welcome to bbc news. i'm mike embley. our top stories: a leading aid charity warns that cutting to british aid could mean that hundreds of thousands of children won't be able to go to school. it will mean less medical services, and is the wrong thing to do. the dispute between the eu and britain over the oxford—astrazeneca vaccine deepens as supplies of the jab run short. tanzania's president, john magufuli, dies at the age of 61. the vice president says he'd succumbed to complications related to a heart condition. russia is withdrawing its ambassador to washington for consultations because the us accused it of seeking

to influence last year's election. hello to you. and welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and around the globe. the charity save the children has warned that planned reductions in british aid to syria could lead to hundreds of thousands of children losing their access to education. since the start of the conflict a decade ago, thousands of schools have been destroyed, in what the un says is a deliberate ploy by president bashar al—assad and his allies to terrorise communities — a charge the regime denies. the foreign office says no final decisions have been made but it is warning there are tough decisions ahead because of the pandemic. to be a parent in syria is to carry the world on your shoulders.

forabu, his burden is constant vigilance. for years he's watched the sun set and rise from this hilltop, waiting for the next attack. he's a flight spotter, a one—man early warning system, protecting the village below where his wife and five children live. at the end of another long shift, he calls home. he knows firsthand the fear and the fury the warplanes bring.

the screams in this playground are of terror. these are schooldays in syria, an entire generation brutalised and traumatised, as bombs fall by the school gates. how do you break the opposition's will? target their children, their teachers, their schools. there have been thousands of attacks on schools since the war began. they are relentless in opposition areas and come mostly from regime and russian bombs. taken as a whole, it is a systematic terror campaign against children. in october 2016, a parachute bomb dropped steadily onto this school in haas. inside pupils as young

as five years old. 36 were killed in a series of strikes that day. 21 of them were kids. five years later, with their parents�* permission, they told us what happened.

the world has turned its back on these children. it's tired of the syrian conflict. the un does what it can, applying a sticking plaster to a haemorrhaging wound. countries are now looking away from syria. britain, for example, is contemplating a 67% cut in its aid to syria. what would that mean for the un? what would that mean for people on the ground in syria? well, we can only give aid to those 7.5 million people we reach every month if we get the money to do so. the un doesn't have a magic... 350,000 fewer kids in school if britain pulls the plug on that money? it will mean feeding fewer people, it will mean fewer kids in school, it will mean less medical services and it is the wrong thing to do, to balance the books on the backs of these starving and suffering people. 10 years of international failure has left syria a landscape in ruin.

this was a normal school day just last week. until the aircraft early warning alarm sounds. carefully, the children pack up and evacuate the school. they know the drill only too well. for syria, this is not history, this is now. quentin sommerville, bbc news. uncertainty over stocks of covid vaccines is causing growing tension between the uk and the european union. with around 25 million british citizens vaccinated, the uk authorities have warned that there'll be a significant reduction in vaccines available next month, urging providers not to take new appointments for april. meanwhile, the eu says it might need to impose export limits on vaccines from european factories. 0ur brussels correspondent nick beake has more. in prague, in paris, and once again in bergamo, northern italy, covid patients gasping for air. the nightmare prospect of a third wave in europe

is now real. the continent is also facing a vaccination crisis. it's not getting the doses it ordered, and today a warning the eu would do everything needed to get its fair share. all options are on the table. we are in the crisis of the century and i am not ruling out anything for now, because we have to make sure that europeans are vaccinated as soon as possible. officials in brussels have faced heavy criticism over their vaccine programme and have now come out fighting. the eu says it has sent millions of doses to the uk in recent weeks, but�*s seen little in return from astrazeneca. but remarkably, 7 million of the company's jabs are sitting in fridges and its use has now been

suspended in most eu countries. it's still available here in belgium, but increasing numbers are saying they don't want the astrazeneca shot. i am not sure that it will be ok, if it's astra, for old people. so, that's why now i'm afraid, everybody is afraid of this vaccine. the eu's medicine regulator is assessing the latest evidence from a very small number of cases of a possible link to blood clots. but it stresses the benefits outweigh the risks. a message amplified in today's downing street press conference. vaccines don't save lives if they're in fridges. they only save lives if they're in arms. and that's a really important fact. all medicines have side effects and all medicines have benefits, and that's the whole point. that absolute confidence in the astrazeneca vaccine

is now very hard to find in many european capital cities, but still, the eu is adamant it should get all of the british—made doses it has ordered and has now raised the heat in this latest post—brexit row. and this evening, the government condemned the eu's action, saying it was wrong to threaten even tighter controls on vaccine exports. i'm surprised we're having this conversation. it is normally what the uk and the eu team up with, to object when other countries with less democratic regimes than our own engage in that kind of brinkmanship. it is a deepening rift and will do nothing to ease europe's resurgent covid crisis. nick beake, bbc news, brussels. russia may be hit with new sanctions from the united states after american intelligence published a report saying russia's president vladimir putin is likely to have authorised attempts to influence last year's us election — in favour of donald trump. president biden has said mr putin would pay a price and he also told america's abc

news that he thought his russian counterpart was "a killer". we had a long talk, he and i, and i know him relatively well. i started off the conversation saying, i know you, you know me. ., ., , �* ., saying, i know you, you know me. ., ., ,�* ., ., me. you said he doesn't have a soul? they _ me. you said he doesn't have a soul? they did _ me. you said he doesn't have a soul? they did say _ me. you said he doesn't have a soul? they did say that - me. you said he doesn't have a soul? they did say that to - me. you said he doesn't have a soul? they did say that to him, i soul? they did say that to him, es. be soul? they did say that to him, yes- be and — soul? they did say that to him, yes. be and his— soul? they did say that to him, yes. be and his response - soul? they did say that to him, yes. be and his response was, | yes. be and his response was, we understand one another. == i we understand one another. -- i did say that _ we understand one another. -- i did say that to _ we understand one another. -- i did say that to him, _ we understand one another. -- i did say that to him, yes. - we understand one another. —— i did say that to him, yes. and his response was, we understand one another. russia has withdrawn its us ambassador for consultations about future ties with america. that us intelligence report found moscow spread "misleading or unsubsta ntiated" allegations aboutjoe biden during the presidential campaign — with the aim of undermining the broader election process. the report also accuses iran of trying to weaken support for donald trump. and it alleges russian intelligence pushed anti—biden narratives to media outlets and to senior officials and allies of mr trump. michael carpenter is managing director of the penn biden centerfor diplomacy and global engagement. he comes to us live. he was director for russia

at the us national security council. he's in washington. what do you make of the situation and response from russia? i situation and response from russia? ~ russia? i think by withdrawing its ambassador, the _ russia? i think by withdrawing its ambassador, the kremlin l russia? i think by withdrawing | its ambassador, the kremlin is signalling this is a serious situation in our bilateral relationship but frankly, the biden administration had telegraphed its intentions all along, it had said where there were areas for cooperation, it would seek those areas of cooperation, as it did by extending that treaty for five years, and the campaign said very clearly that if it found that russia interfered in the conduct of the 2020 election, there would be consequences. and that is what president biden reiterated today. i can't believe the kremlin would be surprised by today's news. 50. surprised by today's news. so, serious, surprised by today's news. so, serious. but — surprised by today's news. so, serious, but in _ serious, but in terms of international politics and diplomacy, manageable? well, look, i think— diplomacy, manageable? well, look, i think the _ diplomacy, manageable? well, look, i think the era _ diplomacy, manageable? well, look, i think the era of - look, i think the era of turning the other way when

russia interferes in our democratic institutions as the previous administration in the united states did, denying, in fact, as president trump did, that there was any interference at all despite the conclusions of his intelligence community, you know, that year has passed. it is simply not sustainable for russia to interfere in say, the brexit referendum, in the french presidential election, in the us 2016 election, and again in the 2020 election and suffer no consequences. have to be consequences for this type of behaviour if it is two and. i think the biden administration has signalled very clearly there will be consequences.— very clearly there will be consequences. what kind of consequences? _ consequences. what kind of consequences? what - consequences. what kind of consequences? what kind i consequences. what kind of| consequences? what kind of shoes are about to drop, do you think? i shoes are about to drop, do you think? ., �* ., ., . i, ., think? i don't have a crystal ball but i — think? i don't have a crystal ball but i suspect _ think? i don't have a crystal ball but i suspect there - think? i don't have a crystal ball but i suspect there are | think? i don't have a crystal| ball but i suspect there are a range of options the ministration will consider, they will probably choose different types of responses and don't forget, with that review pending of the very

comprehensive hack, the solarwinds heart that russia perpetrated in the united states, there is also alleged bounties the russians offered for american lives in afghanistan —— and hack. so there will be a mix of responses to each of these events. i suspect there will be sanctions of the asset freezes —— functions on individuals and asset freezes and puzzle bands —— travel bans. but also other measures, the department of commerce has said it will tighten the export of sensitive technologies, and we will probably see it reinvigorated diplomacy with allies. i am personally of the opinion if united states asked germany to stop the north stream pipeline, that would send perhaps the biggest signal of old. h0??? that would send perhaps the biggest signal of old. how much does it matter _ biggest signal of old. how much does it matter how— biggest signal of old. how much does it matter how significant i does it matter how significant is it that the us president has

called the russian leader a killer? ~ ., ., ~' �* killer? well, look, he didn't volunteer— killer? well, look, he didn't volunteer this _ killer? well, look, he didn't volunteer this information l killer? well, look, he didn't| volunteer this information at the top of the press briefing, he was asked point—blank the question whether he believed that putin was a killer and he answered in the affirmative. i think we are seeing a president thatis think we are seeing a president that is going to speak truth and call it like it is. the previous president was asked a similar question and equivocate it and said various things about how the united states is responsible for all kinds of things. well, as president answered very directly. michael carpenter. _ answered very directly. michael carpenter, thank _ answered very directly. michael carpenter, thank you _ answered very directly. michael carpenter, thank you very - answered very directly. michaell carpenter, thank you very much. thank you. let's get some of the day's other news. police in atlanta, georgia, have charged a suspect with four counts of homicide, over a mass shooting at three spa and massage pa rlours. six of those who died were asian women. the suspect has denied having a racial motive. the creative head of the tokyo 0lympics has resigned after making a derogatory comment about a female japanese entertainer.

hiroshi sasaki, who was in charge of the opening and closing ceremonies has admitted making remarks about the entertainer naomi watanabe. last month, the formerjapanese prime minister yoshiro mori, stepped down from his role as president of the tokyo 2020 organising committee, after saying women talk too much. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: firefighters have been called to rescue a group of goats trapped in a roof in northern colombia. we have the details on the rescue mission. today we have closed the book on apartheid, and that chapter. 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.

the trophy itself is on the pedestal in the middle of the cabinet here. this was an international trophy and we understand now the search for it has become an international search. above all, this was a triumph of the christian democrats i of the west, after- reunification as quickly as possible, and that's. what the voters wanted. this is bbc world news. the latest headlines: a leading charity says many thousands of children in syria could lose access to education if britain cuts its foreign aid. the eu commission president has threatened to withold exports

of covid vaccine to countries not supplying them, including to the uk. the british government has said it expects all signed contracts to be fulfilled. more on the vaccine rollout here in the uk. vaccine centres have been told not to take any new appointments from the 29th march, although people who've already got a date will not lose their slot. this is how the health secretary matt hancock explained the hold—up. we are making absolutely fantastic progress in the vaccination effort. i'm delighted we're able to open up to millions more people today. and of course, the future forecasts are always lumpy, sometimes they go up, and sometimes they go down, but we made these public commitments and i'm absolutely delighted with the team because we are on track to meet them. the president of tanzania, john magufuli, has died at the age of 61.

the vice president said mr magufuli, who was being treated in hospital in dar es salaam, had succumbed to complications related to a heart condition. the bbc�*s salim kikeke reports. whenjohn magufuli rose to power in 2015, he seemed to be the leader tanzania needed and wanted, efficient and incorru ptible. his fast action was to purge thousands of so—called ghost workers, officials that were considered corrupt were fired publicly, sometimes on live television. his style was applauded by many inside and outside the country. the international community even hoped his influence would radiate in the region and help neighbouring countries with governance issues. but the honeymoon period was short—lived and magufuli instantly attracted criticism when live broadcasts of parliamentary debate were banned in 2016.

the opposition saw the changes he implemented as a threat to freedom of expression, and his government grew increasingly intolerant of any criticism. translation: the truth is i have never suppressed democracy. since elected as president, i've actually been promoting it. democracy must have limits. what we are doing it in accordance with our constitution and tradition. but it was his handling of the covid—19 pandemic that became the most controversial, advising tanzanians to dedicate themselves to player to defeat the virus. and without offering any scientific proof himself, he also warned tanzanians to beware of the vaccine. this directly challenged the who efforts to build vaccine trust in the country. translation: there are some tanzanians who recently travelled abroad in search of coronavirus vaccines. these people brought the virus into our country when they returned. let us stand firm. this vaccine is not

good at all. after the death of zanzibar�*s first vice president, and as the country faced an important increase in the number of deaths, john magufuli finally seems to accept the importance of face covering and social distancing. in october 2020, he won a second term in office, co ntroversially. the opposition cried foul as he won with a landslide 84% of the vote. despite the promising start to his presidency, mr magufuli leaves behind a tanzania very different from the one he took over in 2015. some would say a very divided one. in the netherlands, prime minister mark rutte's party has won the most seats in elections dominated by the coronavirus pandemic, putting him on course

to lead his fourth coalition, according to exit polls. the pro eu d66 looks set to gain seats, with geert wilder's anti islam party on course to lose ground in parliament. mr rutte thanked voters for their support. ijust noticed that the results of this election is that the folks in the netherlands have given my party, the dutch labour party and overwhelming vote of confidence, and it is humbling. it is also forcing us to do everything we can to make a success out of it, not everything has gone well in the last ten years, take the child benefit issue, which we have to solve, the earthquakes, but of course come to the main issue also on the table for the next year is how to rebuild the country going forward after coronavirus. a rare species of bird in australia has become so endangered it's forgetting how to sing its own song. there are only about 300 regent honeyeaters left in the wild, and because they rarely hear each other, some have started imitating the songs

of other species. victoria gill reports. only 300 left in the wild, the striking regent honeyeater and its own disappearing from their native south—eastern australia. researchers had set out to find and monitor the remaining birds, when they noticed that some honeyeater is no longer saying the right tune, songbirds around the world like these familiar uk species learn to sing in very much the same way that humans learn to speak, they listen to and copy other adults. ~ . �* , adults. what we're finding is that the population - adults. what we're finding is that the population is - adults. what we're finding is that the population is now i adults. what we're finding is| that the population is now so small and so sparsely distributed that some young males are actually unable to find other males to learn their songs from, and so they are ending upjust learning songs from, and so they are ending up just learning the

songs of other species they hearin songs of other species they hear in the landscape. im’ith songs of other species they hear in the landscape. with so much of the — hear in the landscape. with so much of the forest _ hear in the landscape. with so much of the forest habitat - much of the forest habitat destroyed to make way for agriculture the researchers say that 12% of regent honeyeater is a now completely lost their natural song, and it is vital for them to attract a mate and to breed. there is some conservation hope though. in an effort to preserve the bird's calls, the researchers are playing recordings of the most melodious wild honeyeaters to captive bred birds, reminding them how to sing properly before they are released into the wild could help them to find a mate and eventually make a two fold recovery. from a young age, we've all been warned of the dangers of kidding around but not these goats in south america apparently who found themselves up a roof without a ladder. that's when the local fire brigade stepped in. mark lobel tells the tale. goads grazing, nothing unusual, right? except these ones are

tucking in on a roof in the small village in northern columbia. known for its cobbled streets and colonial architecture. and now, this. translation: we have never seen such cases here before. we rescued snakes, porcupines, possums, other kinds of wild animals, but we have never rescued goads from a roof before. , ., ., rescued goads from a roof before. . before. goads on a roof may sound more _ before. goads on a roof may sound more like _ before. goads on a roof may sound more like a _ before. goads on a roof may sound more like a direct - before. goads on a roof may i sound more like a direct video action thriller, but the rescue scenes are not pretty. some were carried away after their initial performance. for others, the sight of rescuers butting in seemed to have got their goat as they milked the crowd and made their own way down. in rescuers reported the frightened animals were all returned to the wild without any injuries, passing tourists

capturing this unforgettable scene for us all to see. with the mystery of how they got to be fiddling around on the roof in the first place as yet unsolved. mark lobel, bbc news. mark promised to write me somejokes so me some jokes so i could sound incredibly witty coming out of that report but he has used them all up. when a man from new haven connecticut picked up a chinese more than $35 he thought he would try his luck to see if it was worth anything. do you know what comes next? that turns out to have been a various astute move, the lotus bold turns to be 600 years old, it has gone under the hammer, be 600 years old, it has gone underthe hammer, not under the hammer, not literally, underthe hammer, not literally, selling for a whopping $722,000, a reminder that precious works of art can remain hidden in plain sight, just waiting to be found. that's it for now, much more

news view at any time of the bbc news website and also on our twitter feeds, bbc news website and also on our twitterfeeds, thank bbc news website and also on our twitter feeds, thank you for watching. hello there. there's going to be very little change with the weather for the end of the week and into the weekend and indeed into next week. high pressure will hold on to bring pretty benign weather. thursday looks generally cloudy, i think, for much of the country, and we'll have some patchy rain across more eastern parts of england. high—pressure sits to the west of the uk bringing northerly winds to most areas, north or north—easterly winds, that is. a lot of cloud around generally, limited spells of brightness, early showers will clear from the south—east, but more rain will arrive across eastern england, east anglia on the south—east through the afternoon. probably the best of the sunshine will be through the central belt

of scotland where we could see 15 celsius. some sunshine for south wales, south—west england, highs of 1a celsius. but elsewhere, 10—11 celsius and cooler along north sea coast of england where we have that area of rain and onshore breeze. it will stay damp through thursday night. elsewhere, generally dry, a few spots of drizzle here and there, but because of the cloud cover, it won't to be too cold anywhere. lows of 4—8 celsius. so into friday, similar story, high pressure dominating the scene. but we will start to tap into some colder air across the near continent in the south—east, so here, with that cooler air, it will actually be drier air, so we should see the clouds breaking up to allow some sunshine here. but elsewhere, another rather cloudy day, some spots of light rain or drizzle, particularly into northern england through the midlands, up towards the south—west. and it will feel cooler as well across the south—east, despite the sunshine, that onshore north—easterly breeze will bring temperatures back to around 7—8 celsius. you will have to head further west to see slightly higher values. again, bit of brightness through the central belt, 13 degrees, i think 10—11 will be the high for most as we move out of friday into the weekend, we still have high pressure with us, but we will see this weather

front move into the north of the uk. that could bring some stronger winds across shetland later on on saturday, and outbreaks of rain. we could see some rain pushing to the north and west of scotland later on, but elsewhere, it's generally, again, a dry day with some spots of drizzle, quite a bit of cloud around, limited sunshine, and those temperatures around the seasonal average, 11—12 celsius will be the high. a similar story on sunday, and in fact, as we head on into next week, we dominate the weather scene with high pressure, generally light winds, quite a lot of cloud around, temperatures around the seasonal average.

this is bbc news. the headlines: the charity, save the children, says cuts to aid could mean less children going to school. russia is recalling its ambassador to washington for consultations, as it tries to prevent what it called the irreversible degradation of ties with the united states. the move follows a us intelligence report that accused russia of trying to influence last year's presidential election. the president of tanzania, john magufuli, has died at the age of 61. the vice president said mr magufuli was being treated in hospital and had succumbed to complications related to a heart condition.