this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. i'm sally bundock. hope, as the world marks exactly a year since this the pandemic was declared, with the vaccine now reaching some of the most cut—off communities. nearly $2 trillion approved by us lawmakers to kickstart the america economy — with some of the money going straight into americans' pockets. people injapan return to the ocean, to pay tribute to those killed in the tsunami, ten years ago to the day. and what a mess. barcelona out of the champions league — their worst performance

in m years. hello and welcome. it's exactly one year since the world health organization officially declared the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic — that's the point the disease was confirmed as a truly global problem. covid—19 has so far claimed 2.6 million lives but there is hope on the horizon as vaccines reach some of the furthest corners of the world. our global health correspondent, naomi grimley, has been looking at the pandemic, one year in. it's been a year that most of us will remember for the rest of our lives.

one of grief and loneliness on a scale none of us could've imagined. it's exactly 12 months since the world health organization officially sounded the alarm about the seriousness of covid—19. we have therefore made the assessment that covid—19 can be characterised as a pandemic. and yet, after a whirlwind of scientific discoveries, we're now seeing vaccines being distributed to some of the most remote communities on earth. in brazil, they've mounted a vaccination campaign reaching reservations and villages like this one, deep in the amazon jungle. translation: i'm happy. we are grateful for the vaccination, so we will not catch the disease and my people will get better. because of a new variant spreading there, brazil has seen some of the worst death toll figures since the pandemic

began in the last few days. but overall, scientists are positive about bringing the pandemic to an end. we're in a much more powerful situation because we understand so much more about the virus now. so i am very optimistic of the future, i think we have a better handle on the virus, and we're able to keep up, i suppose, with the race against an evolving virus. this graph shows some of the differences in pace, however, of vaccination rates globally. chile, israel, and the us have powered ahead. faring less well are brazil, russia, and china. in europe, there's been a huge amount of disquiet over disappointing vaccination rates. the situation in france has not been helped by negative remarks from president macron about the oxford—astrazeneca vaccine, which he later retracted. this family doctor is doing his best to persuade reluctant patients. translation: there's always a hesitation, i and we have to convince some patients.

that's time and energy used. if we don't have support, both from government and media, it's hard to go up from there. patients trust us — but only to a certain extent. meanwhile, the international covax programme says it's delivered over 20 million doses to more than 20 developing countries, mostly in africa. but it's really only enough to vaccinate key medical workers. whether it's drive—through vaccinations in la or doctors and nurses in nigeria — get ready for an increasingly divided world, depending on who's been vaccinated and who hasn't. with over 2.6 million deaths in the pandemic so far, everyone can agree that much better protections are needed to ensure it never happens again. naomi grimley, bbc news. one year on since the pandemic was declared, three of our

correspondents look back at what's happened in shanghai, rome and johannesburg — and what the situation is there now. we start in china, where covid—i9 was first discovered, with our correspondent robin brant. this is the place where it all began and it started as an outbreak in a small part of a city. it went on to become an epidemic and now it is a global pandemic. but here, 15 months on from that, in the country where it all started, things are pretty much normal. in shanghai everyone wears a mask, but the buses are running, the banks open and the restaurants are doing business. most of the schools across this country have been teaching face—to—face since last august. and people are travelling in the millions on the planes, on trains, but china is a country shut off from the rest of the world. almost no—one is allowed in internationally. it is rolling out vaccines. there are three home—made versions at the moment, but it's doing it slowly.

it's aiming to get almost half the population having had those jabs, but not until this summer. at the same time it's using some of that stock to help other countries abroad and also to try to win diplomatic favour. now, china's official version of how it dealt with coronavirus is one of success. and look at the official numbers, in a country of 1.4 billion people, 15 months on from the outbreak they have had 180,000 cases, according to the official numbers, and just under 5,000 deaths. this week marks a year since italy became the first country in the world to impose a nationwide lockdown and one year on the situation is again not looking good. with the infection curve arising here and the r—value, the spread of the virus going back above one again within the last week, italy is thought to be in a third wave. it's become the second country in europe to surpass 100,000 deaths after the uk, and fatalities remain high at 300—400 today.

the government of the new prime minister, mario draghi, is tightening restrictions with different regions in different tiers — yellow, orange, and red — but he's under pressure to tighten further and faster with supporter growing for a more stringent lockdown despite the dire economic impact. italy's economy shrank by about 9% last year. the vaccination rollout here is rather sluggish. italy has administered 5.8 million doses, but that's a lower dose of per 100,000 people than the rest of europe, including spain, greece, and portugal. it's been a year since - south africa recorded its worst case of coronavirus. the country went from a mere two cases at the beginning - of march last year to . currently reaching over 1.5 million infections. and with more than 50,000 deaths, this is the worst - affected countryl on the continent. a third wave is expected - here during the winter months

and there are fears that less than half the population - will have been - vaccinated by then. let's get some of the day's other news. lawmakers in mexico's lower house have voted to legalise the recreational use of marijuana. the bill will now pass to the senate for a final vote. assuming it becomes law, mexico will be the world's largest cannabis market, potentially disrupting the country's powerful drug cartels. the us senate has confirmed merrick garland as president biden�*s attorney—general. twenty republicans sided with democrats, including mitch mcconnell, who as the senate majority leader in 2016 blocked judge garland as president obama's nominee to sit on the supreme court. fans of diego maradona have marched for "justice" amid investigations into how he died and whether there was any negligence in his care. the country's justice department has convened a medical board to try to ascertain whether his medical

team adequately treated him before his death in november. amongst the marchers were two of his daughters and his ex wife. —— widow. a huge financial aid package to help americans struggling through the pandemic has cleared its final hurdle. president biden�*s plan worth almost $2 trillion, has passed both houses of congress without a single republican vote in favour. he'll sign it into law on friday. from washington here's lebo diseko. this is a huge victory for democrats. president biden �*s first major piece of legislation will become law. speaking after it was passed, and aquatic leaders of congress said the bill will give vital help to americans.- said the bill will give vital help to americans. you will receive $1400 _ help to americans. you will receive $1400 checks - help to americans. you will receive $1400 checks by . help to americans. you will| receive $1400 checks by the help to americans. you will - receive $1400 checks by the end of march. help is on the way. vaccines will be available far more quickly to far more people

in a shorter time. help is on the way. in a shorter time. help is on the way-— the way. for many, that is sorely needed. _ the way. for many, that is sorely needed. the - the way. for many, that is i sorely needed. the economy the way. for many, that is - sorely needed. the economy is down nine .5 millionjobs from february last year and around 40% of americans say they still feel the financial impact of the pandemic. i feel the financial impact of the pandemic.— feel the financial impact of the pandemic. i do need help riaht the pandemic. i do need help right nova — the pandemic. i do need help right now. more _ the pandemic. i do need help right now. more than - the pandemic. i do need help right now. more than ever. . right now. more than ever. sinule right now. more than ever. single mother _ right now. more than ever. single mother christy - right now. more than ever. single mother christy was l right now. more than ever. i single mother christy was laid off in november. it is single mother christy was laid off in november.— off in november. it is like havin: off in november. it is like having a _ having a huge anxiety attack every single day. the motion is ado -t every single day. the motion is adept the- _ every single day. the motion is adopt the. this _ every single day. the motion is adopt the. this was _ every single day. the motion is adopt the. this was a _ every single day. the motion is adopt the. this was a vote - adopt the. this was a vote strictly on _ adopt the. this was a vote strictly on party _ adopt the. this was a vote strictly on party lines. - adopt the. this was a vote strictly on party lines. notj adopt the. this was a vote i strictly on party lines. not a single republican voted for it in either chamber of congress to say democrats sidelined their concerns and the bill contains things that are unrelated to the pandemic. this is not a rescue _ unrelated to the pandemic. this is not a rescue bill. _ unrelated to the pandemic. this is not a rescue bill. it _ unrelated to the pandemic. this is not a rescue bill. it is not a relief_ is not a rescue bill. it is not a relief bill. it is a laundry list — a relief bill. it is a laundry list of— a relief bill. it is a laundry list of left—wing priorities that— list of left—wing priorities that predate the pandemic. and do not _ that predate the pandemic. and do not meet the needs of american families. no wonder even — american families. no wonder even house democrats have said

there _ even house democrats have said there they — even house democrats have said there they are embarrassed by what _ there they are embarrassed by what is — there they are embarrassed by what is in _ there they are embarrassed by what is in it. criticism, president biden insists this is a win for everybody. insists this is a win for everybody-— insists this is a win for eve bod . , , , everybody. this will represent an historic _ everybody. this will represent an historic victory _ everybody. this will represent an historic victory for - everybody. this will represent an historic victory for the - an historic victory for the american people and i look forward _ american people and i look forward to signing it later this— forward to signing it later this week tojoe forward to signing it later this week to joe biden began his term _ this week to joe biden began his term promising to work across— his term promising to work across the political aisle. although he met early on, he and democrats to fight decided to advance the bill in a way that did not require republican votes. the president will need them to pass future legislation due to an upcoming bill on infrastructure to that support looks unlikely to be forthcoming. financial markets have been trading in anticipation of bill being passed by politicians in the united states and it will have an impact on the global economy. i will discuss that in detail in our business coverage coming up

in 20 minutes time. please stay with us for that. police in london say human remains have been found in kent, during the investigation into the disappearance of sarah everard. a serving metropolitan police officer was arrested on tuesday and is being questioned on suspicion of murder. aru na iyengar reports all along the route sarah took from clapham common over one week ago, posters bearing her image i stuck to every lamppost and bus stop, appealing for information to yesterday evening, police search teams investigating her disappearance discovered what appears to be human remains in woodland in ashford, kent. police say are unable to confirm any identity and that may take considerable time. officers also searched this house in kent. cars were taken away. it is believed to be the home of a serving police officer who has

been arrested on suspicion of sarah's kidnap and murder and a separate allegation of indecent exposure. the officer, in his 40s, was responsible for guiding diplomatic links. he was not on duty on the night sarah disappeared. a woman in her 30s was also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. suspicion of assisting an offender-— suspicion of assisting an offender. , ., . offender. the news today that it was a metropolitan - offender. the news today that it was a metropolitan police i it was a metropolitan police officer who was arrested on suspicion of sarah's murder has sent shockwaves and anger through the public and through the met. i speak on behalf of all my colleagues when i say that we are utterly appalled. sarah's disappearance in these awful and wicked circumstances, i know, are every family's worst nightmare.-

i know, are every family's worst nightmare. the met commissioner _ worst nightmare. the met commissioner said - worst nightmare. the met commissioner said it - worst nightmare. the met commissioner said it was | commissioner said it was incredibly rare for a woman to be of ducted from our street but patrols have been stepped up but patrols have been stepped up in this area of south london. sarah, a marketing executive, had been at her friends house close to clapham common. she left there at around two in the evening to return to her home in brixton about 50 minutes walk away. police believe she made her way across clapham common. this footage showed sarah on pointers road at around 230. it is the last time she was seen. sarah's family is being supported by specialist police officers. herfamily and officers. her family and friends officers. herfamily and friends still want people to come forward to help police with anything they saw that night. let's bring you some live pictures that we are receiving here at the bbc. this is from india where people, you

can see are gathered en masse on the banks of the ganges river. this is for a holy dip for the first day of a hindu religious festival. it is a major festival and pilgrimage in hinduism celebrated in 12 years cycles at four riverbank sites. government officials have put a number of measures in place including testing to try and help prevent any further spread of over 19 during the celebrations. —— covid—19. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: ten years on from the fukushima nuclear incident, we'll be live injapan, where our correspondent has returned to meet the people whose lives were changed by the disaster. the numbers of dead and wounded defied belief. this, the worst terrorist atrocity on european soil in modern times.

in less than 24 hours, then, the soviet union lost an elderly sick leader and replaced him with a dynamic figure 20 years his junior. we heard these gunshots in the gym. then he came out through a fire exit and started firing at our huts. god, we were all petrified. james earl ray, aged 41, - sentenced to 99 years and due for parole when he's 90, i travelled from memphis jail to nashville state prison in an eight—car convoy. i paul, what's it feel like to be married at last? it feels fine, thank you. what are you going to do now? is it going to change your life much, do you think? i don't know, really — i've never been married before! this is bbc news. the latest headlines:

one year on from the moment the who declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic, there's hope as vaccine supplies reach some of the world's most cut—off communities. president biden has scored an important victory after just 50 days in office, with the house of representatives approving his covid stimulus package worth almost $2 trillion. it's exactly ten years since japan was hit by a giant earthquake that triggered a massive tsunami which crashed in to the coast less than an hour later. along the north east coast dozens of towns and villages were engulfed by the immense wave. the disaster triggered a multiple melt down at the fukushima daichi nuclear plant 250 km north of tokyo. our tokyo correspondent, rupert wingfield—hayes, joins us live.

i understand you have been talking to those who are affected at the time and whose lives will probably never be the same again.— lives will probably never be the same again. yes, sally, it is now the same again. yes, sally, it is new early — the same again. yes, sally, it is now early afternoon - the same again. yes, sally, it is now early afternoon in - is now early afternoon in tokyo. in about half—an—hour we will have the exact moment, ten years since the exact moment that that enormous 9—.0 earthquake the east coast of janat —— japan, earthquake the east coast of janat ——japan, unleashing earthquake the east coast of janat —— japan, unleashing the giant tsunami. in that moment in about half—an—hour people. up in about half—an—hour people. up and down the coast for a minute's silence to remember the 18,500 people who died. it is the biggest earthquake recorded injapanese history and it did in men's damage. over the last ten years there has been a massive, massive amount of reconstruction. the physical infrastructure has been restored along most of the coast. but as i've found on a trip there in the last few days, getting people home and putting human communities back

together is proving much more difficult. a major earthquake in japan. .. much a major earthquake injapan... much the 11th 2011, on the north—east coast of japan a huge has triggered a giant tsunami. live pictures are broadcast around the world as the wave sweeps through the little fishing port, destroying everything in its path. by the end of the day one in ten of the residents are missing. among them are this man's whole family, including his wife and 14—year—old daughter. ten years on he takes me to the place his house once stood. clutched in his arms his most precious possession — his daughter's school uniform. all that he has to remember her by. translation: in to remember her by. translation: , translation: in the beginning i was drinking _ translation: in the beginning i was drinking heavily, _ translation: in the beginning i was drinking heavily, i— translation: in the beginning i was drinking heavily, i really - was drinking heavily, i really don't remember much of the first three years after that quake. afterfour years i

quake. after four years i started quake. afterfour years i started to tell my story. i had a fight with my wife that morning before the quake struck. so now i'd tell people what would you do if tomorrow never comes. i'd tell them to live every single day as if you don't have tomorrow.- live every single day as if you don't have tomorrow. down the coast of the _ don't have tomorrow. down the coast of the tsunami _ don't have tomorrow. down the coast of the tsunami triggered l coast of the tsunami triggered a second disaster at the fukushima daiichi nuclear plant. explosions ripped through the buildings, releasing a huge cloud. today the two towns closest to the fukushima plant remain deserted, frozen in time. the plant itself is now circled by vast waste dumps. underneath these green sheets are millions of tons are contaminated should ash mcgrath of contaminated topsoil. unlike with chernobyl, the japanese government has set out to decontaminate the land around the fukushima plant. vast areas of topsoil have been removed, creating millions and millions of tons of waste. and

here behind me you can see new towns being built for the nuclear evacuees. and in a large but it has been a success. radiation levels here are very low. it is safe for people to return to live here. unfortunately, that is no guarantee that they will. on the spot where his house once stood, he has planted three pine trees to commemorate those he lost. nearby, a huge new sea wall has been built to protect the area from future tsunamis. but he too has no desire to return to live here next to the ocean that took his family from him ten years ago. sally, inside the fukushima nuclear power plant itself, a massive decommissioning process has been going on for ten years. but it is reallyjust beginning and it is still very, very controversial. around 1 million tons of contaminated

cooling water are currently being stored at that site. the japanese government wants to release it into the ocean. most japanese people and surrounding countries do not. they have to make some sort of decision by the end of next year. but the decommissioning process itself could take between 50 — 100 years. this is an issuejapan will be dealing with for a very long time to come.— will be dealing with for a very long time to come. yes, indeed, thank you. _ long time to come. yes, indeed, thank you, rupert. _ long time to come. yes, indeed, thank you, rupert. later - long time to come. yes, indeed, thank you, rupert. later in - long time to come. yes, indeed, thank you, rupert. later in the l thank you, rupert. later in the programme we will be marking that one minute's silence that is taking place injapan, the moment the tsunami struck stop also we will be looking at the economic impact that that has had. all that still to come in the programme. now we focus on the latest sports stories. i'm tulsen tollett and this is your sports news, where we start with the uefa champions league. and liverpool are through to the quarter—finals after beating rb leipzig over two legs. both matches were played in budapest because of covid restrictions. they won the second leg 2—0, with both goals coming in a four—minute spell midway through the second half. mohamed salah and sadio mane

were the scorers as liverpool completed a 4—0 aggregate win. despite their wretched domestic form, the 2019 champions are through to the last eight as they chase a seventh european cup. missed a couple of chances in the first half stop big ones. but, yes, but�*s it. but closed the game in the second half and very good. very happy for tonight, of course. paris saint—germain join liverpool as kylian mbappe scored first on the night from the penalty spot against barcelona. lionel messi equalised, but missed a penaltyjust before half time as it finished 1—1 in paris, but 5—2 on aggregate. it's the first time in 14 years that barca have failed to reach the quarter—finals. manchester city have moved out to a 14—point lead at the top of the premier league after beating southampton 5—2. kevin de bruyne and riyad mahrez both scored a double as pep guardiola's side bounced back from their loss to manchester united

on saturday. lyon's bid for a sixth successive women's champions league title remains on track. a 5—1 aggregate win over danish side brondby saw them through to the quarter—finals. nikita parris and wendie renard were among the scorers in their 3—1 round of 16 second leg win, while others to go through include chelsea, barcleona, and wolfsburg. roger federer returned to the tennis court for the first time in more than a year on wednesday and managed to win his second round match at the qatar open. the 39—year—old swiss hasn't played since the 2020 australian open semi—final but he was strong enough to beat britain's dan evans over three sets to move into the quarter—finals. it has been a long and tough road for me. i enjoyed no. i must say it's been a huge challenge of mine in my tennis career and to come back at my age is not something very simple, but i have had a wonderful team around myself

that have always supported me throughout. and that's made it much easier. the players championship gets under way at sawgrass in florida later with rory mcilroy the defending champion. last year's event fell victim to the coronavirus pandemic with the northern irishman having won the event when last played in 2019. i guess it's just i guess it'sjust nice to be back. it's been a year since the world changed. i think everyone here, in terms of the players that are playing, are just grateful that we are back doing what we want to do, which is playing golf and trying to win tournaments. primoz roglic leads the paris—nice race by 35 seconds heading into stage five later. the slovenian broke away late on in the stage on wednesday and is in a strong position with four stages remaining. you can get all the latest sports news at our website — that's bbc.com/sport. but from me, tulsen tollett, and the rest of the team that is your sports news for now.

that is. until your business news is coming up next right here on the bbc. so do stay with us. they will be back with all the top stories in business in a moment. —— i will be. march may have come in like a lamb, but the lion has now arrived early. and, after a stormy night, we have a very windy thursday to come — yes, some sunshine, but also heavy, blustery showers. all around an area of low pressure that's sitting to the north of us, but the tightly—packed isobars right across us indicating that wherever you are, thursday will be a very windy day. but it's england and wales bearing the brunt of the strongest, most disruptive winds, particularly early in the day as we see this area of wet weather move across northern england, wales, the midlands, and on towards east anglia. first thing in the day, the strongest winds will be wales, western england, gusting up to 70 mph, maybe more exposed coastal hills, especially in wales, very rough seas and large waves hitting the coastline here, so that could be disruptive in terms of flooding. and the winds across england and wales as they continue to gust, 50—60 mph, maybe a little bit more in places during the morning, could be disruptive before easing

gradually into the afternoon. weather—wise, wherever you are, it is sunshine and blustery showers from heavy hail and thunder. these are your wind gusts at the end of the afternoon, so they're easing a bit in england and wales, but still very windy in northern ireland — in fact, the winds picking up again in northwest scotland, approaching 60 mph at this stage. single figures in scotland and northern ireland, 9—12 celsius in england and wales. and it remains very blustery overnight thursday and into friday. further showers around increasingly falling as snow into the hills of scotland, perhaps northern ireland, into the pennines, as well — some here with a covering of snow at the higher ground as friday starts. and these are your temperatures. and then, for friday, spot the difference — yes, there'll be drier moments and sunshine, but there'll be further heavy showers around, some with hail and thunder, and still falling as snow into the hills of scotland, northern ireland, northern england, perhaps into wales at times, too, the higher up you are. and, ifanything, perhaps a little bit cooler on friday. and then, into the weekend, well, still low pressure.

a frontal system bringing more wet weather more widely overnight and into saturday. then saturday, it's sunshine and showers. bit of a lull first thing sunday, but this weather system bringing more rain at least into western parts as we go on through sunday. so, a selection of locations here for your sunday weather. and then, looking into next week, well, it turns drier and calmer once again, as that march lamb makes a comeback.

this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. a $1.9 trillion boost for the us economy. congress approves president bident�*s record—breaking stimulus plan — helping the dow to a new all—time high. this bill represents an historic, historic victory for the american people. i look forward to signing it later this week. patently unfair? developing countries push to ditch intellectual property rights on covid vaccines, but the rich nations are fighting back. the uk's x factor. why a �*made in britain' label could be worth billions of pounds to uk exporters, according to new research. plus, economic fallout.

ten years on the fukushima disaster still hangs over