. the un has condemned the outage. meanwhile, military authorities are expected to give their first press conference today, more than two weeks their first press conference after their unexpected coup on the first of february. the bbc�*s nick march joins us from singapore. welcome to you. what more do we know about the internet blackout?— know about the internet blackout? ~ . �* ., , blackout? what we're hearing is that the intimate _ blackout? what we're hearing is that the intimate connection - blackout? what we're hearing is that the intimate connection is i that the intimate connection is —— has actually resumed, it came back on about 9am local time, about 2.5 hours ago, bang on cue as advertised, by the way. it is the second internet blackout we have seen in a row

now. shutdowns are coinciding with overnight raids, we have seen police going to people's houses, swooping in, arresting suspected sediments and taking them away, no need for a permit or a warrant. the military leadership has suspended the criminal code and all of the laws as far as that is concerned and a lot of people i am speaking to and colleagues, are increasingly concerned. we are increasingly concerned. we are seeing armoured vehicles, tanks, rubber bullets being fired, live ammunition being fired, live ammunition being fired into the air to disperse protesters, and you can see now that the risks that the protesters and the civil disobedience movement are taking our increasing day by day was not one thing that should be said, though, is that in spite of all these risks, people are still taking to the streets. the civil disobedience movement to resist the military takeover is still happening and it is, to hear the un special rapid hurt to mention yesterday that what the military leadership in myanmar is doing

is actually to unite the burmese people in a way we haven't seen. it burmese people in a way we haven't seen.— haven't seen. it will be interesting _ haven't seen. it will be interesting to - haven't seen. it will be interesting to hear- haven't seen. it will be | interesting to hear what haven't seen. it will be - interesting to hear what the military has to say. will we don't know what they are going to say stop of course, judging by previous times the leadership has addressed the country, that general ming long lying, it could be more of the same. . ~ �* same. -- general min aung hlaina. same. -- general min aung hlaing- that— same. -- general min aung hlaing. that they _ same. -- general min aung hlaing. that they are - same. -- general min aung hlaing. that they are going | same. -- general min aung l hlaing. that they are going to hold free and fair elections within a year, as opposed to what they considered the fraudulently held elections in november that the national league for democracy did so well in. and also we're probably going to hear of this idea about troublemakers and lawbreakers, facing the lawbrea kers, facing the consequences lawbreakers, facing the consequences for any actions they carry out. wai wai nu joins me now. she was a political prisoner for almost seven years and has

since dedicated her life to promoting peace and defending human rights. thank you forjoining us. lepers may pick up on that point nick was talking about. -- let's point nick was talking about. —— let's pick up on that point. do you think this will stop people going out on the streets?— people going out on the streets? �* . . ., streets? but a certain level but we are _ streets? but a certain level but we are also _ streets? but a certain level but we are also saying - streets? but a certain level but we are also saying that| streets? but a certain level. but we are also saying that the military has been trying everything possible to calm the protesters down, to basically ease the tensions and anger of the people by using every tactic they can, and over the past two weeks, we already have

426 past two weeks, we already have a26 people at least who have been detained and over the past week, the military has been, some of these very draconian laws and putting in a new law out there to be a stricter level, so basically they have amended at least three major laws over the past week. one is the village and administration law which allows the military, the security forces or anybody to check the families and resident houses without notice, to check their overnight guests. the second law that they put out that they amended, that general min aung hlaing ordered, is the citizen's

privacy and security. this would allow police to search or seize citizens�* property or arrest them without law enforcement bodies present. the law will also allow them to detain people without remand for more than 2a hours, so these are two reticle laws that they have amended, but violating the constitution that they have trusted. according to they have trusted. according to the constitution, they are allowing the process to go through the due process in amending any such laws and the last law they have amended yesterday is if the law related to the offence against the state. that includes high treason, sedition and a thing called section 501 b. 1mai

treason, sedition and a thing called section 501 b. wai wai nu, we called section 501 b. wai wai nu. we don't _ called section 501 b. wai wai nu, we don't have _ called section 501 b. wai wai nu, we don't have that - called section 501 b. wai wai nu, we don't have that much nu, we don�*t have that much time but i want to know if you are in touch with anybody out there protesting and how they are feeling and coping at the moment with what is going on? yes, i have been in contact with many colleagues and friends and they are still very motivated, although they do understand the risks there and the military has been very notorious like inventory divisions in yangon and sending out tanks and armours around many cities across the country and there has been constant intimidation is and threats against the peaceful protesters but they are in the mind to continue and go out on the street and continue to protest.

wai wai nu, thank you very much for being with let�*s get some of the day�*s other news. new zealand has recorded zero new covid—19 cases on tuesday, two days after its biggest city, auckland, was ordered to go into lockdown. into a new three—day lockdown after three new cases were detected in the city. new zealand has won widespread praise for its handling of the pandemic, going months without community transmission. malaysia�*s has announced that it will receive its first batch of the pfizer vaccine next sunday. the southeast asian country is aiming to vaccinate at least 80% of its 32 million population within a year — as it pushes to revive its economy. the country has so far reported over 260,000 cases and more than 970 deaths. the world health organization has given emergency approval to use astrazeneca covid—19 vaccines produced in india and south korea. the decision will help distribute the vaccine to poorer countries through the global programme known as covax. these jabs will make

up most of the initial 330 million doses of covax�*s first rollout, which begins at the end of the month. also on the subject of vaccines the new head of the world trade organization, nigeria�*s doctor ngozi okonjo—iweala, has told the bbc that when it comes to vaccines, protectionism is not the answer to ending the pandemic. protectionism, with respect to vaccines, which we call "vaccine nationalism", is something that i don�*t think really works. because the nature of the pandemic and the mutation of its many variants, makes it such that no one country can feel safe until every country has taken precautions to vaccinate its population. so, with respect to that, the wto can do two things, number one: there�*s some wto rules that can be looked at to see how can you flexibly allow countries to manufacture more vaccines? and there�*s more from that interview with ngozi okonjo—iweala talking

to my colleague nancy kacungira coming up in business later in the programme. in the united states, the national weather service is warning that parts of texas, already in the grip of an unprecedented cold snap, will be hit by another icy storm later on tuesday. as temperatures fall across many of the central and southern states, more than two million people are without power. gail maclellan reports. not the sort of weather you usually associated with texas. has plunged south, ringing freezing temperatures, snow and ice storms to areas unaccustomed to such weather. pipes are frozen, several million people are without power and drivers not used to wintry conditions struggled to stay on the roads.— stay on the roads. water was one at stay on the roads. water was gone at 830. _ stay on the roads. water was gone at 830, power - stay on the roads. water was gone at 830, power was - stay on the roads. water was gone at 830, power was off. | gone at 830, power was off. obviously we are one of millions in the same boat. it is cold. ., ., is cold. somewhere even more at risk, the homeless _ is cold. somewhere even more at risk, the homeless putting - risk, the homeless putting their faith intense as the bone

chilling weather continues. winter storm water —— warnings have been posted across the southern plains and as far southern plains and as far south as the gulf coast. bell we�*re looking at the temple to finally getting back up against 0 c here in topeka on friday on this weekend by then we will have gone straight days with the temperature below freezing. again, it has been almost a0 years since that�*s happen. halli years since that's happen. half of all americans _ years since that's happen. half of all americans are _ years since that's happen. half of all americans are now under some sort of winter weather warning, as the polar plunger mixes freezing temperatures with icy rain. gillon we have more from texas. it doesn't happen doesn�*t happen very often, it is a sight to see the stop we are used to the heat down here and that is what we�*re really built for but when you put temperatures that are this cold, the infrastructure is just not built for it. to give you a bit of an example, it is warmer in anchorage, alaska and it is here in dallas, texas right now. this is a little bit of snow, since we were in the

city, it is a little bit warmer, but in the suburbs around dallas, the snow is up a little bit. roads are closed, there is not a lot of ploughs, not a lot of salt and sanding, so getting around, it is more of an ice skating rink than a highway or an interstate. it is a profile of courage if you want to get in your car and drive anywhere. schools are shut down, it is a holiday here in the us, so that is helping some. there are people who are here just trying to get outside and try to take the dog out for and try to take the dog out for a while, it is quick, in and out, because it is bitterly cold. more snow, this time in istanbul where much of the city has been covered in heavy snow — coinciding with a curfew imposed due to the covid—19 pandemic. schools were due to start face to face lessons on monday but that has now been postponed until later this week. the turkish state meteorological service has warned residents that the snowfall could last for five days with a severe drop in temperatures. 20 to a0 centimetres of snow has covered the main roads, and traffic on the bosphorus strait was temporarily

suspended due to poor visibility. let�*s get some of the day�*s other news. carlos menem, the flamboyant politician who led argentina for two terms as president between 1989 and 1999, has died at the age of 90. he was being treated at a clinic in buenos aires, for respiratory and heart problems. as president he privatised creaky state enterprises in a massive transformation of argentine institutions in the early 1990s. rockets have been fired at irbil, the capital of iraqi kurdistan, hitting sites including a base of the us—led coalition in iraq. a coalition spokesman said a foreign civilian contractor had been killed and a us service member and five other contractors wounded. a previously unknown pro—iranian militia group says it carried out the strike. officials in the democratic republic of congo say more than 60 people have drowned after a barge capsized and sank on the river congo river. 300 people have been rescued but possibly 200 others are unaccounted for following the accident.

locals said the boat hit a rock east of the capital kinshasa while travelling at night, which is forbidden. a spanish rapper has barricaded himself inside a catalan university to avoid a prison sentence for tweets and lyrics that attacked the monarchy and police. pablo hasel was given until last friday to turn himself in, after being sentenced to nine months for glorifying terrorism, and slandering the crown and state institutions. daniel wittenberg reports. pablo hasel is a rapper and political rabble. a catalan separatist, he has insulted spain�*s former king, one colours, and police over the treatment of migrants and independence protesters. now a spanish court has found his comments insulted the monarchy and incited violence. so he is

challenging the judiciary as well. pablo hasel has locked himself inside a university building in lleida. the police haven�*t intervened, but he wants if they want to jail him they will have to break—in. translation: i they will have to break-in. translation:— translation: i will keep spreading _ translation: iwill keep spreading my _ translation: iwill keep spreading my message i translation: | will keep | spreading my message and translation: | will keep i spreading my message and i always will, even if it gives me a prison sentence, because refusing to comply with unfair sentences is the only way to move forward in the struggle for change. move forward in the struggle for change-— for change. hasel's case has sarked for change. hasel's case has sparked protests _ for change. hasel's case has sparked protests in - for change. hasel's case has sparked protests in lleida i sparked protests in lleida as well as barcelona madrid. more than 200 artists, including director pedro almodovar, and a hollywood actor has signed a edition for his sentence to be dropped. and in many cities there has been an explosion of posters and graffiti defending

hasel posters and graffiti defending hasel. sunday�*s catalan electing day parties who support independence a majority in its parliament and, for the first time, over 50% of the vote. long before independence became a political prospect, catalans often expressed their difference to the rest of spain through radical art forms. and, after a decade of arguments between governments, that cultural tension still remains. daniel wittenberg, bbc news. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: a fun run in the finnish countryside, but something�*s missing. find out what a little later. 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 affect on the morale of the people. i'm terrified of the repercussions on the streets, one wonders who is next. gunfire. as the airlift got under way, there was no letup . in the eruption itself. lava streams from . a vent low the crater flowed down to the sea the east of the island, i away from the town for the time being. | it could start flowing again at any time. i the russians heralded their new generation space station with a spectacular night launch, they called it �*mir�* — the russian for peace. this is bbc news. the latest headlines: myanmar�*s military warns anti—coup protestors could face up to 20 years in prison if they obstruct the armed forces.

large swathes of southern and central us states are hit by freezing arctic weather and unprecedented snow and ice. cuba is soon to launch the third phase of clinical trials on its own coronavirus vaccine, produced by the government hopes the vaccine will not only end cuba�*s covid—19 crisis but become an important source last year, cuba had largely contained its outbreak but after the country re—opened to tourism, the number of daily infections and deaths rose to its highest point so far. from havana, will grant reports. these veils represent cuba�*s best hope against cuba —— covid—19, the vaccine developed in cuba by cuban called soberana two. the government aims to give it by everyone on the island by the end of the year. it�*s an ambitious goal, but cuba has a

strong record in biotechnology, developing the first meningitis b vaccine in the 1980s. soberana two is already in phase two clinical trials. we are trying — phase two clinical trials. we are trying to _ phase two clinical trials. - are trying to have in the order of 100 million doses during 2021, and so totally we are dedicating an important part of these doses to the full immunisation of the country. it} immunisation of the country. 30 ears immunisation of the country. 30 years ago, fidel castro demanded that cuba find its own solutions in immunology and biotechnology as a means around the us economic embargo. today the us economic embargo. today the government hopes that the work being carried out here in havana�*s renowned finley institute will produce 100 million doses of soberana two to export to the rest of latin america. however, that plan will be impossible without international assistance. pan american health organization says, like entire region, cuba should be concerned about the worsening crisis, but that hopes for the vaccine are high.

translation: we hopes for the vaccine are high. translation:— translation: we are very optimistic— translation: we are very optimistic since _ translation: we are very optimistic since the - translation: we are very optimistic since the pilot i optimistic since the pilot phase of soberana and the pilot trials we have kept informed and we know cuba has been investigating the viability of several vaccines since august last year. several vaccines since august last year-— last year. for many cubans it can't come — last year. for many cubans it can't come soon _ last year. for many cubans it can't come soon enough. - last year. for many cubans it j can't come soon enough. the can�*t come soon enough. the island had its crisis fully under control last year, with several years of almost zero contagion and no deaths. cuba then reopened to tourism and then reopened to tourism and the situation has now slid to its worst point since the pandemic began, but the paho denies things are out of control. translation: i control. translation: ., �* , translation: i wouldn't say it's gotten — translation: i wouldn't say it's gotten out _ translation: i wouldn't say it's gotten out of— translation: i wouldn't say it's gotten out of control. - they have taken measures which have been seen in other countries. there comes a moment where you have to start to reopen and that�*s what happened here. as they tried to progressively move towards the so—called new normal.

nevertheless, the mood on the streets remains grim. coronavirus has prompted the island�*s biggest economic crisis since the end of the cold war. long daily cues for basic foods are potential vectors in the spread of the virus and with the vital revenue source of tourism again shut down things may get worse for cuba before they get better. will grant, bbc news, havana. of their medals for being gay or transgender will be able to get them restored under a new scheme to remedy historic injustices. the move comes more than 20 years after the armed forces ban on homosexuality was lifted in the year 2000. june kelly reports. joe loved his life at sea. he served in the royal navy for nearly 18 years as a radio operator. in 1982 he was part of the taskforce which sailed

to the south atlantic in the falklands war and he did two was of duty in other trouble spots. joe�*s career ended because of his sexuality. and as part of his dismissal his long service and good conduct medal was cut from his uniform. i wouldn�*t have minded had eye done something wrong, but the fact was a had done nothing wrong. the ministry of defence made a trumped up charge against me and kicked me out purely because of my sexuality. this war veteran mounted a personal battle to get his middle. he had to resort to legal action against the industry of defence. and, in 2019, they settled his claim. joe received his medal and an apology. joe received his medal and an aolo: . ,~ ., , joe received his medal and an aolo: . ,~~~ ., , ., apology. they apologised to me, but that's not _ apology. they apologised to me, but that's not enough _ apology. they apologised to me, but that's not enough stop - apology. they apologised to me, but that's not enough stop i - but that�*s not enough stop i did get my metal back. but nevertheless there are thousands of other people out there who have been treated not to do similarly to myself.- to do similarly to myself. now, more than _ to do similarly to myself. now, more than 20 _ to do similarly to myself. now, more than 20 years _ to do similarly to myself. now, more than 20 years after- to do similarly to myself. now, more than 20 years after the i more than 20 years after the

ban on lgbt people serving in the armed forces was lifted, the armed forces was lifted, the ministry of defence has announced that other former service personnel, dismissed because of their sexuality, and finally apply to have their lost medals restored. it�*s lost medals restored. it's taken a — lost medals restored. it's taken a while _ lost medals restored. it's taken a while to - lost medals restored. it�*s taken a while to get here and they acknowledge that. but todayis they acknowledge that. but today is a good day. many people thought we would never get here. and giving individuals the chance to apply and have their medals reinstated is a really important step for them. while welcoming _ important step for them. while welcoming this, _ important step for them. while welcoming this, joe _ important step for them. while welcoming this, joe regrets - welcoming this, joe regrets that some who lost out have died without the honours owed to them. june kelly, bbc news. and finally to finland where, because gyms are shut, the new craze appears to be running in the snow without shoes. paul hawkins reports. cool runnings in the national park, with shut this is the new craze in finland — jogging in

the snow with no shoes. this craze in finland - jogging in the snow with no shoes. this is traditional— the snow with no shoes. this is traditional finish _ the snow with no shoes. this is traditional finish crazy - the snow with no shoes. this is traditional finish crazy stuff. i traditional finish crazy stuff. i think we all agree. and it is really the happiest. it is really the happiest. it is really good spot. strong exercise and everything to stop it really is the happiest. the temperatures _ it really is the happiest. the temperatures well - it really is the happiest. the temperatures well below freezing, list two layers of woollen socks are and with any mate —— many finns taking up knitting during lockdown, finding a patient be a problem. all socks are really warm. they give you freedom. basically all you need in the winter. you don�*t need anything special. the finns are used to the snow, but this year there is more than usual, some of it up to half a metre deep.— than usual, some of it up to half a metre deep. you can do it uuite half a metre deep. you can do it quite light — half a metre deep. you can do it quite light or— half a metre deep. you can do it quite light or really - half a metre deep. you can do it quite light or really have - it quite light or really have any deep snow, as we did just now. but the feeling afterwards is just great. you now. but the feeling afterwards isjust great. you had good foot muscles and everything. and maybe you feel a little warmth. and really the freedom because your feet are not like

tights, are tight package. so that�*s the reason. tights, are tight package. so that's the reason.— that's the reason. without shoes, barefoot _ that's the reason. without shoes, barefoot running i that's the reason. without| shoes, barefoot running as supposed to activate more muscles in your legs, but whether you can still feel them in the snow, that�*s another matter. paul hawkins, bbc news. i�*m not sure i�*ve at any anytime soon. —— i�*ve fancy that. as the weather warms up in mexico, swarms of butterflies are fluttering in but the tourists are not. millions of orange and black monarch butterflies have migrated to mexico after a 2,000 milejourney from canada across north america. butterfly sanctuaries in the western state of michoacan are world heritage—listed and typically a major tourist attraction. but officials say they have seen barely 15% of the foot traffic they�*d normally get because of the pandemic. don�*t forget you can get in touch with me and some —— beautiful site that if you�*re lucky enough to see it.

don�*t forget you can get in touch with me and some of the team on twitter — i�*m @samanthatvnews. i'll i�*ll be back shortly with all the day�*s business use. stay tuned. 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 south—west, 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 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 south—east 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 south—east. here�*s a look at wednesday�*s weather forecast. one 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 news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. �*vaccine nationalism�* warning. the incoming head of the world trade organization cautions over the impact on the global economy. driving towards a greener future. the owner of jaguar cars pledge to make them all electric by 2025. and, it�*s not only artists that suffer when gigs are cancelled due to new visa rules after brexit, lend a thought to to the hauliers who can�*t get the equipment through.

the newly appointed head of the world trade organization