welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and around the globe. it's exactly one year since the world health organization officially declared the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic — that's the point the disease was confirmed as a truly global problem. covid—19 has so far claimed 2.6 million lives but there's hope on the horizon as vaccines reach some of the furthest corners of the world. our global health correspondent naomi grimley has been looking at the pandemic one year in. it's been a year that most of us will remember for the rest of our lives. one of grief and loneliness on a scale none of us could've imagined. it's exactly 12 months since the world health organization officially sounded the alarm about the seriousness of covid—19. we have therefore made the assessment that covid—19 can be characterised as a pandemic. and yet, after a whirlwind of scientific discoveries, we're now seeing vaccines being distributed to some of the most remote communities on earth. in brazil, they've mounted a vaccination campaign reaching reservations and villages like this one, deep in the amazon jungle. translation: i'm happy. we are grateful for the vaccination, so we will not catch the disease and my people will get better. because of a new variant spreading there, brazil has seen some of the worst death toll figures since the pandemic began in the last few days. but overall, scientists are positive about bringing the pandemic to an end. we're in a much more powerful situation because we understand so i am very optimistic of the future, i think we have a better handle on the virus, and we're able to keep up, i suppose, with the race against an evolving virus. this graph shows some of the differences in pace, however, of vaccination rates globally. chile, israel, and the us have powered ahead. faring less well are brazil, russia, and china. in europe, there's been a huge amount of disquiet over disappointing vaccination rates. the situation in france has not been helped by negative remarks from president macron about the oxford—astrazeneca vaccine, which he later retracted. this family doctor is doing his best to persuade reluctant patients. translation: there's always a hesitation, i and we have to convince some patient. that's time and energy used. if we don't have support, both from government and media, it's hard to go up from there. patients trust us — but only to a certain extent. delivered over 20 million doses to more than 20 developing countries, mostly in africa. but it's really only enough to vaccinate key medical workers. whether it's drive—through vaccinations in la or doctors and nurses in nigeria — get ready for an increasingly divided world, depending on who's been vaccinated and who hasn't. with over 2.6 million deaths in the pandemic so far, everyone can agree that much better protections are needed to ensure it never happens again. naomi grimley, bbc news. one year on since the pandemic was declared, three of our correspondents look back at what's happened in shanghai, rome, and johannesburg — and what the situation is there now. we start in china, where covid—i9 was first discovered, with our correspondent robin brant. this is the place where it all began and it started as an outbreak in a small part of a city. it went on to become an epidemic and now it is a global pandemic. but here, 15 months on from that, in the country where it all started, things are pretty much normal. in shanghai everyone wears a mask, but the bad —— buses are running on the banks open and the response to doing business. most of the schools in this country have been teaching face—to—face since last august. and people are travelling in the millions on planes, on trains, but china is a country shut off from the rest of the world. almost no—one is allowed in internationally. it is rolling out vaccines. there are three home—made versions at the moment, but it is doing it slowly. it is aiming to get almost half the population having had those jabs, but not until this summer. at the same time it's using some of that stock to help other countries abroad and also to try to win diplomatic favour. now, china's official version of howard dealt with coronavirus is one of success. look at the official numbers, in a country official numbers, in a country of one billion people 15 months on from the outbreak they have had 180 thousand cases, according to the official numbers, and just under 5000 deaths. numbers, and 'ust under 5000 deaths. , ~ ., ., , ., deaths. this week marks a year since italy _ deaths. this week marks a year since italy became _ deaths. this week marks a year since italy became the - deaths. this week marks a year since italy became the first - since italy became the first country— since italy became the first country in the world to impose a nationwide lockdown and one year— a nationwide lockdown and one year on — a nationwide lockdown and one year on the situation is again not looking good. with the infection curve arising here and — infection curve arising here and the _ infection curve arising here and the r—value, the spread of the virus — and the r—value, the spread of the virus going back above one again— the virus going back above one again in— the virus going back above one again in the last week, italy is thought to be in a third wave _ is thought to be in a third wave it _ is thought to be in a third wave. it has become the second country— wave. it has become the second country in — wave. it has become the second country in europe to surpass 100,000 — country in europe to surpass 100,000 deaths after the uk and fatatities— 100,000 deaths after the uk and fatalities remain high at 300 400 — fatalities remain high at 300 400 today. the government of the new — 400 today. the government of the new prime minister, mario draghi. — the new prime minister, mario draghi. is _ the new prime minister, mario draghi, is tightening restrictions with different regions in different tiers, yellow, _ regions in different tiers, yellow, orange, and read, but he is under_ yellow, orange, and read, but he is under pressure to tighten further— he is under pressure to tighten further and faster with supporter growing for a more stringent _ supporter growing for a more stringent lockdown despite the dire economic impact. italy's economy— dire economic impact. italy's economy shrank by about 9% last yeah _ economy shrank by about 9% last yeah the — economy shrank by about 9% last year. the vaccination rollout here — year. the vaccination rollout here is — year. the vaccination rollout here is rather sluggish. italy has administered by .8 million doses, — has administered by .8 million doses, but there are is a lower dose _ doses, but there are is a lower dose of— doses, but there are is a lower dose of per— doses, but there are is a lower dose of per 100,000 people than the rest _ dose of per 100,000 people than the rest of europe, including spain. — the rest of europe, including spain, greece, and portugal. it spain, greece, and portugal. [it has spain, greece, and portugal. has been spain, greece, and portugal. it has been es spain, greece, and portugal. it has been e5 in south africa recorded _ has been e5 in south africa recorded its— has been e5 in south africa recorded its worst - has been e5 in south africa recorded its worst case - has been e5 in south africa recorded its worst case of i recorded its worst case of coronavirus. _ recorded its worst case of coronavirus. the - recorded its worst case of coronavirus. the countryl recorded its worst case of - coronavirus. the country went from — coronavirus. the country went from a — coronavirus. the country went from a mere _ from a mere two cases at the beginning of my— from a mere two cases at the beginning of my size - from a mere two cases at the beginning of my size you - from a mere two cases at the beginning of my size you do i beginning of my size you do currently— beginning of my size you do currently reaching _ beginning of my size you do currently reaching over - beginning of my size you do currently reaching over 1.5. currently reaching over 1.5 million _ currently reaching over 1.5 million infections. - currently reaching over 1.5 million infections. and - currently reaching over 1.5i million infections. and with more — million infections. and with more than _ million infections. and with more than 50,000 - million infections. and with more than 50,000 deaths, j million infections. and with- more than 50,000 deaths, this is the _ more than 50,000 deaths, this is the worst— more than 50,000 deaths, this is the worst affected _ more than 50,000 deaths, this is the worst affected country i is the worst affected country on the — is the worst affected country on the continent. _ is the worst affected country on the continent. a - is the worst affected country on the continent. a third - is the worst affected country i on the continent. a third wave is expected _ on the continent. a third wave is expected here _ on the continent. a third wave is expected here during - on the continent. a third wave is expected here during the i is expected here during the winter— is expected here during the winter months _ is expected here during the winter months and - is expected here during the winter months and they'rel winter months and they're obvious— winter months and they're obvious that _ winter months and they're obvious that than - winter months and they're obvious that than half - winter months and they're obvious that than half the | obvious that than half the populdti°“_ obvious that than half the population will— obvious that than half the population will have - obvious that than half the population will have beenj population will have been vaccinated _ population will have been vaccinated by _ population will have been vaccinated by then. - to the us now, where a huge financial aid package to help americans struggling through the pandemic has cleared its final hurdle. president biden's plan worth almost $2 trillion, has passed both houses of congress without a single republican vote in favour. he'll sign it into law on friday. here are some of the details. the so—called american rescue plan gives one—off payments worth $1,400 to most americans. it allocates $350 billion to state and local governments, and $130 billion to schools. it also provides $49 billion dollars for expanded covid—19 testing and research, as well as $14 billion for vaccine distribution. and the bill extends unemployment benefits of $300 a week until september. millions of americans had been set to lose their benefits in the coming weeks — not any more. so a huge moment for the us economy and an important political moment for president biden. he said there was now light at the end of the tunnel for the american people. this bill represents a historic, historic victory for the american people. i look forward to signing it later this week. everything in the american rescue plan addresses a real need, including investments to fund our entire vaccination effort — more vaccines, more vaccinators, and more vaccination sites. millions more americans will get tested, including home testing. schools will soon have the funding and resources to reopen safely on national imperative. the republican leader in the house described his opposition to the measures, calling the bill "a laundry list of left wing priorities." you send the government your tax dollars, but you only get a fraction of what you pay for at the very best. you know, we warned people on the internet about e—mail scams. it's like the ones with those e—mails where you get a promise you'll get millions of dollars — but first, you have to wire them some money. that's exactly what's happening here today. this is the reality of this bill before us. it showers money on special interests, but spends less than 9% on actually defeating the virus. let's get a different take on all this. professor robert reich is from the university of california, berkeley. he served in three national administrations including labour secretary under president clinton. he is the author of a new book — the system: who rigged it, how we fix it. i know you have been waiting a while to come on air for us. thank you very much. possible, let's be clear about this, we know how the republicans feel about it from their votes but it is a difficult one to oppose vocally, isn't it, because it seems to be so popular with republican and democratic voters? , voters? exactly. in fact the olls voters? exactly. in fact the polls are — voters? exactly. in fact the polls are showing - polls are showing that about 80% of americans are in favour of this particular bill —— bill. in large part because, frankly, so many americans and 70 american families are going to get money directly from it. even former president trump was pushing $2000 perfamily. this is more modest than that, slightly. but when you have the head of the nominal head of the republican party pushing something like this and so many people in america in favour it's very hard for the republicans in office to oppose it, although they did. not a single vote in favour of it from any republican in the house or the senate. [10 from any republican in the house or the senate. do you have no sympathy _ house or the senate. do you have no sympathy at - house or the senate. do you have no sympathy at all - house or the senate. do you have no sympathy at all for i have no sympathy at all for republicans who say look, is unfocused, is a kind of grab bar, is a kind of socialism which is inappropriate and actually it may be bigger than is really needed at the moment? well, i will say back to them and i have said back to them, we are in a crisis in this country. it is a world crisis. in the united states we have about 10 million people who have lost their jobs, about 10 million people who have lost theirjobs, still unemployed, and we have obviously a pandemic stop beyond that, though, even going into the pandemic we had a crisis of child poverty. this bill actually would reduce child poverty by 50%, cut by half, a huge advance, a huge antelope poverty programme. and although covid is the major target of this plan, undoubtably this is going to change the structure of the economy and reduce the extraordinary inequality that america has suffered —— anti—poverty. america has suffered -- anti-poverty-_ america has suffered -- anti-poverty. america has suffered -- anti- ove . . anti-poverty. even if the child tax credit _ anti-poverty. even if the child tax credit is _ anti-poverty. even if the child tax credit is a _ anti-poverty. even if the child tax credit is a kind _ anti-poverty. even if the child tax credit is a kind of - tax credit is a kind of long—term game changer, there is quite a lot that is not here, there is no improvement in the minimum wage, no real change in the relationship between employee and employer, and nothing on pensions. weill. and nothing on pensions. well, there actually _ and nothing on pensions. well, there actually is _ and nothing on pensions. well, there actually is something - and nothing on pensions. well, there actually is something on | there actually is something on pensions. in fact, the legislation does make it much easierfor many legislation does make it much easier for many workers whose pensions were threatened by this terrible downturn in the economy to get their pensions, to collect their pensions. but i think the major point is you can't do everything in one bill, obviously. what president biden has done and his administration has done, and i think they have done it very forcefully, is to look at all the major economic and social problems we have coming out of the covid, aggravated by this pandemic and tried to really, not solve them, there is going to be no solution, but ameliorate them, make the much better for most americans. and this is, frankly, taking a terrible, terrible situation and turning it into an opportunity to improve american society. opportunity to improve american socie . ~ . society. with that in mind, what do — society. with that in mind, what do you _ society. with that in mind, what do you think - what do you think could come next? clearly this is a big hit for a presidentjust 50 days into office, but the president may have to move fast. control of the house or the senate might change.— of the house or the senate might change. of the house or the senate miaht chance. , ., , ., might change. yes, he does have to move fast _ might change. yes, he does have to move fast because _ might change. yes, he does have to move fast because there - might change. yes, he does have to move fast because there is - to move fast because there is this window of opportunity which could show us, it is very rare, relatively speaking, that a president has his same party in control of the house and the senate. and it's also rare that he has the wins at his back, so to speak, whether republican party is an complete disarray if not in actual civil war. the next major initiative i expect will either be a major infrastructure plan, that is to repair notjust infrastructure plan, that is to repair not just the infrastructure plan, that is to repair notjust the roads and bridges and pipes and all the water systems that have been crumbling in the united states for many years, but also direct a loss of money towards reversing climate change, towards wind and solar and other non— fossil fuels full there is a great deal of support for this and it means a lot of good jobs.— lot of good “obs. professor robert lot of good jobs. professor robert reich, _ lot of good jobs. professor robert reich, very - lot of good jobs. professor robert reich, very good i lot of good jobs. professorj robert reich, very good to lot of good jobs. professor - robert reich, very good to talk to you. thank you. three air— stay with us on bbc news. still to come: and as bbc world news turns 30, we'll have a look back at three decades of breaking news and the very occasional rotten cues. the numbers of dead and wounded defied belief. this, the worst terrorist atrocity on european soil in modern times. in less than 24 hours, then, the soviet union lost an elderly sick leader and replaced him with a dynamic figure 20 years his junior. we heard these gunshots in the gym. then he came out through a fire exit and started firing at our huts. god, we were all petrified. james earl ray, aged 41, - sentenced to 99 years and due for parole when he's 90, i travelled from memphis jail to nashville state prison in an eight—car convoy. i paul, what's it feel like to be married at last? it feels fine, thank you. what are you going to do now? is it going to change your life much, do you think? i don't know, really — i've never been married before! this is bbc news, the latest headlines. one year on from the moment the who declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic, there's hope as vaccine supplies reach some of the world's most cut—off communities. president biden has scored an important victory after just fifty days in office, with the house of representatives it's a kind approving his covid stimulus package worth almost $2 trillion. the duchess of sussex has reportedly filed a formal complained with itv about the conduct of presenter piers morgan and the alleged effect of his comments on those suffering with mental health issues. he resigned yesterday as host of good morning britain after saying he didn't believe a word of meghan markle's interview with oprah winfrey. our media editor amol rajan has been looking at the way morgan's brand of personality—led news is changing the media landscape. from the conversation of, "he won't be given security", from race to mental health, and progressive cal