this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. britain and the european union move to calm tensions over access to coronavirus vaccines. the eu blames astrazeneca for the slowness of their roll—out. if astrazeneca had delivered exactly the number of doses which was planned, like they did in the uk, we will be today exactly at the same rate of vaccination than the uk. brazil's death toll from covid—19 approaches the 300,000 mark. and uncorking the suez canal — the egyptian authorities say they finally righted a huge container ship that for 48 hours was blocking the passage for all transit.

hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. do stay with us for the latest news and analysis from here and across the globe. after weeks of tension between the uk and the european union over the distribution of vaccines, a joint statement has been issued, pledging to "create a win—win situation and expand vaccine supply for all citizens". it was a notably different tone to the one struck earlier by the eu, when the commission proposed tougher controls on exports of vaccines. those plans are due to be presented to eu leaders. here's our europe editor katya adler. a brutal third wave. desperate lockdown protests. a deadly failure so far to get vaccines into arms. eu covid woes are deepening by the day. angela merkel, normally the european symbol of calm and control,

suddenly u—turned today on a planned easter lockdown, amid mounting political pressure. translation: this whole business has created even more uncertainty. - i deeply regret that and ask for forgiveness. across the eu, there is growing frustration at a roll—out far slower than the uk's. some blame their government, others the european commission. it's now on the defensive, accusing pharmaceutical company astrazeneca of not delivering vaccines promised and demanding extra controls on vaccine exports to richer countries. if astrazeneca had delivered exactly the number of doses which was planned, like they did in the uk, we would be today exactly at the same rate of vaccination as the uk. so we have been heavily penalised, heavily. 0n the other hand, you have eu governments like france or spain that are sitting on millions

of astrazeneca jabs and not using them. i'm not sure it's millions, but that's a very good point. we need to try to accelerate the campaign. we need to make sure that member states are able to have the logistics to be able to do this. it is true that in the uk, the british government did pretty well in this first phase. the eu says it has already exported over a0 millionjabs in the last two months, a quarter of those to the uk. existing export controls, used once so far, allow brussels to keep hold of vaccines made by companies that owe jabs to the eu. now the commission also wants to be able to block exports according to reciprocity — if the country in question has production facilities but does not send jabs to brussels — and proportionality if its vaccine roll—out is ahead of the eu. "we're not after an export ban," says the commission. "we just want to secure vaccine supply."

but the world outside is accusing the eu of vaccine nationalism, and not even all eu leaders are convinced about these new controls. some worry they'll disrupt the global supply chain for vaccines, and others that it will further damage already strained post—brexit relations with the uk. ahead of their summit, eu leaders promised vaccine campaigns will take off soon, one way or another. but rising death and infection rates mean the short—term looks bleak. katya adler, bbc news, brussels. let's get some of the day's other news now. india has placed a temporary hold on all exports of the oxford—astrazeneca coronavirus vaccine, foreign ministry sources have told the bbc. they said rising cases meant domestic demand was expected to pick up in the coming weeks, and so the doses were needed for india's own roll—out. virginia has become the 23rd us state to abolish the death penalty.

virginia became the first southern state to repeal the death penalty since the us supreme court reinstated the punishment in 1976. the new law, set to go into effect injuly, comes as a major shift for virginia, which has put to death more people in its history than any other state. facebook says it's blocked a group of hackers in china who used the platform to spy on uighurs overseas by infecting their devices with malicious software. the social media giant said the group targeted under 500 uighur activists, journalists and dissidents living in the us, canada, australia, turkey and other countries. in brazil, nearly 300,000 people have died from covid—i9, with oxygen running low in some of the busiest icus. it is the front line in the battle against the virus at the moment. it would appear things are going from bad to worse. this graph says it all. highly contagious variants are sweeping through the country, creating a tsunami

of new infections. brazil is set to pass the grim milestone, just one day after it recorded more than 3,000 daily deaths. it has the second highest death toll in the world. presidentjair bolsonaro has repeatedly opposed lockdowns and has even threatened to sue governors who implement tighter restictions. on tuesday, amid heavy criticism at home and abroad, he defended his policy with this message for the brazilian people. translation: i want to reassure | the brazilian people and confirm | that vaccines are guaranteed. by the end of the year, we will have reached 500 million doses to vaccinate the entire population. we will soon return to normal life. but there are real problems with the vaccination programme. it's unlikely the situation will improve quickly. congresswoman tabata amaral is in sao paulo. we are, by far, in the worst moment of the pandemic here in brazil. we have different covid variants that are spreading really fast. we still don't have a decent

vaccination plan. so far, for you to have an idea, we have vaccinated only 5% of our population. and we are talking about a president who has been speaking for an entire year against vaccines, against the use of masks, against social distancing, and who only yesterday, after an entire year, announced he's going to create a crisis committee. i want him to take it seriously, to look at all the families who have lost loved ones, to stop denying the crisis, denying the pandemic, to give a stop to his populism, to all this negligence. i'm sure that we have lost thousands of lives that could be spared if we had a president, if we had a leader, who takes the whole situation seriously. and for me and for many others in congress, the cost of keeping him in power way too high. that's why we are seeing, for the first time, broad coalitions that are uniting —

people from the left, from the right, from the centre. congresswoman ta bata amaral from congresswoman tabata amaral from sao paulo. as the vaccine programme rolls out around the world, renewed attention is being paid to the treatments doctors have available to give patients with covid—i9. american pharmaceutical company pfizer says it has begun an early—stage clinical trial for an experimental antiviral pill that could stop the virus in its tracks. according to the drugmaker, lab studies of its new treatment show promise. if the trials are successful, they say medication will be given to those with early symptoms of coronavirus — before they get really sick. let's get more on this with arnold monto. he is a professor of epidemiology and global public health at the university of michigan and joins us from ann arbor. professor, thanks so much for joining us. people might ask, if there's a bunch of successful vaccines, i would we need a pill as well? ., . , vaccines, i would we need a pill as well? ., ., , ., ., ,

well? for a number of reasons. the vaccine is not _ well? for a number of reasons. the vaccine is not 100% _ well? for a number of reasons. the vaccine is not 100% effective, - well? for a number of reasons. the vaccine is not 10096 effective, not i vaccine is not 100% effective, not everybody gets the vaccine, and besides that, vaccines have to be specific to what we are trying to prevent. as we get variance, we may need an antiviral if the vaccines don't 100% need an antiviral if the vaccines don't100% protect the virus. tell don't 10096 protect the virus. tell us don't10096 protect the virus. tell us more about _ don't100% protect the virus. tell us more about the pill, what you think it could do. the us more about the pill, what you think it could do.— us more about the pill, what you think it could do. the pill could be used, think it could do. the pill could be used. again. _ think it could do. the pill could be used, again, for— think it could do. the pill could be used, again, for early _ think it could do. the pill could be used, again, for early treatment. | think it could do. the pill could be i used, again, for early treatment. we really don't have a very good antiviral for covid—19. we thought remdesivir might be the one, but it's not really a totally good treatment, so we really need another antiviral treatment. treatment, so we really need another antiviraltreatment. if treatment, so we really need another antiviral treatment. if we go back to flu pandemics, we have been very successful, even before vaccine was available, and using antivirals to

control transmission, again because vaccines have to be, number one, administered, but number two, available and also match what is circulating. iii available and also match what is circulating-— circulating. if it works, is it something _ circulating. if it works, is it something you _ circulating. if it works, is it something you expect - circulating. if it works, is it something you expect we | circulating. if it works, is it - something you expect we would buy over the counter, would it be prescribed on rare occasions? well, i think it would — prescribed on rare occasions? well, i think it would be _ prescribed on rare occasions? in i think it would be prescribed. some companies are trying to take our nt flu antivirals over the counter, but antivirals are specific to the virus that's circulating, and you need to know what you're treating. it's not like treating the common cold symptomatically, because it is antiviral, it works against a specific virus.— antiviral, it works against a specific virus. antiviral, it works against a secific virus. ~ . . . . ., , specific virus. what if vaccine has been peeple _ specific virus. what if vaccine has been people now _ specific virus. what if vaccine has been people now say, _ specific virus. what if vaccine has been people now say, i _ specific virus. what if vaccine has been people now say, i will- specific virus. what if vaccine has been people now say, i will skip. specific virus. what if vaccine has i been people now say, i will skip the vaccine entirely because they will be a pill i can take later on a? first of all, you've got to get in, you've got to get treated, and there

are side effects of having, or serious consequences, of being infected. we all want to prevent infection and it may be that an antiviral could be used in targeted prophylactics as welcome if you are exposed to some of the it might be —— if your exposures on with covid... vaccines give you long—term protection and antivirals only short—term. protection and antivirals only short-tem— protection and antivirals only short-term. ., ~ ., ., short-term. professor arnold monto, thank ou short-term. professor arnold monto, thank you very _ short-term. professor arnold monto, thank you very much _ short-term. professor arnold monto, thank you very much for _ short-term. professor arnold monto, thank you very much forjoining - short-term. professor arnold monto, thank you very much forjoining us. . 50 years ago, bangladesh — then east pakistan — started a nine—month struggle for independence. the northern village of ataikula endured some of the worst atrocities of the conflict — men were shot and women were raped by pakistani soldiers. decades later, the women have been given the honourary title of "war heroine". they were promised financial support that many still haven't reieved.

the bbc�*s akbar hossain has been talking to survivors. she survives by making pottery at her home in northern bangladesh, where she has lived for over 50 years. she was a young woman with a husband and two children when soldiers arrived in her village. she says the details of what happened to her or too horrific to discuss. 36 women were raped in this village alone. this woman also struggles to describe what happened to her.

in this sleepy rural area, one of the worst atrocities of the war took place. the pakistani army and their bend valley collaborators attacked fellow muslims across the country. —— bengali collaborators. in this village, people were singled out, suspected of being pro—india. 52 men in the village were killed, shot by firing squad. the women are the poorest of the port 1971 and still are today. the survivors tell me the —— they struggled to make him is on the run. many years after the war,

women who had been raped were told to apply for war heroine status. it meant they would be given financial support, but in this village, less than a third of the women were accepted. after 50 years, they are still waiting. akbar hossain, bbc news, northern bangladesh. do stay with us on bbc news. still to come: a giant container ship, the length of four football pitches, is wedged across egypt's suez canal. i'm so proud of both of you. let there be no more wars or bloodshed between arabs and israelis.

with great regret, the committee have decided that south africa be excluded from the 1970 competition. chanting streaking across the sky, - the white—hot wreckage from mir drew gasps from onlookers on fiji. this is bbc news. the latest headlines: britain and the european union move to calm tensions over access to coronavirus vaccines.

brazil's death toll from covid—19 approaches the 300,000 mark. let's stay with that story on the tension between the uk and the european union over the distribution of vaccines. 0ur europe editor, katya adler, spoke to the eu's internal market commissioner, thierry breton, who said that whilst britain was reliant on the bloc for vaccines, its issues were with astrazeneca and not the uk government. i understand that the uk is heavily, heavily dependent on eu to get vaccines, probably more than two thirds of the vaccines today injected for british citizens are coming from the eu, so i understand the concern, but for us, in the eu, what we want is to have a reciprocity and to have clarity. let me give you an example. we had a contract with four companies and, of

course, everything is going extremely well, except with astrazeneca, and with astrazeneca, we ordered 120 million doses and in q1 we ordered 120 million doses and in 01 we will receive only 30 million doses. at the same time, we understand that astrazeneca, i don't blame the british, delivered 100% of what was committed for the british government. wejust what was committed for the british government. we just want to understand why, where does it come from? that is why we need to have reciprocity and transparency. where'd you get your figure that two thirds vaccines in the uk have come from the eu? i thirds vaccines in the uk have come from the eu?— from the eu? i am now in charge of lookin: from the eu? i am now in charge of looking carefully _ from the eu? i am now in charge of looking carefully at _ from the eu? i am now in charge of looking carefully at industrial- looking carefully at industrial capacity. we will happy to have the confirmation from the british government. it confirmation from the british government-— confirmation from the british covernment. , , government. it seems, with the new ro osals, government. it seems, with the new preposais. you're — government. it seems, with the new proposals, you're actually _ proposals, you're actually penalising countries that have been

successful with their vaccine roll—out, unlike the eu. h0. successful with their vaccine roll-out, unlike the eu. no, i really think— roll-out, unlike the eu. no, i really think that _ roll-out, unlike the eu. no, i really think that there - roll-out, unlike the eu. no, i really think that there is - roll-out, unlike the eu. no, i. really think that there is nothing against anybody, and especially not the uk, so i want it to be very clear on that. we are the largest producer of vaccines, for us and for the world. we note the us is not exporting anything at all and we exporting anything at all and we export vaccines already for 32 countries, all our partners, all our allies, and massively for uk, but we just want reciprocity. let me give you an example. for this astrazeneca. in our contract, there were two factories in the uk which were two factories in the uk which were part of the supply chain, and were part of the supply chain, and we were checking them to deliver doses in the eu. they did not do it. we wanted to have an explanation. from our side, we delivered massively full of there's nothing to pin a

nothing to penalise. but it is two thins. nothing to penalise. but it is two thin95- 0ne _ nothing to penalise. but it is two thin95- one is— nothing to penalise. but it is two things. one is targeting - things. one is targeting astrazeneca, the other is targeting a country, but is will people in the uk will see, if the eu blocks vaccines, is the eu blocking me or my family the vaccine. they are not thinking about the pharmaceutical company astrazeneca for example succulent i understand, but we ordered one doses, we only got 30 million in q1. if astrazeneca had delivered exactly the number of doses which was planned, like they did in the uk, we will be today exactly at the same rate of vaccination than the uk. we have to understand why. you have eu governments _ we have to understand why. you have eu governments like _ we have to understand why. you have eu governments like france _ we have to understand why. you have eu governments like france or - we have to understand why. you have eu governments like france or spain i eu governments like france or spain that are sitting on millions of astrazeneca jabs are not using them. i'm not sure his millions, but that's a very good point. we said we

need to accelerate as a campaign because we will deliver a lot of doses now, starting beginning of february, to be able to match our global unity, so, of course, we need them to make sure that number states will be able to have logistical ability to do this. and is true in the uk, the british government did pretty well in this first phase. one of the world's most important shipping routes, the suez canal in egypt, has been blocked by a grounded giant container ship. more than 10% of global trade passes through the canal, which connects the mediterranean sea to the red sea. the hold—up has sent oil prices to higher levels on international markets. our global trade correspondent dharshini david has the story. there are bottlenecks on the daily commute, and then there's this — a ship the size of the empire state building, blocking one of the busiest shipping channels, blown adrift by a gust of wind.

behind the stricken ever given, a mounting queue of marine traffic, carrying cargo from oil to clothes and food. whereever they hailfrom — china, the middle east or south asia — they are going nowhere. seen from above, the problem is clear. ships have grown to match our appetite to consume more, but they are ill—suited to a waterway that's just 205 metres wide. this canal, connecting the red sea and the mediterranean, was originally built 150 years ago. it's still crucial for modern trade. the ever given ran aground at 5:40am on tuesday morning. it's one of 52 ships a day that travel through this passage of water. they carry 12% of global trade, worth over £2 billion per day. there is no easy alternative routes, so this disruption could be costly. the suez canal is blocked for, what,

the third time in its history. how damaging could that be to global trade? when we think about exports from china, they will take about 10% longer, in terms of shipping time, to arrive at their destination. and when we think about the importance of chinese products for the production of goods all over the world, we have to be worried that this will still have major consequences. they're hoping tug boats, diggers and the tide will refloat this ship, but it could take weeks to deal with the consequences. tonight, a side channel has been reopened to divert some traffic. but it could take weeks to deal with the consequence of this disruption. however mighty the forces of globalisation, we are all vulnerable to the whims of nature. dharshini david, bbc news. let's head to houston, texas and speak with randy giveans, senior vice president of maritime shipping equity research at the investment bankjefferies.

randy, good to see you. the suez canal must be the world's worst place for a ship to get stuck. what is the knock on effect for everyone else? ., «a is the knock on effect for everyone else? . ., ., , , else? thanks for having me. this is certainly a — else? thanks for having me. this is certainly a pretty — else? thanks for having me. this is certainly a pretty bad _ else? thanks for having me. this is certainly a pretty bad traffic - else? thanks for having me. this is certainly a pretty bad traffic jam - certainly a pretty bad trafficjam when it comes to global shipping, right? there's about 10—12% of global trade goes through the suez canal, so when you have a ship stuck, right, there are 80—120 ships that are waiting to get through, either south of it, further down in the red sea, or north in the mediterranean, so either way, it's causing a massive backlog and congestion. and we know the container market, container ship market, is extremely tight. just look at all the congestion here in the united states, off the us west coast in california, throughout europe, throughout china. loading and discharges taking time. now you this on? clearly container rates and container shipping rates are going higher and higher. and we are also

seeing the same thing with tinkers. tanker rates have been relatively weakjust because of the higher levels, 0pec is trimming production, all of these things, but even an event like this which you would think is relatively small is causing big moves in crude prices, three, four, 5% higher today, as well as shipping rates. we have seen it with the suez maxes, the larger ships that can go through the suez canal, they are having to go through africa. really, time will tell. those ships who are currently waiting in the red sea, they obviously want to get out and try and push the evergreen away if they could. if they cannot they really are going to consider going all the way around south africa? if so, how long would that take them?- way around south africa? if so, how long would that take them? there are a few options — long would that take them? there are a few options they _ long would that take them? there are a few options they have, _ long would that take them? there are a few options they have, right? - long would that take them? there are a few options they have, right? one l a few options they have, right? one is wait it out, hope that egypt and any other governments involved there can dredge the canal a little bit, they get a lot of high—powered horse powered tug boats to pull this

vessel... just to give you a little context, this vessel is 400 metres long, four football fields, context, this vessel is 400 metres long, fourfootball fields, almost the empire state building, and it carries randy giveans. .. randy giveans... —— carries 20,000 teus... this thing is massive. if it's a couple of days, these vessels will wait it out, although there is a security threat there, there literally sitting ducks in the red sea or in these holding cells, or they might say, if this lasts another five, they might say, if this lasts anotherfive, ten they might say, if this lasts another five, ten days, they might say, if this lasts anotherfive, ten days, we might as well even go around south africa. and to answer your question, would probably add 8—10 days for the voyage. they obviously have the go back to the red sea, down around africa, around to europe, so that is the real balancing act. do we wait and see if it get resolved in two or

three days? 0r and see if it get resolved in two or three days? or do we take our medicine and go another route? randy giveans, medicine and go another route? randy giveans. thank — medicine and go another route? randy giveans, thank you _ medicine and go another route? randy giveans, thank you so _ medicine and go another route? randy giveans, thank you so much. - do stay with us. hello there. the weather's looking pretty unsettled over the next few days and it's going to be turning a bit colder as well. before we get there, though, today on the satellite picture, we can see some thick cloud developing to the west of the british isles. and this is going to be moving its way across northern ireland, with a little bit of rain here developing over the next few hours. more general rain and cloud heading into western scotland, so wet weather into the highlands, the western isles and perhaps pushing into 0rkney as well as we head into the first part of thursday morning. so for these northwestern areas of the uk, cloudy with rain at times. now, there will be a few showers elsewhere developing through the day across england, also some spells of sunshine, but towards eastern england, we're going to have a zone of convergence. this is where the winds bash together and make a line of showers. and if you happen to live

in this kind of area, that's where the greatest chance of showers are, whereas across the midlands and across the south coast, your chance of showers is much lower and there should be more in the way of sunshine. in the sunshine, temperatures widely around 13 or 14 degrees across england and wales. a bit cooler across scotland and northern ireland, 10 to 12 celsius, about 10 where it stays cloudy with rain. now, it is going to be turning colder. colder air that's just to the west of greenland at the moment has our name on it, and it's going to be arriving across the british isles as we head into friday behind this stripe of rain, which is our cold front. so, this band of rain, squally winds on it, will push its way eastwards across england. then, sunshine and showers follow. cold enough for a little bit of snow across some of the higher mountains across the northwest of the uk, and those temperatures really taking a plunge. just 7 degrees celsius in both belfast and in glasgow through friday afternoon. now, beyond that, into the weekend, it does stay pretty unsettled. often, the weather's going to be quite windy and there will be some rain around as well. of the two days, probably

saturday the better of it, but quite cloudy across western areas with some patches of rain, more general rain spreading into northern ireland. and all the while, we'll have gusty winds. temperatures still below par for the time of year, about 9 to 12 celsius on saturday. and on sunday, we've probably got some heavier rain on the way, working into some central portions of the uk. to the south of this area of rain, temperatures not so low. we're looking at highs of around 12 or 13 degrees. but cold still in scotland, about 8 to 10 — below average, then, for the time of year.

this is bbc world news. the headlines:

the uk and the european commission say — they're discussing how they can work together, to create a "win—win" situation on covid—19 vaccines. it comes as the eu continues to threaten tougher measures to curb the export of deliveries of shots. brazil's death toll in the coronavirus pandemic is nearing 300,000. presidentjair bolsonaro announced earlier he was launching a crisis committee to deal with the pandemic. india has suspended all major exports of the astrazeneca covid vaccine following a surge in the number of infections in the country. with that — there's been a rising demand for the jabs in india. a giant container ship the length of four football pitches has become wedged across egypt's suez canal, blocking one of the world's busiest trade routes. the blockage sent oil prices climbing on international markets.