this is bbc news — these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. europe braces itself for a third wave of coronavirus infections — with fresh lockdowns in france and poland. getting his vaccine — the borisjohnson comes under pressure, as more than 60 mps and peers call for a change in covid legislation to allow protests during lockdown. president biden urges people to speak up against hate on a visit to atlanta after the murder of eight people including six asian women. hot lava lights up the night sky as a volcano erupts near the icelandic capital reykjavic. and coming up in half an hour, the travel show looks back at some of its top trips to thailand.

hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. europe is preparing for a third wave of coronavirus amid a surge in new cases and a shortage of vaccines that can reduce the spread of the disease. france has introduced a partial lockdown — with 21 million people in 16 areas, including paris, among those affected. in poland, non—essential shops, hotels, cultural and sporting facilities are also closed for three weeks — as the country has seen the highest new daily cases since november. germany's chancellor, angela merkel, has also said the country is at risk of having to re—impose lockdown measures as it copes with an �*exponential rise�* in coronavirus cases. and following a temporary suspension of oxford—astrazeneca vaccines in ireland, the country has decided to resume

administering the jab this weekend. this report from simonjones contains flashing images. facing a third wave fuelled by a faltering vaccine programme. with delays in supplies and scepticism about the jab, much of europe is seeing a rise in infections. in germany, there is a warning it's likely the country will have to apply an emergency brake and reapply lockdown measures. just 8% of the german population has had a first dose of vaccine so far. translation: there are not yet enough vaccines in europe to stop the third wave through vaccination alone. even if deliveries are reliable, it will take weeks before risk groups are fully vaccinated. only then can we talk about wider openings in society. in france, there was a rush to leave paris before new lockdown measures came into effect at midnight. prime ministerjean

castex was keen to be shown getting the astrazeneca jab, after questions about side effects prompted the eu medicines regulator to say that it's safe. in the uk, where infections are falling in many areas, around half the adult population has a first dose. boris johnson returned to the hospital in london where he was treated last year for coronavirus to back the jab. i literally did not feel a thing. and so it was very good, very quick, and you know what i'm going to say — i cannot recommend it too highly. everybody — when you get your notification to get a jab, please go and get it. it's the best thing for you, for your family, and everybody else. and there is a warning the uk cannot afford to be complacent. we've had our first and second wave, and there are areas of the country where it is stubbornly staying at a relatively high level.

what will happen later in the year is the infections will come back again. if we have not protected our vulnerable population at that stage, then we will be back where we were in march or april of last year. to complement the vaccine programme, the british government is funding two new clinical trials to try to develop treatments to stop the spread of covid—i9 amongst the most vulnerable. the message from the prime minister is that the scientists will help us get through this. simon jones, bbc news. poland is reintroducing partial lockdowns from saturday to tackle a sharp rise in covid cases. polish health officials have warned that the british variant of the virus is so rampant in the country that a three week lockdown is needed. shops, hotels, and cultural and sports venues will have to close. the bbc�*s adam easton joins us from warsaw. tell us more about how big the spread of the virus is at the moment. spread of the virus is at the moment-— spread of the virus is at the moment. ., ~ , , ., , , moment. the health ministry has 'ust released a new — moment. the health ministry has 'ust released a new daily i

moment. the health ministry has 'ust released a new daily figures �* moment. the health ministry has 'ust released a new daily figures in i moment. the health ministry hasjust released a new daily figures in the - released a new daily figures in the last half—hour. they show that the third wave in this country continues to gain momentum. they show a one quarter increase compared to one week ago. numbers of new cases not seen since the second wave peaked in november. the third wave in poland has yet to peak so health officials expect cases to continue to rise next week and that is placing incredible strain on the country's health system where we are already at a place where three quarters of available beds are occupied and there are more patients on ventilators now than at any point since the start of the pandemic which is why health officials have ordered an 8000 beds to be ready in both temporary and regular hospitals across the country. health minister has also warned that if the

infection rate continues to rise, as you mentioned, the uk variant is now responsible for more than 60% of all cases in poland. it is expected to soon reach 80% of cases and that is a highly contagious variant then he has said that for national lockdown which could include travel bans and closure of all nonessential shops and services might be introduced. 0ther and services might be introduced. other questions being asked in poland and the rest of europe why poland and the rest of europe why poland did not learn what happened in the uk? we saw this new variant with its ferocious infectiousness taking hold in the end of last year, some people might ask why europe did not go into a stricter lockdown earlier? ., .,, , ., , earlier? there are those questions of course. earlier? there are those questions of course- they — earlier? there are those questions of course. they have _ earlier? there are those questions of course. they have been - earlier? there are those questions of course. they have been asked l earlier? there are those questions i of course. they have been asked for many months now but the government says it has been under increased or

consistent should i say pressure from industry, from services, to open up and also society. the health minister himself said last night that people have a feeling already that people have a feeling already that covid—i9 has been beaten to a certain extent. they have become accustomed to it so you had these competing forces with the government trying to make the economy open as much as possible, trying to make people live their lives, go to work, go to shops as much as possible while protecting people and at the same time we are seeing this cyclical nature where cases rise and we need to close up again and then because people realise and see cases rises —— rising to numbers not seen forfour rises —— rising to numbers not seen for four months comedy except the fact they have to put up with the

fact they have to put up with the fact these restrictions are in place and may get worse. —— not seen for four months and they now accept the fact. brazil has registered its second highest coronavirus toll in the past 2a hours with more than two thousand seven hundred deaths — and almost 90 thousand new infections. the country is in the midst of a record surge in cases as a local variant spreads through the region, pushing the country's health system to breaking point. the head of intensive care at emilio ribas hospital in sao paolo says the current surge in covid—i9 is increasingly hitting people under 60. let's talk more about the situation in europe. joining me now is catherine smallwood, who is the senior emergency officer at the world health 0rganisation in europe. thank you very much indeed. either you think we are seeing the sharp rise in infections in europe, is it because of the british variant mostly? it because of the british variant mostl ? , . ., , because of the british variant mostl ? ,. ., _., , mostly? it is certainly partly because of— mostly? it is certainly partly because of the _ mostly? it is certainly partly because of the british - mostly? it is certainly partly| because of the british variant mostly? it is certainly partly - because of the british variant which was first identified in the uk in

december. the classic pattern may have seen throughout this pandemic of infections starting in western europe and moving gradually eastwards. we are seeing this particular variant of concern very gradually but very clearly replacing other circulating variants and taking up bigger proportion of the cases. during that of course, being more transmissible, being clearer in terms of the clinical picture, it is leading to more pressure on hospitals. also there is frustration, as your correspondence said, a big push to relax public health measures and the pandemic fatigue which has affected us all is taking its toll but the situation in poland is being seen in many countries across central and southern europe at the moment. what southern europe at the moment. what about the problem _

southern europe at the moment. what about the problem with europe and the vaccine roll—out, how much urgency is there now for the eu to really step up on that front? remember that the first primary objective at the early days of vaccine roll—out is to target those people who are most at risk of developing severe covid—i9 and potentially going on to die from it. that is white as the older age groups and people with chronic diseases who are targeted first. that means a greater proportion of the adult population, including countries really far along in terms of vaccine uptake, castro got the majority of the population that are contributing to the spread of the covid not yet vaccinated. this is a case across the world and across europe. it will take some time before the vaccination rates go up to a level where we would see those particular groups which are driving

transmission being vaccinated themselves.— themselves. slightly self interested, _ themselves. slightly self interested, if _ themselves. slightly self interested, if you - themselves. slightly self interested, if you don't l themselves. slightly self - interested, if you don't mind, themselves. slightly self _ interested, if you don't mind, given the increasing europe, what about fears that the uk will not be able to have summer travel outside the country? any threat in any region impacts globally doesn't it if we want to travel?— want to travel? absolutely. we cannot talk _ want to travel? absolutely. we cannot talk about _ want to travel? absolutely. we cannot talk about the - want to travel? absolutely. we cannot talk about the interest i want to travel? absolutely. we l cannot talk about the interest of one country or one city or one part of the world. this is so interconnected. we have really got to come out of this together. it is in the interest of everyone to come out of this pandemic together. that would be the quickest route back to be able to get back to travelling round the world, doing the things we see that we would like to get back to. ~ ., see that we would like to get back to. . ., ., , to. with that in mind, there has been elite _ to. with that in mind, there has been elite part _ to. with that in mind, there has been elite part -- _ to. with that in mind, there has been elite part -- report- to. with that in mind, there has| been elite part -- report covered to. with that in mind, there has - been elite part -- report covered by been elite part —— report covered by bbc news this week about poor nations asking the who to help them get hold of vaccine and some

pushback from richer countries on that. i pushback from richer countries on that. ., ., ., ., that. i am not familiar with the secific that. i am not familiar with the specific document _ that. i am not familiar with the specific document you - that. i am not familiar with the specific document you are - that. i am not familiar with the - specific document you are referring to but it has been who�*s position throughout this pandemic, for all countermeasures whether ppe or essential medicines or the vaccine, but we need an equitable distribution and vaccination framework. we need to do our best to all come together and look at public health, we are in a global pandemic, an extraordinary situation that we have never seen before at least in the last 100 years. if we do not pull together and do this in the global community now, then when will we do this? we global community now, then when will we do this? ~ ., global community now, then when will we do this? . ., , ,., ., we do this? we have seen some of the south african — we do this? we have seen some of the south african and _ we do this? we have seen some of the south african and brazilian _ we do this? we have seen some of the south african and brazilian variants - south african and brazilian variants coming through in europe and the uk despite tough travel restrictions, how are these new cases emerging giving these controls? doesn't mean

everyone should brace themselves for international travel to be suspended for some time? it is international travel to be suspended for some time?— international travel to be suspended for some time? it is a good question and it shows — for some time? it is a good question and it shows that _ for some time? it is a good question and it shows that applying _ for some time? it is a good question and it shows that applying travel - and it shows that applying travel restrictions unfortunately is not sufficient for making sure we can prevent the spread of new variants that emerge. new variants will emerge, it is a natural part of the abolition the virus. they will spread. —— revolution of the virus. the best way to prevent the spread of new variants that have different transmission capabilities or severity is to control the transmission in the first place. the more the virus spreads in our population, the more likely new variants will emerge and if they haven't revolution advantage against other variants, they will spread and thatis other variants, they will spread and that is sadly what we are seeing in europe with the british variant. it is spreading in approximately 50

countries. —— if they have an ever louche and a advantage. this is a fact and we have to deal with that fact. no matter the angle, we always come back to this final answer which is we need to reduce transmission using everything we have, including vaccination. ., using everything we have, including vaccination-— vaccination. catherine smallwood, thank ou vaccination. catherine smallwood, thank you very _ vaccination. catherine smallwood, thank you very much _ vaccination. catherine smallwood, thank you very much for _ vaccination. catherine smallwood, thank you very much for your - vaccination. catherine smallwood, thank you very much for your time j thank you very much for your time today. thank you very much for your time toda . ., ., thank you very much for your time toda . ., ~ i. thank you very much for your time toda . ., ~' ,, , thank you very much for your time toda. ., , . pakistan's prime minister imran khan has tested positive for covid—19. he was vaccinated just two days ago. according to the country's health minister, mr khan is self—isolating at home. pakistan has recently seen a sharp rise in coronavirus infection. the government is coming under pressure to ease lockdown restrictions to allow protests to go ahead. more than 60 mps and peers have signed a letter warning that allowing police to criminalise people for protesting is "is not acceptable" and "arguably not lawful". 0ur political correspondent, jonathan blake is with me.

interesting that this has support from different parts of the political spectrum?- from different parts of the political spectrum? yes, it is a e-rou political spectrum? yes, it is a a-rou of political spectrum? yes, it is a group of 60 — political spectrum? yes, it is a group of 60 mps _ political spectrum? yes, it is a group of 60 mps and - political spectrum? yes, it is a group of 60 mps and peers - group of 60 mps and peers representing various parties, mostly labour mps, the leader of the liberal democrats in several conservative backbench mps although that group are ones who have been consistently critical of the government approached to lockdown measures so not necessarily representing conservative mps more broadly. they do have specific concerns about the right approach —— protest and how that has been curtailed during the pandemic. after the virtual four sarah everard last weekend, there were questions about the police tactics and the high court which groups went to an advance of that video to attempt to get an exception to allow to go ahead, thejudge in that get an exception to allow to go ahead, the judge in that case get an exception to allow to go ahead, thejudge in that case did decide not to intervene but said the protest could be considered a

reasonable excuse under the auspices of human rights laws. that has created a bit of a vague area and thatis created a bit of a vague area and that is what the campaigners big brother watch and liberty as well as this group of politicians are concerned about. they say it is an entirely unsatisfactory situation and call for the home secretary to step in and provide clarity as police and protesters alike don't have certainty about their rights or approach. home office has been clear, protesters still considered illegal under the current lockdown restrictions in england. the statement said while still in a pandemic they continue to ask people to avoid wider gatherings in line with other coronavirus restrictions. this will continue for another nine days or so but on the 29th of march when we reach the nature step of the road map, the government has said protests will specifically be able to resume. protests will specifically be able to resume-_

protests will specifically be able to resume. , ., . to resume. one question which we want to highlight, _ to resume. one question which we want to highlight, who _ to resume. one question which we want to highlight, who pays - to resume. one question which we want to highlight, who pays and i to resume. one question which we i want to highlight, who pays and who is paying for the refurbishment of the downing street flat in which the prime minister lives? yes. the downing street flat in which the prime minister lives?— the downing street flat in which the prime minister lives? yes, there has been a development _ prime minister lives? yes, there has been a development in _ prime minister lives? yes, there has been a development in this - prime minister lives? yes, there has been a development in this ongoing | been a development in this ongoing saga. the flat above downing street where barrister —— borisjohnson and his fiancee have been renovating, it is flat number 11 which is considerably bigger. the work has been ongoing for some time. a lot of questions about where the money is coming from and how much is been spent and what it has been spent on. reports that the charity has been set up to raise money and fund this project. the prime minister's press secretary has insisted that no conservative party funds have been used to pay for refurbishment of downing street but the electoral commission is stepping into answer questions now of their conservative party. they have said they are in contact with the party to establish

whether any sums relating to the renovation work for within the regime regulated by the commission. it does not seem to amount to a formal investigation so far but certainly questions being asked. donning —— downing street said all appropriate conduct had been followed and all appropriate equity —— donations have been declared to the electoral commission. the housing and communities secretary, robertjenrick, has announced measures to help england's retail and hospitality the housing and communities secretary, robertjenrick, has announced measures to help england's retail and hospitality sectors re—open after coronavirus restrictions have been lifted. pubs, restaurants and listed buildings have been given flexibility to use their land to allow more people to meet up. the housing and communities secretary, robertjenrick, a �*welcome back fund' of 56 million pounds has also been created to boost high streets and seaside towns. mrjenrick says the money will be distributed through local authorities. we want to do everything that we can to support retailers and councils to reopen safely.

for the whole of the spring and summer so we can enjoy a pint with our family and friends, whatever the weather. we are enabling alfresco dining again this april as we enjoyed last summer and we're giving money to high streets the length and breadth of the country so they can prepare to welcome us this year. and in doing that, there are fears by opening up and putting money back to get people into the high street, we run the risk of increasing cases again? well, the vaccine roll—out is going incredibly well. we vaccinated almost 26 million people. the road map enables us to cautiously but irreversibly open up again and it's really important that we back hospitality and retail. they've had such a difficult 12 months. so we are cutting red tape so that those businesses

can do alfresco dining, can put marquees and pub gardens and can rebuild and prosper once more. and we also want to ensure that high streets like this brilliant one i am in today can spruce themselves up, can market themselves and can invest in festivals and events this summer so people can get back out and support those shops. we just need some sunshine here to let that all happen. we just need some sunshine here to let that all happen. presidentjoe biden has urged americans to speak up against anti—asian violence. his comments came after a gunman killed eight people in atlanta — six of them women of asian descent. after he and vice president kamala harris met members of the community, mr biden said hate can have no safe harbour in america. a daughter remembering a lost mother, gunned down in tuesday's attacks. one of eight people gunned down in a rampage that started in broad daylight. on friday, president biden took the role of consoler—in—chief. telling those affected that time would heal. my heart goes out to all, all the family members who lost

someone in those horrific shootings on tuesday. i know they feel like there is a black hole in their chest that they are being sucked into, and things will never get better, but our prayers are with you. with him, vice—president kamala harris, the first asian—american in this role. a harm against any one of us is a harm against all of us. the president and i will not be silent. we will not stand by. we will always speak out against violence, hate crimes, and discrimination wherever and whenever it occurs. but there is anger — in particular that law enforcement is not calling this a hate crime.

both local police and the fbi say investigations are under way, but they say the attack does not appear to racially motivated. atlanta law enforcement highlighted the suspect�*s self—confessed sex addiction as a possible cause, which some say is indictative of an unwillingness to describe violence against asian—americans as racist. the person who perpetrated these murders was obiously a product of this kind of, you know, anti—asian and anti—women mentality that has been permeating throughout society. the grief has reverberated across this country, with vigils being held as far away as new york to pay respects. many argue that violence like that in atlanta will not be stopped until all authorities are explicit in calling it out as racist. lebo diseko, bbc news. the us defence secretary, lloyd austin, and his indian counterpart, rajnath singh,

have announced plans to strengthen defence ties. speaking in delhi, mr austin highlighted new areas of collaboration including information—sharing, military to military interactions and artificial intelligence. mr austin said the partnership between the us and india remains resilient and strong. as the indo pacific region faces acute transnational challenges such as climate changes and challenges to a free and open regional order, cooperation among like—minded countries is imperative to securing our shared vision for the future. despite today's challenging security environment, the partnership between the united states and india, the world's two largest democracies, remains resilient and strong. his visit comes a week after a virtual summit between india, australia, japan and the united states, an alliance known as the quad which analysts see as a regional counterweight to an increasingly assertive china.

a volcano in south—west iceland has erupted, releasing streams of lava from under the earth's surface. it follows thousands of small earthquakes in the area over recent weeks. reykyavik, is more than five hundred metres long. this is the first eruption in the area in centuries. danai howard reports. this is what icelanders have been waiting for for weeks now. a0 kilometres south of the capital reykjavik, lava began spewing from the ground on friday evening. officials say the fissure is around 500 kilometres long, and a no—fly zone has been established in the area. iceland sits between two tectonic plates so eruptions aren't uncommon, but this is the first in fagradalsfjall in 900 years. normally, there are around 1,000 tremors a year but there have been more than 50,000 in the last three weeks — the highest number since digital recordings began in 1991.

in 2010, the eruption of another volcano ejected a column of ash nine kilometres into the air that brought flights to a halt across europe. iceland's meteorological office says the lava from this eruption will emerge more slowly and not create such disruption. the small village of grindavik is just a few kilometres away. for weeks now, they have been affected by near constant earthquakes and tremors warning of the upcoming eruption. translation: the earth shook well outside and when i came in with the luggage, the kitchen island was on its side and various things had come out of the cupboards. we thought we'd prepared! police have told residents to close their windows and stay indoors, due to the risk of gas pollution carried by the wind. and after 900 years of volcanic inactivity, people in the area have been flooding social media with photos and videos of this formidable sight. danai howard, bbc news.

extraordinary images there, ijust want to show you the live show do we have coming in from iceland. you can see rising smoke in the distance. let us catch up with the weather. this is bbc news. here is matt taylor. thank you very much. good morning. this was the scene earlier today along the south coast, a lovely sunny start to the spring equinox. not the same everywhere, grey skies across many other areas, this was parts of wales. where you see the sunshine, you might be surprised, big turnaround for some compared to yesterday, chiefly across north—east england and yorkshire. chilly sees across uk

this time of year. temperatures peaked at 6—8 c but today the winds have switched, they're coming in from the north—west, across the pennines, warming, sunshine overhead. we go up to 16 this afternoon. the high pressure is the change, bringing warmer weather, shifting south. bringing in more of a north—westerly wind and we will see thickening cloud with it, bringing rain to orkney, shetland and the hebrides and into scotland later. strong and gusty winds. you can see the gaps in the clouds. particularly so round the english channel but we have winds of the sea for the likes ofjersey, 9 degrees are high. most are 10—13 c certainly northern scotland will see the

highest of the values this afternoon. patchy cloud and drizzle across scotland and northern ireland working south. skies will then clear and winds from the north, chilly air so a greater chance of frost in parts of scotland, northern ireland and parts of northern england. to cloudy for frost in the far south but a misty and murky start to southern england and south wales. patchy light rain and drizzle. we could see grey in parts of cornell and the channel islands. elsewhere, and the channel islands. elsewhere, a day of light winds, largely try but the chance of some sunshine especially if it is being grey in the past few days. temperatures are slightly down. through sunday night into monday, this is where it gets colder and greater chance of frost for england and wales as we go into the new week. high to begin with,

that slips away and weather fronts working so next week expect a return to rain and strong winds for scotland and northern ireland. goodbye for now.