this is bbc news — these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. coronavirus restrictions are stepped up in parts of europe, as a third wave of infections kicks in. in the uk, covid boosterjabs may be available as early as september with the over—70s and front—line health workers first in line. these scenes in myanmar —— myanmar on saturday,, as security was that security forces are reported to have shot dead at least 20 people. after a show of force from the army. "a mob intent on violence". the uk prime minister criticises protesters, who police say threw bricks during a third night of demos in bristol. lockdown eases in wales — the first uk nation to lift travel

restrictions within its borders and — one of nature's greatest light shows. we'll be finding out why there could be more opportunities in the future to spot the northern lights, in the coming years. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. coronavirus restrictions are being stepped up in parts of europe as a third wave of infections continues to sweep the continent. eu states have seen some of the deadliest outbreaks of the pandemic — and are racing to vaccinate people. the prime minister of poland has warned that the country's hospitals may not be able to cope with soaring

covid cases. the uk or kent variant of the virus is now responsible for 80% of all infections in polish hospitals. its government has brought in tighter restrictions affecting shops, supermarkets and churches. tougher measures have also been brought in paris and several other parts of france. residents face more stringent police checks, with people in high—risk areas not allowed to travel more than 10 kilometres from home, except in emergencies. with the latest from across europe — here's tanya dendrinos. speeding around the national velodrome, the french cycling team is training hard for the olympics, but if you look closely, you will notice the hive of activity in the heart of the stadium and it has nothing to do with cycling. this track doubles as a vaccination centre. translation: well, we're

happy to be vaccinated. - i will continue doing the same things because in any case, we are in lockdown so we will follow the safety measures while in lockdown and eagerly await the second dose. 400,000 people were vaccinated in frnce on friday as the country continues to battle an increase in cases. 19 areas have been placed in lockdown while close to 5,000 patients are being treated in intensive care. in germany, public health experts have warned case numbers could rise to 100,000 per day. translation: at the moment, i the numbers are rising too fast, and the variants make the situation particularly dangerous. if this continues unchecked, we run the risk that our healthcare system will reach breaking point through the course of april. it's prompted a clampdown on borders. negative tests will be required

for airport arrivals from tuesday and from sunday, along with a negative test, travellers from france will go into a ten—day quarantine, with the entire country declared high risk. in poland, restrictions are tightening as well. cases are up by 35% from the number reported a week ago. there were more than 35,000 new cases on friday, marking the third record—breaking day in a row. it's been a year since the pandemic began. but with a number of countries adamant new variants are behind the current surge, this the third wave could be the worst yet. tanya dendrinos, bbc news. 0ur correspondent, adam easton, is in warsaw explains how people are reacting to the situation. the response from people here is that this is, this fatigue, obviously, about the new restrictions,

there is also concern about the chaotic way that they have been introduced. when we saw the restrictions being announced on thursday, there were huge crowds at the big hypermarkets for the furniture and the diy shops, because they knew that they were going to be closed injust over a day. so there is a feeling here that we have been here again, we are a bit tired of the fact that these restrictions are coming in. also, we don't know which... where we are, how does it affect, it's complex, so there is a feeling here that they must be brought in, the social acceptance, because the numbers are so high, but is not as clear for people what they should be doing, where they should be going and what they should be avoiding. in the uk, the government is preparing to roll out covid—i9 booster vaccinations as early as september, in order to combat

new coronavirus variants. the vaccines minister, nadhim zahawi, said he expected there would be eight different vaccines available by the autumn. the first doses will go to the original top four priority groups, which include those aged over 70, health and social care staff, and the clinically extremely vulnerable. simonjones reports. 0n track, the government is confident of offering all adults the first of two doses of a covid vaccine by the end ofjuly, but now it's looking further ahead. the vaccines minister has told the telegraph that the most vulnerable could be given a third dose as early as september. nadhim zahawi says the boosterjabs, if needed, would initially go to people over 70 as well as nhs workers and care home staff. manufacturing in the uk will be stepped up to avoid any issues with the supply chain. the government hopes eight different vaccines will be

available by the autumn. one of them could offer protection against three variants in a single dose. more than 324,000 people had their first dose of a covid vaccine in the latest 24—hour period, bringing the total to more than 29 million. over three million people have now had both doses. when nonessential shops reopen in england on april 12 — after months of closures — they will be allowed to stay open until 10:00 at night, six days a week. the government says the extended opening hours will help shoppers return safely to the high street, protectjobs, and reduce pressure on public transport. but any effect on the number of coronavirus cases will need to be closely monitored. simon jones, bbc news. let's speak now to professor david salisbury. he's associate fellow of chatham house's global health programme, and former director of immunisation at the department of health.

let's just deal with the immunisation let'sjust deal with the immunisation question let's just deal with the immunisation question first. presumably, this is kind of the well trodden track when dealing with inoculations, that you have to have some kind of follow—up, some kind of way of boosting coverage, dealing with any changes, just as we do with the flu virus. it is with any changes, 'ust as we do with the flu vim.— with any changes, 'ust as we do with the flu virus— the flu virus. it is quite similar to flu, the flu virus. it is quite similar to flu. we _ the flu virus. it is quite similar to flu. we do _ the flu virus. it is quite similar to flu, we do have _ the flu virus. it is quite similar to flu, we do have an - the flu virus. it is quite similar to flu, we do have an annual. the flu virus. it is quite similar. to flu, we do have an annual flu vaccination programme, the flu vaccine is updated every year to align it with the most likely circulating strains of the flu virus. some other vaccines, we don't have a regular basis for, but i think it makes good sense for a plan, for boosting for our coronavirus vaccine programme, as we just don't know how long the vaccine induced immunity will last. how just don't know how long the vaccine induced immunity will last.— induced immunity will last. how big a challenue induced immunity will last. how big a challenge does _ induced immunity will last. how big a challenge does this _ induced immunity will last. how big a challenge does this represent, . a challenge does this represent, though, given the way the virus appears to be mutating and the speed at which it appears to be meeting —— mutating at the moment? at which it appears to be meeting -- mutating at the moment?— mutating at the moment? clearly, there is a logistic _

mutating at the moment? clearly, there is a logistic challenge - mutating at the moment? clearly, there is a logistic challenge and i mutating at the moment? clearly, there is a logistic challenge and if| there is a logistic challenge and if there is a logistic challenge and if the vaccine was given to priority groups that are based on age, essentially, then it would be the same as the annual season —— a seasonal flu vaccine programme, same as the annual season —— a seasonalflu vaccine programme, is logistically, it is the same people and hopefully, it could be done at the same time as the seasonal flu vaccine. in terms of the variance, there are terms —— there are clearly some important questions that have to be answered. we know that the wuhan vaccine virus does not protect terribly well against the south african variant, but we need to know the question the other way around and that is if a south african variant of vaccine would protect against the wuhan strain. the simplest thing would be to have a new vaccine with just one of virus strain in it, but we have to look at all of the possibilities. mil strain in it, but we have to look at all of the possibilities.— all of the possibilities. all of that represents _ all of the possibilities. all of that represents quite - all of the possibilities. all of that represents quite a - all of the possibilities. all of - that represents quite a challenge all of the possibilities. all of that represents quite a challenge in

terms of the pharmaceutical sector and we are already seeing some of the problems of supply, which i down to the way the different elements are manufactured in different parts, notjust in europe, but the world, from india, the united states, all parts of the globe. how can we achieve that when you're talking about is the supplies, when you are already struggling with basic vaccine supplies?— already struggling with basic vaccine su lies? ., ,., vaccine supplies? there are some really difficult _ vaccine supplies? there are some really difficult questions. - vaccine supplies? there are some really difficult questions. there i really difficult questions. there are the scientific questions and i have already identified one of them, what a south african variant protects against other strains? there are then it going to be production issues because we have production issues because we have production currently going on amongst many companies in different places, using the wuhan virus but if we have got to change, we need agreement and what to change as well. —— what to change too. and if well. —— what to change too. and if we start putting in more than one component, like putting into different variants or even three,

life gets really complicated because the impact on supply, the more ingredients you put in, the less vaccine actually that you can make and you have got regulatory challenges, notjust a simple strain change, but it may now be looked at as a new vaccine, is that there is a lot of complicated stuff had and we may have to go there in steps. there is inevitably — may have to go there in steps. there is inevitably a — may have to go there in steps. there is inevitably a bit _ may have to go there in steps. there is inevitably a bit of— may have to go there in steps. there is inevitably a bit of politics. - may have to go there in steps. there is inevitably a bit of politics. it - is inevitably a bit of politics. it is inevitably a bit of politics. it is important from the government was my point of view to say, we are ahead of this, we are already thinking about the next stage, but you stand back from it in the uk, looking and internationally, globally, there are many parts of the world where the idea of the vaccination is still months, may years away, and we will be affected in the uk, even if we have a lot of these protections, if the virus is still circulating fully in other parts of the world.— still circulating fully in other parts of the world. there is huge

interconnectedness _ parts of the world. there is huge interconnectedness in _ parts of the world. there is huge interconnectedness in the - parts of the world. there is huge interconnectedness in the world | parts of the world. there is huge i interconnectedness in the world in which we live, so that people move from one place to another, the virus has moved from one place to another, and there is interconnectedness in vaccine production, so although you may be producing in one place, you may be producing in one place, you may be producing in one place, you may be dependent from ingredients coming from another, so this is a really cop located task enough now and it is not going to get easier as we look towards what to do next. professor david salisbury, thank you very much as ever. and to us. it's reported that dozens of people have been shot dead by security forces in myanmar. it's the bloodiest day of protests against the country's military coup, with soldiers appearing to fire indiscriminately on unarmed protesters. these pictures are from yangon, but it's thought the death toll across several cities may be much higher. demonstrations have continued in defiance of a warning that

protesters would be shot. it comes as thousands of military personnel have been taking part in huge display of force in the capital naypitaw to mark armed forces day. as nick marsh reports. this was the myanmar military doing what it knows best. as their country descends into crisis, the army put on a display of strength and superiority. isolated from its citizens in the country's barren capital city. armed forces day marks the resistance against japanese occupation during the second world war, but it is also a chance for the generals to wheel out their best hardware and indulge in a spot of nationalism, even with much of the country in open rebellion against them. the coup leader general ming online repeated most of his usual claims, that his opponents are corrupt, that the november election,

which was won so convincingly by aun sang su chi's party was fraudulent and most astonishingly, that it was the contesters themselves to blame for the violence, not the well—armed troops who stood before him. translation: violent acts that affect stability - and security in order to make demands are inappropriate. some russian forces were also attending. their continued support will come as a relief to the generals, who face a barrage of international pressure from the west and mostly silence from their regional neighbours. the picture of order and stability in the capital was beamed out on state television this morning, but anyone watching at home knew it the picture of order and stability in the capital was beamed out on state television this morning, but anyone watching at home knew it bore little resemblance to the daily chaos of the neighbourhoods up and down the country,

where soldiers kill the civilians they are supposed to protect. already in yangon, security forces have opened fire on protesters who defied this chilling warning on state media. translation: to the youth - who own the future, you should learn from the tragedy of earlier, ugly deaths that you could be shot in the head and back. convince and prevent your friends before doing something wrong. it said that most countries have an army, but some armies have a country. in myanmar, it's a notion that continues to have deadly consequences. here's our correspondent laura bicker, who has been monitoring events in myanmar from bangkok, in neighbouring thailand. there have been a number of demonstrations throughout myanmar, throughout the night and into the day, and within the last few moments, we have heard from the american embassy in myanmar who claim that the american cultural centre in yangon was hit by gunfire. no one there was injured, they say,

but we are also getting reports of a number of rising casualties. i have to say, it is very difficult for the bbc to confirm these reports, but local reporters within myanmar said at least 60 people have now died within the last day during demonstrations. as you can see from some of the footage, you can see that a lot of these demonstrations are within neighbourhood to neighbourhood — they barricade themselves against the army, they use whatever they have, in many cases, it is slingshots. the army then opened fire. in one incident overnight in yangon, we heard that protesters gathered outside a police station and that a number of security officers came out and opened fire in the crowd. there are a number of people, a number of reports, certianly, we are getting enough people having been hit by rubber bullets, including children. the reports coming out of myanmar today are quite distressing in many places and it is clear that whatever the general has to say, people are not listening.

they have defied the notice on state television in the early hours of the morning, which warned them that if they went out into the streets, they would be shot in the head and the back. they are continuing to go out into the streets, despite that warning from the army. we have just had a line from the newsagents saying that the american embassy in myanmar is accusing the general of murdering unarmed civilians, so that line is coming from us and the newcomer —— embassy, quoted on afp, the french news agency, proposing the agency —— saying that i'm seven in be murdered. —— unarmed civilians have been murdered. wales is the first part of the uk to lift travel restrictions within its borders, as the "stay local" rule

is being relaxed from today. tourist accommodation can reopen and six people from two households can now meet out outside — and in private gardens. hywel griffith reports. time to head to the highest peaks or just breathe in some sea air. with travel restrictions now at an end within wales, plenty of people are desperate to reacquaint themselves with the countryside and coast. but there is a warning, keep away from crowds and have an alternative trip in mind if you find green spaces are filling up. we in mind if you find green spaces are fillinu u. ~ ., in mind if you find green spaces are fillinu u-.~ ., , . in mind if you find green spaces are fillinu u-. ~ ., , . ., filling up. we are expecting our hotsot filling up. we are expecting our hotspot areas _ filling up. we are expecting our hotspot areas to _ filling up. we are expecting our hotspot areas to get _ filling up. we are expecting our hotspot areas to get busy - filling up. we are expecting our hotspot areas to get busy and l filling up. we are expecting our. hotspot areas to get busy and we would advise people to maybe have a couple of plans up their sleeve, said that if they arrive in one place and it is busy and they are not comfortable being there, they have really got a plan b. last summer. _ have really got a plan b. last summer, after— have really got a plan b. last summer, after the _ have really got a plan b. last summer, after the first - have really got a plan b. last summer, after the first lockdown, sunny weather so people swarm to places like snowdonia, taking some communities feel anxious. natural resources wales, which manages large areas of the countryside said this time, people must be careful to protect themselves and the

environment. they have also been warnings for people outside wales to stay away, unless theirjourney is essential. the requirement to stay at home is still in place around the rest of the uk. now, borisjohnson has described as "disgraceful" attacks on the police in bristol on friday night. ten people were arrested in the city after officers took action to clear the third mass protest in the city in a week. around 1,000 people had gathered to oppose law changes that would give police more powers to restrict demonstrations. tim allman reports. for the third time in less than a week, police clashed with protesters on the streets of bristol. the demonstration had been largely peaceful, butjust after 10:00pm, officers told people to disperse and then they moved in. wearing helmets and carrying shields, they moved forward trying to force protesters to leave.

there appear to be minor scuffles with some officers using batons as they confronted the demonstrators. police say projectiles, including eggs and glass bottles, were thrown at them and lasers were shone in their faces. officers are trained in the tactics that they will use. we need to provide them with protection — with the helmets and shields and the protective clothing that they wear, but when they are attacked with bottles being thrown, eggs being thrown, a bicycle pedal being thrown, paint being thrown, police horses coming under attack — we need to respond effectively and robustly to that threat. all this happening close to bridewell police station. it was the scene of sunday's first kill the bill demonstration. this was described as the worst violence the city had seen in many, many years. last night, that anger was felt once more with protesters insisting their freedom to demonstrators being taken away

——to demonstrate. but avon and somerset police said they would not tolerate violent disorder. president biden has condemned a new voting law in georgia as �*outrageous', �*un—american�* and �*an attack on the constitution�*. republicans in the state passed the new law which tightens rules around voting — including requirements on photo id. state leaders said the changes will uphold the sanctity and security of elections. the president said they were measures clearly designed to stop black people voting. it's an atrocity. if you want any indication that it has nothing to do with fairness, nothing to do with decency, they passed a law saying you can't provide water for people standing in lines while they are waiting to vote, you don't need anything else to know that this is nothing but punitive design to keep

people from voting. you can't provide water for people about to vote? give me a break. us presidentjoe biden. the japanese owner of the giant container ship blocking egypt's suez canal has said an effort will be made to free the vessel by saturday night, japan time. the president of the shipping company said the ever given did not appear to be damaged and workers were continuing to remove sediment around the bow using dredging tools. a dutch firm involved in the operation has said it believes the vessel could be refloated early next week. more than 200 ships are stuck at either end of the canal, through what has been, until now, one of the wilds busiest waterways, but it was when it is somewhat restrained at the moment. he was the scene as we have it from the suez canal. these pictures are not live, these are some pictures that were sent to us a little earlier, just

showing you, giving you a rough idea of the location. we are told that efforts to refloat the ship will begin again in about ten minutes' time, which is about 230 in the afternoon in cairo. —— 2:30pm. as i was then, the ship itself is not damaged, the bow is not damaged, but it is logistically proving very difficult to dislodge it from the problems caused when it was trying to turn during a thunderstorm last tuesday. some of our bbc weather watchers have got... some of our bbc�*s weather watchers have grabbed some great shots of the northern lights recently. and there could be more opportunities in the coming years as activity on the sun increases. simon king spoke to an aurora chaserfrom the arctic circle to find out more. as you can see, we're having a really good show tonight in the skies. equinoxes are an amazing time

to see northern lights. today, for example, we are not supposed to see any northern lights, but thanks to the effect of the equinox, we are seeing this amazing show behind me. the aurora borealis, or the northern lights, as most of us call them, have been lighting up the skies over the last few months. this winter has definitely been an been amazing for the aurora, as we are re—emerging from the solar minimum into the solar maximum. and now spring is the best season to see them. that was an aurora enthusiast, who spoke to me from a frozen lake in northern finland. the green and purple lights have been dancing in the night sky, bringing one of nature's greatest light shows. the most intense aurora is during the solar maximum, where you have got lots of sun spots on the sun, releasing charged particles towards the earth. but in its 11—year cycle, the sun goes to its quieter minimum period, where there are fewer sun spots. we are just coming out of the minimum period now, so how have we had such good aurora

this winter without those sun spots? there is a different process on the sun which can lead to aurora. these are called coronal holes, and essentially what we get from coronal holes is a faster solar wind, and these are the charged particles which are pushed out from the sun all of time. and when we get coronal holes, we get faster solar winds, this reacts with the earth's magnetosphere and upper atmosphere. so we can actually see some geomagnetic storming and some aurora from these coronal holes. these are more frequent at solar minimum, theyjust aren't strong as from sun spots. there needs to be a strong geomagnetic storm to get the aurora across the uk, but you're most likely to see it in northern scotland, where lots our bbc weather watchers have been sharing pictures with us. in the arctic circle, however, weather permitting, it can be seen most nights. the aurora belt is the region north from here and the northern scandinavia, norway, sweden, finland, where auroras can be seen more often

than anywhere else the world. this is where auroras are born, and even if activity is very low, you can still see some action. we are now into a new solar cycle, so with the sun waking up, there will be more sun spot activity as we arise to the solar maximum in 2025, and therefore a greater chance of seeing a more intense aurora — weather permitting, of course. you been watching bbc news. after a year that has seen many many people lose loved ones, a new festival has been encouraging people to learn more about bereavement and open up about their experiences of grief. the good grief festival is a two—day virtual event running this weekend with a programme of more than 100 free activities. it's just the second time the festival has run — and this year it will explore the themes of "hope" and "meaning" at the end of a week when the uk

is mourning more than 126,000 lives lost to covid—19. dr lucy selman set up the good grief festival, and joins me now. thank you so much for being with us. partly inspired not only by the work you do, but also personal experience.— you do, but also personal exerience. , ., , �* experience. yes, that is right. i'm a researcher— experience. yes, that is right. i'm a researcher specialising - experience. yes, that is right. i'm a researcher specialising in - a researcher specialising in end—of—life care and bereavement research, i have been doing that for about 15 years. but i am also someone whose life has been changed by grief in various ways, a couple of years ago, our second daughter was stillborn, and it was an experience which inspired the idea of the festival. you experience which inspired the idea of the festival.— of the festival. you have looked at alliative of the festival. you have looked at palliative care _ of the festival. you have looked at palliative care in _ of the festival. you have looked at palliative care in the _ of the festival. you have looked at palliative care in the sense - of the festival. you have looked at palliative care in the sense of- of the festival. you have looked at palliative care in the sense of thel palliative care in the sense of the lots of people, in the grieving process, it begins at the very early stage, because they know that they face death in some point in the future and it is all part of an ongoing process. for others, it can be sudden and unexpected experience. are they still common things that the festival is trying to explore that will affect everybody ought

many people, in very different circumstances? i many people, in very different circumstances?— many people, in very different circumstances? ~ ,., ,., circumstances? i think so. the point ofthe circumstances? i think so. the point of the festival _ circumstances? i think so. the point of the festival is _ circumstances? i think so. the point of the festival is to _ circumstances? i think so. the point of the festival is to bring _ circumstances? i think so. the point of the festival is to bring people - of the festival is to bring people together and create that sense of community, so that people can share experiences and listen to what other people have gone through. that's because i think, helps them in their own grief, but crucially, we also wanted to provide opportunities for people to learn more about greed, because there is an amazing research and scholarship out there, that people might not be aware of, which i think can be a great comfort. so thatis i think can be a great comfort. so that is really what we are trying to do with it, was not ready. find that is really what we are trying to do with it, was not ready. and had he been struck _ do with it, was not ready. and had he been struck by _ do with it, was not ready. and had he been struck by some _ do with it, was not ready. and had he been struck by some of- do with it, was not ready. and had he been struck by some of the - he been struck by some of the responses that people have been accessing online as part of the festival? i accessing online as part of the festival? ~' ., , accessing online as part of the festival? ~' .,, ., festival? i think the most moving thin , the festival? i think the most moving thing, the most _ festival? i think the most moving thing, the most driving _ festival? i think the most moving thing, the most driving forward l thing, the most driving forward thing, the most driving forward thing for us, is how people connect and share their experiences, during the event, in the chat. but i'm also really motivated about supporting people who have been briefed over the last year. as he said, 126,000

covid—19 death and in addition to that, around 600,000 deaths from other causes. there is actually over 6 million people in the uk who have been bereaved in the last year. and they are currently struggling with grief in very difficult surface assets. unlike festival like this gives people the opportunity to come together, to remember the people they have lost and to find some solace and comfort. in difficult circumstances. i solace and comfort. in difficult circumstances.— solace and comfort. in difficult circumstances. i know you first did this last year. _ circumstances. i know you first did this last year, planning _ circumstances. i know you first did this last year, planning at - circumstances. i know you first did this last year, planning at a - circumstances. i know you first did this last year, planning at a very . this last year, planning at a very different world, in a sense, but do you now see this as an ongoing need, because you said that this is a rich area of search? i guess that is going to be enriched further by the experiences of the last 12 months, and you point out lots of different directions that may people have not perceived before, in terms of collective experience of grief. do you think, this is going to be a festival of running events? we are really keen —

festival of running events? we are really keen to _ festival of running events? we are really keen to support _ festival of running events? we are really keen to support the - festival of running events? we are i really keen to support the commodity that we have got, with the good growth festival, but i am also leaving with colleagues at cardiff university and is looking during the pandemic, —— good grief festival, in what has, in that research is the huge levels of social isolation and loneliness and high levels of need, identified in terms of financial that emotional as i got was the pot. the festival is another way of giving people access to that kind of information and advice and support. lucy, just before you go, do you want to tell us where people can find us online? so want to tell us where people can find us online?— want to tell us where people can find us online? so if you go to our website, good _ find us online? so if you go to our website, good grief _ find us online? so if you go to our website, good grief festival, i find us online? so if you go to our website, good grief festival, all | find us online? so if you go to our| website, good grief festival, all of the events happening today and tomorrow, and a huge amount of content for people to watch online on demand from our last festival in up on demand from our last festival in up table and november. goad on demand from our last festival in up table and november.— up table and november. good grief theft. -- festival. _ up table and november. good grief theft. -- festival. i— up table and november. good grief theft. -- festival. i hope _ up table and november. good grief theft. -- festival. i hope that i up table and november. good grief theft. -- festival. i hope that we i theft. —— festival. i hope that we can go as well. think of for

speaking to us.