the recently approved johnson and johnson jap the e.u. wants 300000000 doses from sun aufidius soon as the european medicines agency gives the go ahead the same number from buy on tech modernity is expected to supply 160000000 shots all those pharma companies have production lines in the e.u. their most important locations are in germany france spain belgium italy and austria and production is being ramped up over the coming months the european commission has been angered by the sight of vaccines from e.u. production being export it was there in short supply here this year between the beginning of february to mid march of 41500000 covert 1000 shots were exported from the e.u. to the u.k. the americas asia south africa and australia the u.k. alone got $10000000.00 of those doses at the european commission says british swedish producer astra zeneca has barely supplied the e.u.

with 30 percent of the quantities agreed for europe's vaccination program needs now is a shot in the arm a shot in the arm india over use their brussels virtue of alexander van ommen is at the e.u. summit for us today the virtual one so she is right there where it's happening now is out of the goal is very clear more vaccines for countries what action will the european union take. according to the german chancellor the key issue here is to accelerate for duction in the european union and actually we have some good news here. in develop a biotechs has started for the auction at its new plant in germany to day i asked. a request to the european medicines agency for the authorization of its dutch plant and if it gets swift approval we could see 1st deliveries from this deliveries from this plant by the end of this month however we can also expect the majority of e.u.

leaders to support the european commission's decision to introduce strict export rules and to possibly ban exports of the scene if necessary many e.u. member states say this is the right way to move forward to make the scene producers meet their commitments right now meanwhile earlier today america addressed the german parliament defending her handling of the crisis and the decision to allow brussels to handle procurement let's take a listen to what she said exactly and pick up our conversation after that that's published if you don't mind it was right to focus on the joint procurement and approval of vaccines by the european union anyone who sees that even with small differences in distributions there's a great deal of discussion i don't want to imagine that if some member states had vaccines and others did not that would shake the foundations of the internal market

and that's why i believe that we've laid the foundation to pass this greatest test of the european union or we. know this of course decision has come under some pressure in many a member states well it's i don't would it have been even conceivable for the e.u. not to be the one to purchase vaccines collectively. well i think that was something that richer countries such as germany might have considered at the beginning but it was not an realistic option at all because that would be the end of the sole authority member states would be competing against each other to purchase vaccines poor a smaller countries would be struggling struggling to get any of them so i think in the end it was important for the european union to purchase those vaccines together now i understand that the u.k.

and the commission have kind of patched things up but i still would like you address i mean they almost went to the brink and then decided not to continue because obviously there is this perception that britain is failing to share vaccines and i'm just warning has the worst now been avoided while at the moment it seems so both sides are talking instead of accusing each other they issued a statement yesterday saying that they're trying to create a win win situation and to expand big scene supplies for every citizen so we still have to see and wait whether they could come up with a real solution to the problem. and i'm reporting from brussels thank you. and let's take a look at some of the other developments in the pandemic. everyone traveling by air to germany will soon have to present a negative covert 1000 test before boarding their flights the new rule will apply

from sunday and the un's vaccine program kovacs has warned the deliveries will be delayed it's a major setback for low and middle income countries who are depending on the doses from an indian manufacturer the supplies are now being kept for india as infections there surge and israel has now administered to vaccine doses to more than half its population new infections have dropped significantly despite most of the economy we are opening in recent weeks. and these are the other stories making news this hour . a lawyer for russian opposition leader alexina vali says his health has deteriorated in prison she says he's now suffering from back and leg ailments mist and of ali was arrested in january after returning from germany he spent months there being treated for equation and that he blames on the kremlin. north korea has launched 2 ballistic missiles according to south korea and japan it's believed the

2 short range missiles flew 450 kilometers before landing in the sea analysts say the country has a history of testing new u.s. administrations with missile launches and other provocations to force the americans back to the negotiating table. a judge has ordered the man accused of fatally shooting 10 people at a u.s. supermarket to be held without bail. elise out faces murder and attempted murder charges following following the rampage in boulder colorado on monday he will undergo a mental health assessment. greece is celebrating 200 years since the start of its struggle for independence from the ottoman empire the anniversary is being marked with parades and ceremonies attended by foreign dignitaries including britain's prince charles but the events were scaled back because of the pandemic with other spectators not allowed to attend the parade. the heads

of facebook google and twitter are testifying before the u.s. congress today in a virtual hearing executives are facing questions on the role that the tech giants play in the spread of misinformation and extremist ideologies well the hearing could lead to legal reforms to make the companies more accountable for the content and if they host more people or the ok let's get you more data we use the public fully ilyas cit is on the story public tell us at the hearings are underway. you're absolutely right lola and as expected the question of whether these current laws should be changed are central to these hearings and whether at facebook google and twitter and other tech companies should be held more accountable or responsible for the spreading of misinformation on their platforms which then can have that real world consequences like those that we saw back in there in january with the

storming of the capitol building in washington d.c. there's also been there's also a focus on algorithms and whether there amplifying misinformation on the spread of x 3 extremism on their platforms and also an emphasis that their platforms and this is what the they've said the tech companies that their platforms may or the problems of society at large now there are differences between as the c.e.o.'s of these 3 big giants and but there is an acceptance that there are changes are inevitable and one big area that's going to be looked at is this last section $3230.00 of the communications decency act which essentially shields tech companies from liability facebook a century i have that have given their their thoughts on the changes that can take place and so you know plenty to get through in these hearings today what can be done with the issues of misinformation and the spreading of conspiracy theories online. well essentially what facebook and other tech companies have said that

they've done is that they've backed combative harmful content that they've taken down for example at militarized social movements and they're and they're groups that they have for example on facebook they've also said that they've taken down millions over $10000000.00 debunked posts about for example covert 19 and the vaccines which is all misinformation but essentially it comes down to the fact that you know liability is a key issue here and this section $230.00 which i mentioned earlier is a law which looks like it's going to be changed or at least that's the intention of not only to democrats but also the republicans for different reasons they want to change the it's basically to go after dissin from ation in the case of the of the democrats whereas the republicans are saying that it's it's protecting companies from consequences for censoring conservative information right publicly it's

reporting thank you. now to egypt where officials there have warned that it could take days or even weeks to dislodge the massive cargo ship currently blocking the suez canal the ship ran aground during a sandstorm on shoes day choking off one of the world's most important shipping lanes. more than $100.00 ships are stuck on both sides of that's where the canal after the every give and wedged itself between the eastern and western banks the ship's owner evergreen says a 50 kilometer an hour gust of wind shop the ship into the canal walls the 200000 ton vessel which stretches 400 meters is believed to have partially run aground much smaller attack boats are now trying to keep it from. realistically there's no quick fix here if the ship can be can we are freed up and moved moved around we can then get good good flowing again the only real long realistic long term solution if this does turn to be something long term really is to go around the cape and again

that's going to add a significant delay to the to the good flowing the current conditions have only added to the walls low tide means the efforts to dislodge the ship will be delayed a couple of days so the world's biggest shipping jam could even get longer. europe's largest active volcano erupted over night for the 10th time since february while the southeast crater of mount etna sent ash and lava flying smoke and ash from the explosions spread over a 6 kilometer radius is the largest of italy's 3 active volcanoes no injuries or serious damage have been reported after the recent blasts. great pictures here watching you to review that this is our top story this hour e.u. leaders are holding a virtual summit to discuss how to ramp up the supply of vaccines export bans are

on the table after drug maker astra zeneca fail to meet delivery targets but not all member states are in favor of that proposal. and on that note stick around interviews covered $900.00 special is up next america going on their fall this year thank you so much for spending his 5 day with this us the at the top of. the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. has the rate of infection been developing what does the latest research say. information and context the coronavirus update 19 special. on d w. n u u m you know years years we've been here you and how the last years german chancellor women bring you i'm going to a math course as you've never heard her before surprise yourself with what is

possible who is medical really want to move and want also to talk to people who followed her along the way admirers and critics alike how is the world's most powerful woman shaping her legacy joining us from eccles last stop. you typically starts with a snake's. spring in europe always spots a stream of sniffly noses and itchy eyes. this season though scientists are warning of a phenomena known as the pollen effect they've linked high pollen levels with a rising co that the researchers say many factors can affect infection rates but let's take a closer. look at allergies and the coronavirus. well that

picture is enough to get me sneezing i always yearn for spring after the long cold german winter but i don't look forward to all the allergies especially considering all the headlines going around about pollen and covert co exposure to airborne pollen and had says your susceptibility to breast birthrate viral infections a study shows that could also be true for. one of the authors about that in a moment firsts this report spring is in the air to many that means time to enjoy the outdoors but for people like benediction it's spring means allergies that's going to start starts turning and i have to make happen not to touch my eyes otherwise they start to watch the new york early blossoms can play havoc with the news a nice hazelnuts and all the pollen are problematic for many benedicts main issue is with grasp on but during the pandemic he's often asking himself whether his symptoms are to do with his allergy opossum plea coronavirus instead.

of get caught yet and i think everyone who experiences such symptoms probably ask themselves the same question you become a kind of happy hypochondriac when my throat start stretching or i feel sleepy and typically after i take an analogy tablet i start to worry whether this might be a coronavirus and static or not released by my not it's not for life time for a bit of research indeed the symptoms of many allergies are pretty similar to those of kevin 1000 sore throat coughing sneezing tightness benedick books an appointment with an allergy specialist to ask which symptoms point to a coronavirus infection. is that relatively common as a loss of snout i think that's something you really experience with allergies and certainly not to the extent that you completely lose your sense of smell because that would be a clear indicator that you may have a corona virus infection over it. it's your eyes would suggest it's not coronavirus or as a fever would play for our. exhaustion the dry cough that really persists on all

these would suggest something like a cold $1000.00 infection with thing but experienced allergy sufferers know at what time of the year they tend to get sometimes. benediction it is now confident he doesn't need to be tested for corona virus but what about his allergy symptoms because of the pandemic the doctor recommends medicating early so that sneezing is kept to a minimum. no sprays for example can help with that. this medicine course and home cortizone god is all hoarders and shouldn't be injected or taken in a tablet form to treat allergies except in an absolute emergency because then it can really have side effects. but often but the thing about cortisone sprays but is that the needles and then only has an effect in the nasal area battle there are no adverse effects on the rest of the body needs to give. the scope out

a spring free of sneezes and itchy eyes and others can rest assured it's now najee and not covert so your title whole thought is director of the institute of environmental medicine and met munich and was involved in a study into exactly this topic what did you find exactly what do pollen allergies have in common with covert. then in this study we bring in new and previously unnoticed aspect into the equation off pandemic fueling it's not just about arrows olds that key drivers of a pandemic but it's rather the complexity of the arizona so we show in a large study that increased to infections are observed when up on paula and this is the result of a large study with a 130 point monitoring stations in 31 can read over 5 continents and really the finding is in the last spring there was a coincidence and

a correlation of the mask of 2 infection rates rising and pom pom concentrations and of note the lowest infection rates were observed at sites with a low concentration during the study period. so the finding behind this is that in a weakened the antiviral of the fans of coastal surfaces like nose and. you can imagine that it's like a pap right it shielded that pollen induce so normally we have a shield against viruses and and paul. making this leaky and this is why during points season we are more susceptible. to infection spring is already here. i have. this is

very important to know so it's not only a vault paul an entity it's beyond pollen energy so the also predicts what is separating in the future and we need to really did the k. to. escape bio my bio monitoring studies on correct arised patients in order to understand the environmental impact on they spend demick well i hope you get that support because i'm going to be sneezing and getting itchy eyes for quite some time claudio title health director of the institute of environmental medicine and nick thank you very much for joining us today i thank you bye. for today's viewer question on the carnivorous it's over to alice science correspondent derek williams. i have asked can i get a cool 1000 vaccine. the centers for disease control still considers as as one of

the conditions that might increase the risk of severe outcomes if you come down with cope at 19 but data continues to accumulate that at least for people who have moderate forms of the disease as much doesn't pose as big of a risk factor as other chronic conditions like for example diabetes when you start looking into this topic the recommendation you read over and over again is that no matter what happens if you have asthma it's important to keep it under control by following your action plan since an asthma attack that forces you to go to an emergency room puts you at more danger of exposure to sars coby to the answer to the question of whether you should get it coated 19 vaccine is is a resounding yes national asthma associations recommend people who have the auto

immune condition get shots as soon as they have the opportunity in trials kogan vaccines were given to subjects of many different ages among them people with chronic conditions like asthma and the hundreds of millions of shots given worldwide since have not given rise to any specific back seem related cause for alarm for for people who live with it i did find a recommendation from the british lung foundation saying that although the vaccine is not known to interact with medications if you take monoclonal antibodies for your asthma. then then you should talk to your doctor about how to time when you get your vaccines so take that into consideration but in general all of the experts that i read are saying that you should get the shot as soon as you can.

through some of the other coronavirus related stories making news astra zeneca says its coronavirus vaccine is strongly effective following its disputed u.s. study after recalculating the data from that study instead of 79 percent efficacy the follow from concluded that the vaccine is 76 percent effective in preventing symptomatic of it and the less danish authorities have extended this the suspension of the vaccine pending further studies in correlation with blood clots. the u.s. senate has confirmed rachel levine as the 1st transgender person to hold a senior government position in the united states the president's pick as assistant health secretary levine led pennsylvania's response to the corona virus outbreak she will oversee health and human services. the tokyo lympics torch relay is under way under strict conditions to stop the spread of the coronavirus spectators will

bod from the departure ceremony because of ongoing fears about the virus which host the 2020 games to be postponed. the torch is on a 121 day relay across japan before like the other be colder on july 23rd. and a new record for banksy piece again changes sofa $19400000.00 euros at christie's in london with the proceeds going to britain's national health service it pays tribute to frontline health workers in the pandemic raising nurses as the real superheroes elusive street artists and given the pace to university hospital in sept southampton with a note saying thanks for all you doing. and thank you for watching see you again sir.

can. you think. it. do this for us and for our planet.

the idea is on its wanted to bring you more conservation claims how do we make cities scream or how can we protect animals and their 100 times what to do with the least. we can make a difference by choosing reforestation over the forest recycling paper disposable smart new solutions oberstein said you know we want to pursue an earth is truly unique and we know that their uniqueness is worth a while so us to live and survive look why do those be a part of mental issues to global 3000 on g.w. i'm going. to this is d.v.d.'s africa on the program today a new account to stop the killings happening in ethiopia is to bribe egypt's government troops were seen executing civilians this week it comes off to a stunning admission from the private

a step about how the forces involved in the context. and the growing post fall freshly brewed coffee in nigeria we need one on top and yet it was hoping to cash it.