welcome to bbc news — i'm mike embley — our top stories. the world health organisation urges countries to keep using the astrazeneca coronavirus vaccine — as a growing list of european nations suspend injections. the influential sister of north korea's leader, says the us must avoid causing a stink if it wants peace — as america's top diplomat heads to the region. the un's secretary general says he's appalled by the escalating violence in myanmar, at the hands of the military making history: deb haaland is confirmed as us secretary of the interior — becoming the first native american to lead a cabinet agency. it's a moment that each of these nominees will never forget. and — the nominations are out

for this year's delayed oscars — the most ethnically diverse, in the history of the academy awards. the world health organisation says vaccination programmes should not be halted — after a growing list of eu countries decided to suspend the use of the oxford—astrazeneca jab over safety concerns. germany, france, spain and italy are all taking the precautionary measure — of suspending use of the vaccine — because of fears about possible side—effects, including blood clots. our medical editor fergus walsh has the latest. a public display of confidence in the oxford astrazeneca vaccine from northern ireland's chief medical officer today. by contrast, you cannot have the jab in the irish republic, in france, germany and is a growing list

of eu countries which have temporarily suspended its use. this is a safe, effective vaccine as recommended by mhra. let's remember, this virus kills people, kills people my age, younger people and older people and the benefits are strongly in favour of people getting this vaccine at that time. the eu roll—out was already lagging well behind that of the uk. france has said it will wait for a safety analysis from the european medicines agency due tomorrow, before deciding whether to restart using the oxford astrazeneca vaccine. translation: the decision which is being taken - is to suspend, as a precaution of vaccinating with the astrazeneca vaccine, in the hope we can carry on quickly if the opinion of the european medicines agency allows. ten european countries have suspended the use

of the oxford astrazeneca vaccine pending safety investigations. germany, italy, france, the netherlands and spain are the latest. ireland paused at the weekend following denmark, iceland. several other countries, including austria have stopped using certain batches of the vaccine. that leaves several eu nations using the jab, which has been approved in over 70 countries around the world. astrazeneca says more than 17 million people in the uk and european union have now had its vaccine. that fewer than a0 cases of blood clots have been reported. it says the risks of having a clot are significantly lower among those who have been vaccinated compared to the general population. we know that blood clots are remarkably common and we would expect them to happen in one to two people per thousands, per year. which is a very large number. and much higher than the sorts of levels we are talking about

in this particular report. scientists in the uk are frankly baffled by the decisions made in the eu. there is concern that the pause in using the astrazeneca jab will cost lives because people will not be protected from covid and that it will damage public confidence in a highly effective vaccine. fergus walsh, bbc news. dr zain chagla is an infectious diseases physician and medical director of infection control at st. joseph's healthcare and hejoins me now from mississauga, ontario. let's talk about canada. i know up let's talk about canada. i know up until now the jab has not been going to older adults. think the guidelines are now changing? yes, absolutely. this was our approval from vaccine came early in march and this wasjust

came early in march and this was just before the uk vaccine was just before the uk vaccine was released on the recommendation was based on the clinical trials where there were very few over 65—year—olds enrolled full stops at the chapel is not recommended for those under 65. after a review of the data that came out of the uk and scotland the reversal actually in the next day or so that more people over the age of 65 to be vaccinated as well as the other vaccines available. as well as the other vaccines available-— available. just be it was not held back — available. just be it was not held back from _ available. just be it was not held back from the - available. just be it was not held back from the over- available. just be it was not held back from the over 65| held back from the over 65 because you thought it might hurt those people, you just did know for sure. hurt those people, you 'ust did know for swat know for sure. exactly. similar to germany — know for sure. exactly. similar to germany and _ know for sure. exactly. similar to germany and france. - know for sure. exactly. similar to germany and france. oncel know for sure. exactly. similar i to germany and france. once the uk dataset came out it was fairly obvious this vaccine has barely profound effects on the over 65 are known that we are in a public health emergency it was a no—brainer to start

putting it into that population.- putting it into that population. putting it into that --oulation. ., ., ., , population. you are a very senior position. _ population. you are a very senior position. what - population. you are a very senior position. what you | population. you are a very - senior position. what you make of what is going on in europe at the moment?— of what is going on in europe at the moment? yes, this is a vaccine. _ at the moment? yes, this is a vaccine. barry _ at the moment? yes, this is a vaccine, barry barry _ at the moment? yes, this is a vaccine, barry barry via - vaccine, barry barry via vaccine, barry barry via vaccine side effect with this vaccine side effect with this vaccine patch that seems to be ongoing europe but it is hard to argue with the numbers. a0 cults and 70 million individuals. that is well below the rate of class you would expect an average population. we would expect more than a0 clots. it is something that needs to be monitored. i think everyone is acting in precautionary principle but remember, this is a public health emergency. our own data from canada suggests people who have covid—i9 have a 2% risk of developing a clot if they have covid—i9 and so this is not a benign disease. every day we a day that one person doesn't get the vaccine and that this emergency keeps continuing.

you're more likely to get a blood if you don't have the vaccine then if you do? you are more likely _ vaccine then if you do? you are more likely to _ vaccine then if you do? you are more likely to get _ vaccine then if you do? you are more likely to get a _ vaccine then if you do? you are more likely to get a blood - vaccine then if you do? you are more likely to get a blood clotl more likely to get a blood clot if you get the virus than anything else. and so again, the risk of a true clot seems to be on the one in 500,000 in what is going on here. the risk in getting covid—i9 getting a blood clot is 2% and so you have to weigh those numbers in making this decision.— making this decision. thank you very much- _ thank you very much. italy is one of the countries suspending use of the astrazeneca vaccine. it's now facing a third wave of the pandemic, with a sharp rise in the rate of infections, so the government is introducing new restrictions — including closing schools, shops and restaurants. more than half the country is affected and for three days over easter, there'll be a full national shutdown. our correspondent mark lowen

reports from milan. for 95 years, guido di nardo's family have dressed the men of milan. his boutique passing down from his grandparents. but these 12 months have ruined him. with losses of 75% and now closing for another lockdown, even europe's fashion capital is fraying. translation: i hope we don't have to shut down completely, like so many others here. when i think of how this shop was my parents' and grandparents' life, it makes me want to cry. i'm only staying open for my children. if it were up to me, i would have given up already. a third wave, fuelled by the british variant, has closed shops, restaurants and schools in over half of italy's regions, including here in lombardy where europe's first wave exploded a year ago.

forfamilies, it's like being stuck in time. for the covid generation, it's like time stolen. we feel pretty dreadful. it's like back to square one after a year. it is incredible that we haven't, the government, the schools haven't had the chance to think about an alternative. we look at israel, we look at the us, and we look- at the uk thinking, wow, | things are working there. and here? not really. turbo—charging italy's slow vaccine roll out, this drive—through centre opens today in milan. the government pledging to almost double dailyjabs now and triple them by mid april. well, italy is finally in full vaccine mobilization but there is frustration here that it has taken weeks to get to this point. yes, there have been supply problems, but only now

with the drive—through starting and jabs also in schools, theatres and gyms. in the race between vaccine and virus, there is a feeling that italy has let the latter win for too long. butjust hours after vaunting its vaccine increase, italy halted its astrazeneca jabs. covid's fix thrown into doubt. as the pandemic drags on, it is taking the new poor with it. 3,500 a day now come to this hand—out. the price of survival in this, italy's financial capital. it's a disaster, says roxana, whose mother died of covid. neither my family nor i can find work now. at least this stops me sleeping under the bridge. from the exhausted, to the fearful. italians are desperate for a sign of hope. but for the first western country engulfed by the virus, its longed for path out has been pushed back again. a day before the us secretary of state, antony blinken and the us secretary of defence, lloyd austin are due to arrive in seoul for theirfirst talks

with south korean counterparts, north korea has warned the us to avoid "causing a stink" if it wants peace. in a statement carried by the state news agency, the sister of north korean leader, kim yo—jong, also criticised ongoing military drills in south korea. earlier, the white house said north korea has so far not responded to invitations to engage in dialogue. let's get more on this from our correspondent, laura bicker in seoul. how do we define causing a stink in north korean terms? when it comes to this statement it may be interpreted in a number of ways. it is clear the capital is watching. it may not have responded to the white house's recent attempt to try to get in touch. we do know from us officials that the biden administration has been trying to reach north korea to

a number of channels and north korea has not responded. it has responded today in a way but perhaps the united states does not quite like what it hears. in terms of interpretation it may well be that north korea is hinting at further missile tests in the future. they have refrained from testing nuclear weapons and long—range missiles. they have new missiles. they have new missiles to test because they showed the mob at a parade in october so it may be hinting at something like that but in terms of the statement it is worth pointing out this is not entirely unexpected. every year we expect some kind of reaction from north korea. sometimes that comes in the form of missile tests short—range or long range and on this occasion, it is kind of string of angry words. and he is using his favourite attack of his sister and it is notjust aimed at washington, it is aimed very

much at the south korean capital where the statement really criticises south korea for going along with what it calls the march of crisis. probably not unconnected with all that what is expected with the new us secretary of state very shortly? well, he's in japan at the moment and certain reporters tried to put questions about his statement to them but they have still to respond. they will arrive tomorrow and there are several things that need to be discussed.— things that need to be discussed. ., , ., ., discussed. top the agenda will be north korea. _ discussed. top the agenda will be north korea. it _ discussed. top the agenda will be north korea. it is _ discussed. top the agenda will be north korea. it is keen - discussed. top the agenda will be north korea. it is keen to l be north korea. it is keen to engage with north korea but so far the biden administration is keeping quiet about what its on the north may be so it is a time for both sides to come to some kind of an agreement. let's get some of the day's other news.

two men in the united states have been arrested and charged with assaulting a police officer who died after the attack on the capitol building injanuary. prosecutors believe brian sicknick was targeted with a chemical spray that's designed to incapacitate. the vatican has ruled that roman catholic priests cannot bless same—sex couples, and that any such blessings are invalid in the eyes of the church. the statement was approved by pope francis, who supports civil rights for homosexual partners but opposes gay marriage. conservative catholics had asked for a ruling after bishops in germany and the united states expressed approval for the pastoral blessings some priests had bestowed. in london police have arrested a number of demonstrators , gathering to protest about male violence against women despite covid restrictions against large gatherings. campaigners marched from parliament square, while followed by a large number of police officers, vans and motorbikes. stay with us on bbc news, still to come. the 2021 oscar nominations are out — and the acting categories are the most ethnically diverse in the awards history.

today we have closed the book on apartheid and that chapter... cheering and applause. more than 3,000 subway passengers were affected. nausea, bleeding, headaches and a dimming of vision. all of this caused by an apparently organised attack.

this is bbc world news, the latest headlines. the world health organisation urges countries to keep using the astrazeneca coronavirus vaccine — as a growing list of european nations suspend injections. the influential sister of north korea's leader, says the us must avoid causing a stink if it wants peace — as america's top diplomat heads to the region. there is fresh condemnation of myanmar�*s military, after yet another day of the army using lethal force against unarmed protestors. the united nations secretary—general has said he is appalled

by the escalating violence. latest estimates from an activist group say 20 more people were shot dead on monday. the group says in total 183 people have been killed by security forces. dr simon adams is from the the global centre for the responsibility to protect. he outlined what actions should be taken against myanmar despite regional powers china and russia failing to condemn the coup. one worries there are businesses in the region that are waiting for the blood to try a little bit on the streets before they try to return to business as normal and i think we need to send a very clear message and by we i mean the entire international community that they can be no business as usual with generals who have seized power illegally and continue to gun down unarmed protesters in the street. and that there absolutely has to be

consequences for their actions. it is difficult, isn't it? military so powerful in the country and has made it clear in the recent past it is prepared to use almost any level of force. i guess it is possible for them to put down protests. is it possible for them to run a country with this level of force and fear? ha. level of force and fear? no. the country _ level of force and fear? no. the country is _ level of force and fear? iiru the country is ungovernable by the military and that is clear and the other side of this equation course which has to be mentioned as the tremendous bravery and commitment and ingenuity of these thousands and thousands and thousands of civilians who despite this murderous repression come out every single day. i wake up here in new york every morning to text messages to e—mails, to photographs that have been sent to me by people who are inside the country and are still protesting and still going and i think, you protesting and still going and ithink, you know, the protesting and still going and i think, you know, the very least the international community can do is to honour them and their bravery by

trying to increase the pressure on the military. flan trying to increase the pressure on the military.— on the military. can you see wa s on the military. can you see ways that — on the military. can you see ways that international - ways that international businesses could be encouraged not to do business with the military, with a country rather than, as you say, simply waiting for the blood to be washed off the streets? absolutely. one is reminded of apartheid south africa during the 1980s which was a pariah state. no one wanted to be caught doing business with the south africans before the transition from apartheid. just today an italian company said there were no longer be involved in any kind of business interests in myanmar. we saw major australian energy company pull out of myanmar. we need more companies doing that and we need more people doing what the eu did recently which is to say that it will not provide any development assistance to the government when it is run by military who are going to use those funds simply to line their own pockets and buy more weapons to kill their own people.

the us senate made history by confirmed deb haaland as the head of the interior department, making her the first african american to take on the role. (pause this is the moment senators confirmed biden�*s cabinet appointee. haaland's a member of the laguna pueblo tribe in new mexico. as part of her remit she will oversee the us government's relationship with tribal nations. she is also expected to play a key role in realising president biden�*s plans to fight climate change. our north america correspondent peter bowes has more. deb haaland, she is from new mexico when she is a native american. she is from the laguna pueblo tribe, just one of hundreds of tribes across the united states. she is a long—time campaigner for the rights of america's indigenous people. she is an environmental campaigner and her there has

been a big campaign on her behalf by environmentalist to get her pointed to this role in the department of the interior. she did this with president biden on some policies. she does not support fracking. she does not support fracking. she does support the green new deal which includes some radical policies to tackle climate change and the reason her new important is that the department she will be in charge of controls and manages about one fifth of all the public land across the united states. if you look at the extraction and use of fossil fuels from those lands that results in about a quarter of the greenhouse gas emissions from the us. she is going to be in charge of a key department at a time when president biden is looking at environmental policies. she is in a position to have her say and that is exactly what her supporters wanted.

the nominees for this year's much—delayed academy awards are finally out. it's the most diverse oscars ever, with nine of the 20 acting nominees from ethnic minority backgrounds — and two women nominated for best director. our arts editor will gompertz takes us through the nominations for a ceremony that will be unlike any other — it is good news for inclusion in the industry today. we had a record number of women nominated. we had nine people of colour nominated in acting categories which is a record. it was seven back in 2006. it hasjust been a it was seven back in 2006. it has just been a really great day for representation and inclusion and i think is we've been through the pandemic and it has brought a lot of challenges we have actually, i think, one of the good takeaway is that the academy members were able to stay home and

watch all the films that had all these great performances in film—making behind them. it has got a lot to do with talent obviously but a lot to do with a much broaderfield of people voting. when oscar so what happened in 2016 the academy really took the initiative and started diversifying their membership, bringing about between 1900 and 3000 new members all from different cultures and backgrounds and ages. and now we have seen that over the last few years with winners like moonlight, parasite. and now having this very representative year shows that when you do the work and diversify the membership, no one is asking for token spots in acting line—ups. if you diversify what is there you get a little bit for everyone and this is we saw today. there is still work to do but it is a

great day. who are the big surprises for you? another round. bafta nominated the director but we did not think he would make it and he did. virginia king, best director and the films nominated for best picture. another film didn't make the cut in best picture but some surprising inclusions the first time two black actors have been nominated from the same film and same category. so those were some of the big highlights and surprises so a little all around for many but i was really excited by those. nominations are just the start, of course. who would you like to see get the awards introducing will get them. my

will when is the same which never really happens. nomad land is going to walk away with best picture and best director. for oscar nominations today. most nominated women in oscar history in one ceremony beating fran walsh and sophia coppola. it is probably the one to beat right now but i would say watch out for the trial of the chicago seven they have the goods. chicago seven they have the noods. ., ., chicago seven they have the noods. ., ~' ,, chicago seven they have the noods. . ~ i. chicago seven they have the noods. . ~ . ., goods. thank you so much for talkin: goods. thank you so much for talking to _ goods. thank you so much for talking to us. _ goods. thank you so much for talking to us. i— goods. thank you so much for talking to us. i have _ goods. thank you so much for talking to us. i have written . talking to us. i have written all of that down. and you can get in touch with me and most of the team on twitter — i'm embley mike.

hello there. in comparison to this time last week, it is a much quieter weather story to tell. but i suspect we will be chasing cloud amounts around over the next few days, just like we had on monday. in cornwall, it was a beautiful day with blue sky and sunshine, similar story for northern ireland. but further north and west, cloud gathered as we went through the day, rather threatening looking skies, indication of what's to come. yes, we have some weather fronts bringing some rain into the far northwest. high—pressure is trying to build in from the southwest, but some of this rain will be heavy through the night. isobars squeezing together as well, strengthening winds particularly in the far north of scotland. now, the rain will sink its way south and east, a lot of cloud across the country, so a relatively mild

night for many. so as we start off tuesday, there will still be some heavy rain to come, particularly across scotland accompanied by some strong gusty winds from the northwest. widely, we could see gusts in excess of 13 mph first thing, but in the far north, a0—a5 mph not out of the question. that strong wind will help push the rain south and east as we go through the day, quite a clearance, the winds will fall light, the sunshine will come through. the only exception, perhaps, across east anglia, essex and kent, it may well stay cloudy for much of the day. top temperatures though through the afternoon, generally around 10—15 celsius — not bad. now, high—pressure will anchor itself across northern ireland. a little bit more of a breeze always around the periphery of the high, and that is going to continue to drag in cloud amounts, hence the reason that we will be chasing cloud from time to time. so on wednesday, there will be quite cloudy skies with the odd light shower into the far north and some cloud coming in off the north sea, so sheltered westerns parts

of england and wales seeing the best of the sunshine potentially. now, as we move into the end of the week, the high—pressure just moves a little bit further west again, and that allows more of a northeasterly flow, a cooler source, particularly across east anglia and southeast england. so what that will do is it potentially breaks up the cloud to allow more sunshine to come through, but it means that it might feel just that little bit cooler the further south and east you are by the end of the week. further west, it stays largely dry, but there is always the risk of a little more cloud. that's it, take care.

this is bbc news,

the headlines: the world health organization has urged countries to keep using the astrazeneca coronavirus vaccine — france, italy, germany and spainjoined the list of countries who have halted injections. concerns were initially raised by norway — when a small number of people suffered blood clots. astrazeneca insists the vaccine is safe. the influential sister of north korea's leader — kimjong—un — has warned the us not to cause a stink — as the biden administration prepares to set out its korean policy. her comments come hours before america's top diplomat, anthony blinken is due to visit the region. the us senate has voted to confirm deb haaland to head the department of the interior — making her the first native american cabinet secretary. the congresswoman from new mexico is expected to have a key role in efforts to move the united states towards carbon neutrality. now on bbc news, monday in parliament.