this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. the violence escalates in myanmar. 38 people have been killed on wednesday. the united nations calls it "shocking". president biden warns against ditching coronavirus guidelines — including mask—wearing — as some states lift their restrictions. the last thing we need is neanderthal thinking that in the meantime, "everything's fine, take "off your mask, forget it." it still matters. counting the cost of the pandemic, a series of measures that will take the uk's tax burden to its highest level since the 1960s. and, buckingham palace says it'll investigate claims that the duchess of sussex bullied some members of her staff.

welcome. we start with a shocking escalation in violence in myanmar, where the united nations says 38 people have been killed on wednesday alone, marking the worst day of bloodshed since the military coup. security forces opened fire on large crowds in a number of cities and at least two of the victims are believed to be teenagers. mass demonstrations have been taking place across myanmar since the military seized control on one february. a warning that this report from our south east asia correspondent, jonathan head, contains some disturbing scenes. —— the 1st of february. the conflict in myanmar is now a battle for control of individual neighbourhoods. residents and protesters barricading themselves in. police and soldiers

sweeping through to get people off the streets. and sometimes shooting at those brave enough to film from their apartments. gunshot here, the protest organisers use fire extinguishers to obscure the view, to try to avoid being shot. because that is what the military government is prepared to do to reassert its control. this was 19—year—old ginsen today, in mandalay. her t—shirt reads, "everything will be ok," but she also carried a label with her blood group, in case she was hurt. she was killed when a bullet struck her head. here in the city of monywa, the police were filmed as they dragged away another victim. the security forces are also arresting large numbers of people. in this neighbourhood, it seemed, arresting every resident they caught.

and they exercise little restraint. this security camera video shows three medical volunteers being savagely beaten. if there is a strategy in these shocking scenes, it is perhaps to crush what's now a nationwide rebellion with brute force, in the hope that the rest of the world will in time accept the reality of military rule once more in myanmar. jonathan head, bbc news. rights groups in the country say almost 1300 people have been detained since the protests began. the un's special envoy to myanmar described the situation as "shocking". we have now more than 50 people died since the coup started and mending our wounded. since the coup started and mending ourwounded. —— and many since the coup started and mending our wounded. —— and many are wounded.

ourwounded. —— and many are wounded. i our wounded. —— and many are wounded. i have received around 2000 messages a day from the people in me and mark. and i also try to answer some questions from the people on the ground who are really desperate to see action from the international community. —— in myanmar. joining me is murray hiebert senior associate of the southeast asia programme at the center for disease control and prevention strategic and international studies. thank you so much forjoining us. we are seeing a month on now and still the protests continue and the bloodshed continues. what is your understanding of the situation on the ground with the fact that children are now being killed? i don't know if the children were targeted to or if they were bystanders watching this, we don't quite know yet, but it is obviously terribly shocking. but as your correspondentjonathan had said, the military is i guess fed up with the population rebelling and rising up

and trying to take control of neighbourhoods as jonathan and trying to take control of neighbourhoods asjonathan said, not going to work. a wad of civil servants are staying out of work and the military is hell—bent to try to find ways to crush this uprising. and we're seeing people write their blood groups on their arms, their contact details on their arms because they're concerned about what will happen to them when they go out on the streets. how does the international community get a grip on what is happening in myanmar? we know that sanctions simply do not work. it's terribly hard. the british, the _ work. it's terribly hard. the british, the uk _ work. it's terribly hard. the: british, the uk government is calling for the un to meet on friday again. which has done a couple of times already. you are right, sanctions are not seemingly working. the us has imposed sanctions against a dozen of the top generals. it's

sanctioned a few military companies, the eu is considering sanctions but a lot of the world — china, mia mar�*s neighbours, singapore are opposed to sanctions. —— myanmar�*s neighbours. i don't know what we can do other than tojust neighbours. i don't know what we can do other than to just keep calling out. it sounds really feeble but i don't know what we can do other than just call out what's happening and tried to urge some semblance of sanity that make this call for potential sanctions, these generals are already under some form of sanctions since the 2018 rohingya crisis. it sanctions since the 2018 rohingya crisis. , , ., ., , ., ., crisis. it seems that any form of extra sanctions _ crisis. it seems that any form of extra sanctions will _ crisis. it seems that any form of extra sanctions will not - crisis. it seems that any form of extra sanctions will not cut - extra sanctions will not cut through. so we are hearing the amount of people that are contacting people via social media and yet continuously the internet gets blocked in myanmar by the regime there. what, in your view, blocked in myanmar by the regime

there. what, in yourview, how blocked in myanmar by the regime there. what, in your view, how is there. what, in your view, how is the best way to keep the momentum going in terms of getting the voices of the people in myanmar out? yeah. of the people in myanmar out? yeah, but they are — of the people in myanmar out? yeah, but they are looking _ of the people in myanmar out? yeah, but they are looking for _ of the people in myanmar out? jf�*ii but they are looking for alternative ways to communicate. it's very interesting, but they find ways to get their message out even when the internet is blocked, they find ways to talk to each other. they send more cryptic messages to each other, meet at a certain street corner, and people arrive there at six a:m., they don't know quite what is expected. i think it's going to be very hard for the government to stop all communication with the outside world because it also impacts the business climate in the business environment. so, it wants investors, it wants the business community, especially during this time of recovering from covid to be able to do its work. and if they shut it all down, not only do they shut down the protests, but they or they will try

to shut down the protests, but they affect their everyday business activities as well.— activities as well. interesting oints. activities as well. interesting points. marie _ activities as well. interesting points. marie hiebert, - activities as well. interesting points. marie hiebert, froml activities as well. interesting i points. marie hiebert, from the centre for disease control and prevention strategic and international studies. thank you. —— murray. presidentjoe biden has called the decision by texas and mississippi to drop mask—wearing requirements as "neanderthal thinking". he warned that relaxing rules prematurely would put us advances in the battle against covid—19 at risk. but a number of states are ignoring that warning — and are ploughing ahead to re—invigorate their stalling economies. here is president biden speaking at the oval office. i hope everybody�*s realised by now these masks make a difference. we are on the cusp of being able to fundamentally change the nature of this disease because of the way in which we were able to get vaccines in people's arms. we've been able to move that all the way up to the end of may to have enough for every american, to get every adult

american to get a shot. and the last thing, the last thing we need is neanderthal thinking that in the meantime, "everything's fine, take "off your mask, forget it." it still matters. let's speak to our north america correspondent david willis. the president describing this as neanderthal thinking. the president describing this as neanderthalthinking. is the president describing this as neanderthal thinking. is it cutting through? neanderthal thinking. is it cutting throu~h? ., �* ., through? today in fact joe biden got the backin: through? today in fact joe biden got the backing of _ through? today in fact joe biden got the backing of the _ through? today in fact joe biden got the backing of the director _ through? today in fact joe biden got the backing of the director of - through? today in fact joe biden got the backing of the director of the - the backing of the director of the us centers for disease control, doctor rush of wilensky who also warned that this is a pivotal moment in this country as far as combating the coronavirus is concerned and she warned against prematurely reopening parts of the economy here. we've seen this before of course. parts of the country have taken their foot off the pedal if you like, reopened only to see cases balloon and the white house is very keen to avoid thatjust white house is very keen to avoid that just as white house is very keen to avoid thatjust as it white house is very keen to avoid that just as it thinks white house is very keen to avoid thatjust as it thinks it's starting to get a handle on this crisis.

david, as always, many thanks. david willis fehr, our north america correspondent. —— david willis there. let's get some of the day's other news. eight people have been injured, some apparently seriously, in the south of sweden, in what police are treating as a suspected terrorist attack. the assailant, a man in his 20s, stabbed his victims in the southern town of vetlanda. police shot and wounded the attacker before detaining him. the international criminal court is to open a formal investigation into war crimes in the palestinian territories which will examine both sides of the conflict. the palestinian authority said it was a long—awaited step towards justice and accountability. israel's prime minister said the move was anti—semitic. the governor of new york, andrew cuomo, has said he'll co—operate with a sexual harassment investigation, but he won't resign. the democrat said he'd never touched anyone inappropriately, but acknowledged that his habit of hugging and kissing people could make them feel uncomfortable.

many countries have borrowed heavily to cushion the impact of covid — and britain is among those now working out how to pay it back. in wednesday's budget rishi sunak unveiled more support for workers and businesses struggling with lockdown. but he also announced a series of measures which will take the uk's tax burden to its highest level since the 1960s. more from our political editor laura kuenssberg. the virus has clouded everything, making the future hard to see. but the economic alert has been flashing red all the while. lockdown�*s cut income, busted the country's bank balance. when are we going to start paying for it, sir? - and the red box's firstjob — to extend emergency lifelines. but, repeatedly, the chancellor promised us hard truths, too. what was originally thought to be a temporary disruption to our way of life has

fundamentally altered it. so emergency measures brought in during the scramble at the start of the pandemic will go on for months to come. the furlough scheme will be extended until the end of september. for employees, there will be no change to the terms. they will continue to receive 80% of their salary for hours not worked, until the scheme ends. billions more will be spent during this strange lockdown era, a long list of props under the economy, six months more of £20 extra on universal credit, lower vat and cheaper stamp duty. but for this chancellor, for his party, that simply can't last forever. the amount we've borrowed is comparable only with the amount we borrowed during the two world wars. it's going to be the work of many governments, over many decades, to pay it back. just as it would be irresponsible to withdraw support too soon,

it would also be irresponsible to allow our future borrowing and debt to rise unchecked. no surprise he took a big gulp before what came next. big new taxes, a million people will move into the higher rate of income tax, and 1.3 million who don't earn much will start to pay. our first step is to freeze personal tax thresholds. this policy does remove the incremental benefit created, had thresholds continued to increase with inflation. we are not hiding it. but from 2023 and a real about turn, some companies will pay a lot more tax on profits. the some companies will pay a lot more tax on profits-_ tax on profits. the rate of income corporation _ tax on profits. the rate of income corporation tax _ tax on profits. the rate of income corporation tax will _ tax on profits. the rate of income corporation tax will increase - tax on profits. the rate of income corporation tax will increase to i corporation tax will increase to 25%. corporation tax will increase to 2596. �* , , 2596. big spending in tune with the bus perhaps _ 2596. big spending in tune with the bus perhaps but — 2596. big spending in tune with the bus perhaps but extraordinary - bus perhaps but extraordinary measures and some in his own party might speak in extraordinary times.

an important moment is upon us. a moment of challenge and of change. of difficulties, yes. but of possibilities, too. this is a budget that meets that moment and i commend it to the house. that meets that moment and i commend it to the house-— it to the house. despite all the billions, public _ it to the house. despite all the billions, public spending - it to the house. despite all the billions, public spending will i billions, public spending will actually go down. but the huge numbers and taxes from the tories, how would leave cut through? fine numbers and taxes from the tories, how would leave cut through? one day we will be able — how would leave cut through? one day we will be able to _ how would leave cut through? one day we will be able to take _ how would leave cut through? one day we will be able to take off— how would leave cut through? one day we will be able to take off the - how would leave cut through? one day we will be able to take off the mess - we will be able to take off the mess and say to the chancellor who you really is. this is a budget that did not even attempt to rebuild the foundations of our economy or to secure the country's once or security. instead, it did thejob the always intended, a quick fix. though rishi sunak wasn't conscious of spreading his spending to newkirk —— tory constituencies and across

the uk too. -- tory constituencies and across the uk too-— -- tory constituencies and across the uk too. the chance mission of toda and the uk too. the chance mission of today and to _ the uk too. the chance mission of today and to put _ the uk too. the chance mission of today and to put down _ the uk too. the chance mission of today and to put down in - the uk too. the chance mission of today and to put down in exactly l today and to put down in exactly same _ today and to put down in exactly same mistake that he's been making through— same mistake that he's been making through the pandemic. temporary extensions of temporary support could _ extensions of temporary support could only ever mean a temporary reprieve _ could only ever mean a temporary reprieve for — could only ever mean a temporary reprieve for those millions who have been crippled by uncertainty for months — been crippled by uncertainty for months. , ., , ., months. there will be millions of eo - le months. there will be millions of people out _ months. there will be millions of people out there _ months. there will be millions of people out there and _ months. there will be millions of people out there and tens - months. there will be millions of people out there and tens of- people out there and tens of thousands— people out there and tens of thousands of— people out there and tens of thousands of businesses - people out there and tens of| thousands of businesses self employed _ thousands of businesses self employed who _ thousands of businesses self employed who will— thousands of businesses self employed who will be - thousands of businesses self employed who will be very, i thousands of businesses self. employed who will be very, very disappointed _ employed who will be very, very disappointed. the— employed who will be very, very disappointed-— employed who will be very, very disauointed. ., . ., . disappointed. the chancellor chose not 'ust to disappointed. the chancellor chose notjust to tinker, _ disappointed. the chancellor chose not just to tinker, but _ disappointed. the chancellor chose notjust to tinker, but to _ disappointed. the chancellor chose not just to tinker, but to make - disappointed. the chancellor chose notjust to tinker, but to make big | notjust to tinker, but to make big decisions. but they could have to shift with a tiny flicker to the cost of all his borrowing. 0r shift with a tiny flicker to the cost of all his borrowing. or an even more prolonged pandemic. this budget, the way the country earns a living, is deeply vulnerable to what comes next. laura kuenssberg, bbc news, westminster. britain and the european union are back to arguing again about brexit. brussels has now warned the uk it risks breaking international law, if it moves to delay the implementation of full import checks, which are meant to come into force at the end of this month. when britain left the transition period, northern ireland remained a part

of the eu's single market for goods. so instead of checks being on the eu's border between northern ireland and the irish republic, import procedures should, in theory, take place at ports serving the uk mainland. london wants the current grace period extended until october. 0ur belfast correspondent emma vardy has more. well, look, it means we've got another row over the irish sea barely two months since this was all supposedly agreed. now, one of the main issues is that supermarkets particularly have been saying, "look we're just not going to be "ready to comply" with all those new requirements when they're supposed to come in on the 1st of april. that systems will be overwhelmed and they've been warning that there could be disruption to food supplies. so the uk has been pushing for the eu to show some flexibility on this. but in the absence of any agreement, today the uk government decided to take matters into its own hands and the northern ireland secretary brandon lewis said that the uk government of its own accord

would effectively push back the need for that new documentation until october. this hasn't gone down very well with the eu at all, saying this violates the brexit deal. and that it's going to be looking at the legal dispute mechanisms to resolve it. 0ur our thanks to emma vardy reporting there. stay with us on bbc news, still to come... buckingham palace says it's investigating claims that the duchess of sussex, meghan markle, bullied members of staff, when she and prince harry were living in the uk. first, the plates slid gently off the restaurant tables. then suddenly the tables, the chairs and people crashed sideways and downwards. it was just a matter of seconds as the ferry lurched onto her side. the hydrogen bomb. on a remote pacific atoll, the americans had successfully tested a weapon whose explosive force dwarfed that of the bomb

dropped on hiroshima. i had heard the news earlier. and so my heart went bang, bang, bang. the constitutional rights of these marchers are their rights - i as citizens of the united states, i and they should be protected even in the right to test them out, - so they don't get their heads broken and are sent to hospital. this religious controversy, i know you don't want to say too much about it, but does it worry you that it is going to boil up when you get to the states? well, it worries me, yes, but i hope everything will be all right at the end of the day. this is bbc news. the latest headlines. escalating violence in myanmar, following last month's military coup, the un says 38 people were killed on wednesday alone. the decision by texas and mississippi to abandon

compulsory mask wearing, is described as "neanderthal" by president biden. buckingham palace says it's �*very concerned' by reports that the duchess of sussex was accused of bullying her staff, during her time at kensington palace. the claims were made by former staff of harry and meghan, and the palace says it will investigate the circumstances. for her part, the duchess was said to be "saddened" by reports of a bullying complaint, which was seen as the "latest attack on her character". 0ur royal correspondent nicholas witchell has more. what is the truth? is meghan, the woman who was warmly welcomed when she married prince harry, now the victim of a calculated smear campaign by the establishment? or was it the case that, as the duchess of sussex, her behaviour became unreasonable and that her staff were driven to distraction? there were strains within

the sussex household. it's a matter of record that staff members left, and now a highly revealing e—mail has been obtained by the times. it was written in late 2018 by jason knauf, the couple's communication secretary, to simon case. he's now the cabinet secretary, no less. in it, knauf is reported to have written... in response, the duchess' spokesman has said... buckingham palace has said it's very concerned about the allegations. it's setting up an inquiry. former members of staff will be invited to participate. the palace statement concluded...

so, why have these allegations emerged just four days before the sussexes�* interview with oprah winfrey is broadcast in america? apparently it's because former members of staff, some of whom i'm told feel very bruised, believe that an incomplete picture of the duchess is being presented. her supporters of course will continue to believe that she is the real victim. nicholas witchell, bbc news, buckingham palace. for many families around the world dealing with school closures, and the need to study at home, has been one of the toughest parts of the coronavirus pandemic. in the philippines, secondary schools have been closed since last march and it's taking a heavy toll, especially on childrens�* mental health. and there's been a spike in anxiety levels. dr bernadette madrid is a paediatrician and

the executive director of the child protection network foundation. you have been gathering information by talking to childcare colleagues across the philippines. shejoins us now from manila. talk us through what you're found because it is a difficult time understandably when children are taken out of their normal routine. how are children in the philippines coping given that it's been such a long time? i coping given that it's been such a long time?— coping given that it's been such a lona time? . . ., long time? i mean, the children are reall not long time? i mean, the children are really not doing _ long time? i mean, the children are really not doing too _ long time? i mean, the children are really not doing too well, _ really not doing too well, especially in metro manila because they have been quarantined for a year. and although in other parts of the country maybe it is not as bad because the prevalence of covid is really more in metro manila. but the number one reason for consultation at our outpatient department right now is really children and teens who

are experiencing anxiety and depression, and that has never happened before. and that different —— different child protection units across the country were also getting increased consults of our patients who have been abused and who are now suicidal. in fact in our own child protection unit at the philippine general hospital, we've seen every day a team that needs to be referred to the emergency room because of a suicide attempt. so it's really bad. but we are hearing that this might be, well, the quarantine might be lifted at least gradually pretty soon, and we hope that even before then, that children will be given time out to at least open spaces. and just give us an indication, explain to us how it is working across the philippines because you

talk about the more urban and densely prop up bladed centres and the philippines is a wide range of environments. have schools been close across the whole of the philippines? —— more densely populated. philippines? -- more densely populated-— philippines? -- more densely --oulated. , ., ,. ., populated. yes, our schools have been closed _ populated. yes, our schools have been closed since _ populated. yes, our schools have been closed since march. - populated. yes, our schools have been closed since march. and - been closed since march. and starting mid october, online school opened and also what we call him much so, those who don't have very good internet access get modules that they go through and then there are some lessons on tv or on the radio. —— modular learning. and there is some online lessons for them. at that has been really challenging. in fact for those who needed to consult because of anxiety and adjustment disorder, school has been the primary push for them to go over the edge. theyjust could not cope.

over the edge. they 'ust could not co e. , over the edge. they 'ust could not co e. y . ., over the edge. they 'ust could not co e. , . ., ., over the edge. they 'ust could not coe. , ., cope. they could not cope with the extra pressure _ cope. they could not cope with the extra pressure from _ cope. they could not cope with the extra pressure from having - cope. they could not cope with the extra pressure from having to - cope. they could not cope with the extra pressure from having to do i cope. they could not cope with the i extra pressure from having to do the schoolwork?— schoolwork? yes, and the way that it's done. schoolwork? yes, and the way that it's done- it's _ schoolwork? yes, and the way that it's done. it's a _ schoolwork? yes, and the way that it's done. it's a lot _ schoolwork? yes, and the way that it's done. it's a lot of— schoolwork? yes, and the way that it's done. it's a lot of pressure, - it's done. it's a lot of pressure, both on the students and on their parents. especially if you have parents. especially if you have parents who have never really had much experience with online anything. and then suddenly, a lot of the burden is with them to help the children through with us. even if we say they take the modular option, they still need to go online now and then, and they have to help their children and they find it difficult on how to do that. find difficult on how to do that. and the are difficult on how to do that. and they are find — difficult on how to do that. and they are find it _ difficult on how to do that. and they are find it -- _ difficult on how to do that. and they are find it —— finding it paralysing. doctor madrid, thank you for bringing us the findings of your study and we wish you the best of luck with your... hopefully the children will get back to school soon. we wish you luck. i want more on our website and that is a

situation where children missing out on school i think we can all feel the negativity that children are experiencing. thanks for watching. hello there, wednesday was a cloudy day and over the next few days sunshine will be at a premium. we still have cold air sitting across the uk but most of the time it will be dry but there will be a lot of clout. the cloud is sticking up on wednesday to give quite a few showers for england and wales and heavy bursts of rain for a time as well. those showers are becoming more confined to the south—east of england and east anglia on that with the front there. at the same time another week with the front movie down into scotland, behind that we will pick up more of a northeast breeze that will push its way down the uk and continue to feed in that chilly airfrom the the uk and continue to feed in that chilly air from the north. the uk and continue to feed in that chilly airfrom the north. there is a lot of pot around at the moment. misty weather, not as much fog and

temperatures by the money should be just a few degrees the right side of freezing for support as a showers clear away from the south—east and east anglia in the morning, we have on that what the front in the north some latent rain and drizzle and some latent rain and drizzle and some snow in the highest ground in scotland. damp weather moves down into northern england in the afternoon to allow something a bit brighter and some sunshine in the west of scotland. cloudy in some parts of the uk, dealt with the south west, not as high temperatures on thursday and those temperatures will be around 6—7 celsius. as we head into the evening, moving into northern ireland and the midlands as that moves through, the cloud will tend to break up a little bit more overnight. high—pressure moving down this time from iceland bringing with it the cold air but bringing with it a lot of dry weather and the wind will be later on friday as well. could start a bit chilly with some clever skies overnight, so a risk of frosts in the morning and whilst there could be sunshine at times on friday, we will tend to find the

cloud building and spreading out throughout the day. that will not help the temperatures and again those temperatures will be around 6-8 those temperatures will be around 6—8 celsius. and let's head into the weekend and for many it is more of this quiet, dry fairly cloudy sort of weather. we may find temperatures sneaking up a degree or so is that week and goes on and by sunday there is more of a south to south westerly wind picking up. 0ver is more of a south to south westerly wind picking up. over the weekend there is so the chance of seeing ran across northern ireland and western scotland and particular on sunday as with the front start to come in from the atlantic and that is a sign of something more unsettled but not quite as cold as we head into next week.

this is bbc world news, the headlines. the un says thirty eight people have been killed in myanmar — in the worst day of violence since protests began against the military coup. witnesses say soldiers fired on protesters without warning. a decision by the states of texas and mississipi to drop mask—wearing requirements has been described as "neanderthal thinking" by president biden. he warned that relaxing rules prematurely would put us advances in the battle against covid—19 at risk. britain's finance minister has laid out a series of covid relief measures, whch will take the uk's tax burden to its highest level since the 1960s. they include a big rise in corporation tax, from 2023. buckingham palace says it's concerned by allegations that meghan, the duchess of sussex bullied staff when she was living in britain.