biggest night of the year. we start in myanmar where activists say security forces have killed at least 39 people in one of the deadliest days, since huge demonstrations began against the military coup last month. 21 died in the biggest city yangon after two china owned factories were attacked. beijing has asked the authorities to protect its businesses. a police officer also died as clashes between the miliary and anti—coup protesters continue for a sixth week. our diplomatic correspondent james landale reports. but when the security forces opened fire, there was nothing to do but run. this was the scene in myanmar�*s biggest city, yangon, where more than 20 people are reported to have died. some here see china as supporting myanmar�*s military rulers, and several chinese—owned factories were set on fire. so, troops were sent in and martial law for two districts was declared on state tv. there were fatal clashes elsewhere in myanmar. the now—familiar round of tear gas, rubber bullets and gunfire and the ever—rising death toll. and yet for all the bloodshed, the pro—democracy campaigners keep coming. it's now almost six weeks since the army seized power, but they have yet to break the will of those taking to the streets. translation: we have to fight for our future. l i don't accept the military coup. for some campaigners, it's an afternoon to wave placards and the now—familiar three fingered salute, but others seem ready to fight fire with fire. this bloody war of attrition has some way to go. james landale, bbc news. yangon is where sunday's clashes took place. bbc burmese's nyein chan aye, is there. deadly crackdowns on previous day here in myanmar. the demonstrations continue in the biggest cities of yangon, mandalay and as well in the country, and again, they are met with force by the military regime. there are reports of crackdowns in a number of places, including bago, about 50 miles away from here. a number of people were reportedly killed and several more injured. today is the 42nd day since the military takeover last month. the death toll in the demonstration against the regime already exceeded 80. more than a dozen unarmed protesters were reported to have been killed over the past 2a hours. people here feel like words are not enough to stop the regime's brutality. they are now becoming more frustrated than ever because the international sanctions or resolution or statements so far cannot prevent all the killings. people feel helpless but, all the same, they are hopeful with determinations, particularly the younger generation, who have realised that they have to rely on themselves to stand up against the military. this is nyein chan aye, bbc news, yangon, myanmar. let's get some of the day's other news. the netherlands has become the latest eu country to suspend its rollout of the oxford—astrazeneca vaccine. officials said the decision was based on reports from denmark and norway about side affects including blood clots. but they emphasised the move was precautionary. it follows a similar move by ireland earlier on sunday. astrazeneca says the number of blood clots reported is lower than would be expected in the general population. a british—iranian woman, nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe, who hasjust completed a five—year prison sentence in tehran, has appeared in court to face new charges. she's accused of propaganda against iran, including taking part in a demonstration in london 12 years ago. the british government has demanded her release. the biden administration says it has been trying to contact north korea since february, but there has been no response. a senior official said the white house had attempted to reach pyongyang in several different ways to try to prevent a possible escalation in tensions. joe biden is expected to release details of his policy for north korea in the coming weeks. in australia, more than a0 rallies are taking plus across the country to deal with sexism, misogyny and a lack of quality —— equality in society. it's been weeks of mounting anger, mainly at many of the people in the building behind me, parliament house, australia's seat of power, this is where brittany higgins, a former adviser to the liberal party alleges a mail colleague raped her in 2019 and after these allegations, many women came forward with similar claims. separately in weeks after that, another explosive moment here in canberra when the attorney general publicly and vigorously denied allegations he had raped a 16—year—old girl in 1988, long before he came to politics. it's been a very bruising few weeks for the scott morrison government and the prime minister has come under heavy criticism for the way he has handled this controversy and today, thousands of women are coming out on the streets protesting what they see as a government that is out of touch with their struggles. let's bring injanine hendry. janine bring in janine hendry. janine hendry, bring injanine hendry. janine hendry, you are the spokeswoman for the march fourjustice rallies. ~ , ., , , rallies. why now, why this moment? _ rallies. why now, why this moment? i think as - rallies. why now, why this l moment? i think as you said rallies. why now, why this - moment? i think as you said in your introduction, the women of australia have seen this build—up over a long period of time in the last few weeks we have seen our government's woeful inaction to these alleged sexual assaults which have in our house of parliament but i also think it is symptomatic of a lack of structural reform in relation to equity across australia. we had report after report on the issue of equity and particularly women that our government has just failed to do nothing about. wide media criticised the prime minister but not doing enough, not addressing this strongly enough. addressing this strongly enou . h. ~ , ., , enough. the prime minister has invited you and other _ invited you and other organisers to meeting in parliament house to address this but you've refused. correct. this but you've refused. correct-— this but you've refused. correct. he certainly did extend an _ correct. he certainly did extend an invitation. - correct. he certainly did extend an invitation. i. correct. he certainly did - extend an invitation. i think the reality is, that today, 100,000 women are coming out to have their voices heard. it is the responsibility of our prime minister to actually make himself available to hear those voices. 50 himself available to hear those voices. , ., himself available to hear those voices, ., himself available to hear those voices. , ., ., ., ., voices. so you want him to 'oin the crowds? i voices. so you want him to 'oin the crowds? i i voices. so you want him to 'oin the crowds? i would i voices. so you want him to 'oin the crowds? i would like i voices. so you want him to join the crowds? i would like him . voices. so you want him to join | the crowds? i would like him to walk out of— the crowds? i would like him to walk out of his _ the crowds? i would like him to walk out of his office _ the crowds? i would like him to walk out of his office and - the crowds? i would like him to walk out of his office and to - walk out of his office and to come and listen to the women of australia. my voice cannot represent the 100,000 women. we have come literally to his doorstep. i am literally right outside his door. he could give us the courtesy of coming out and listening to what it is that we have to say. janine hendry there. _ that we have to say. janine hendry there. now - that we have to say. janine hendry there. now there i that we have to say. janine i hendry there. now there are many demands for the women who are coming out and have come out to protest. it's unclear what tangible change this is going to make but what this movement has already done is allow women to make their voices heard and speak out against the system they say has silenced them for years. the british prime minister borisjohnson says he's �*deeply concerned' by images of police officers in london forcibly breaking up a vigil in memory of — sarah everard — a woman allegedly murdered by a police officer. the prime minister will chair a meeting of senior officials to discuss male violence against women. london's police chief says she won't resign and says coronavirus restrictions must be observed. mark easton reports. within moments of being taken, this picture of police holding down a woman on clapham common last night became a symbol of female defiance against male aggression. what had been a peaceful and respectful demonstration of female solidarity turned ugly. police moved in to disperse the crowd, there was pushing and shoving, with a number of women taken away in handcuffs. four of them were arrested for public order and coronavirus regulation breaches — among them, jada. asi as i was sat in the van and my hands were handcuffed i thought gosh, all i wanted to do was stand with other women. the fear that has _ stand with other women. the fear that has been _ stand with other women. tue: fear that has been brewing stand with other women. tte: fear that has been brewing from a young age, we get harassed, and we are aware of the abuse and we are aware of the abuse and violence against women. as police surrounded the van, motions intensified. the woman had police officers on her back, with their knees, their feet. the police are saying they had to act for public safety reasons. t safety reasons. i personally didn't see anyone _ didn't see anyone being at risk. the sight of women who had come together to stand against male violence being manhandled has led to a chorus of criticism from across the political spectrum. the mayor of london, sadiq khan — who runs policing in the capital — described the scenes as "completely unacceptable", demanding the commissioner of the met, dame cressida dick, explain herself at a meeting in city hall today. they have to make these really difficult calls and i don't think anybody should be sitting back in an armchair and saying "well, "that was done badly," or "i would've done it differently" without actually understanding what was going through their minds. the metropolitan police were already being investigated for events around the sarah everard murder inquiry. now, scotland yard's leaders find themselves under increasing political pressure. the focus really of this weekend should be on sarah everard and herfamily but it is right also that the police explain their actions. they should've been allowed to protest, to have their vigil, to come together in peace and i was very disturbed to see the police action. i think it was wrong and i'm pleased it's now going to be reviewed. there is evidence to suggest that some of those who attended the vigil had been looking for trouble and the police had been criticised before for not intervening in protests during the pandemic, notably by the home secretary. this evening, a crowd of protesters gathered outside scotland yard presenting a new challenge to the police's ability to handle the outpouring of anguish sparked by sarah everard's death. up to now, the met stands accused mark easton, bbc news. france is dealing with its own reckoning on harassment after the violent death of a schoolgirl. thousands marched in a paris suburb on sunday in honour of 1a—year—old alisha, who was allegedly thrown off a bridge to drown in the river seine. friends and family led the procession. two teenage classmates are being held on suspicion of her murder. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: the grammy awards, the music industry's biggest night of the year are under way in los angeles. today we have closed the book on apartheid and that chapter. more than 3000 subway passengers were affected. nausea, bleeding, headaches and a dimming of vision, all of this caused by an apparently organised attack. the trophy itself is on _ organised attack. the trophy itself is on the _ organised attack. the trophy itself is on the pedestal- organised attack. the trophy itself is on the pedestal in i itself is on the pedestal in the middle of the cabinet here. this was— the middle of the cabinet here. this was an international trow— this was an international trophy and we understand now the search for it has become an international search. above all, this was a triumph of the — above all, this was a triumph of the christian _ above all, this was a triumph of the christian democrats i above all, this was a triumph of the christian democrats of| of the christian democrats of the west _ of the christian democrats of the west after— of the christian democrats of the west after rear _ of the christian democrats of the west after rear of - of the christian democrats of the west after rear of —— - of the christian democrats ofl the west after rear of —— after reunification— the west after rear of —— after reunification as _ the west after rear of —— after reunification as quickly - the west after rear of —— after reunification as quickly as - reunification as quickly as possible. _ reunification as quickly as possible, and _ reunification as quickly as possible, and that's - reunification as quickly as possible, and that's what| reunification as quickly as - possible, and that's what the voters — possible, and that's what the voters wanted. _ this is bbc news, the latest headlines: myanmar suffers one of the bloodiest 2a hours since the military coup, as more than 20 demonstrators are killed, in a single neighbourhood of yangon. thousands of australian women prepare to march through the capital to protest against gender discrimination and violence. brazil has reported over 1,100 covid—19 deaths in the past 2a hours and nearly aa,000 new cases according to its health ministry. it ends the most lethal week for the country since the pandemic began a year ago. aruna iyengar has this report. brazil may have the world's second—highest death toll from covid—19 behind the united states, but that hasn't stopped supporters of presidentjair supporters of president jair bolsonaro supporters of presidentjair bolsonaro taking to the streets of the capital and a car caravan demanding the end to lockdown measures. elsewhere, the rules are _ lockdown measures. elsewhere, the rules are being _ lockdown measures. elsewhere, the rules are being stretched. i the rules are being stretched. a police raid on a sao paulo casino on sunday. the city is on a red phase state of alert since march the sixth but that didn't stop brazilian striker who was detained by police on sunday with around 200 others. he was accused of flouting coronavirus distancing rules. sao paulo has been hit hard by coronavirus with nearly 6a,000 deaths. from monday it will be under even stricter curbs with churches close, sports events cancelled and daily curfews. coronavirus, the country continues to response to covid—19 with individual states and cities setting their own policies. presidentjair bolsonaro also repeatedly attacked restrictive measures and masks copy now along with tougher restrictions health officials are putting out a stark message. last week the secretary of for the state of sao paulo said the state was facing the worst health crisis of all time. translation: irate of all time. translation: we sent a of all time. translation: we spent a year — of all time. translation: - spent a yearand of all time. translation: - spent a year and a half living a lie so i think this is at. these measures are necessary and even too soft. translation: i and even too soft. translation: ~ , translation: i think these measures — measures are appropriate given our situation. i believe they could — our situation. i believe they could have been taken earlier been — could have been taken earlier been stronger or perhaps the role — been stronger or perhaps the role of— been stronger or perhaps the role of public officials could have — role of public officials could have been more vigorous from beginning _ have been more vigorous from beginning of the pandemic. brazit— beginning of the pandemic. brazil still has a long way to 90, brazil still has a long way to go, while europe and the united states wrap up —— rampart vaccinations only 2% of brazilians are fully inoculated so far. recent months have seen tensions escalate between china and the west, over media coverage. in february, the chinese english—language news channel cgtn had it's license revoked by the uk regulator. in retaliation, bbc world news is now banned from broadcasting in china. there have also been tit—for—tat expulsions ofjournalists, in both the united states and china, in the past year. our media editor, amol rajan, reports on how beijing is trying to control public information. take a look at how low bbc would go and speak ill of china by giving up objectivity... one of the world's oldest known civilisations is using the world's newest technology to propagate its message and curtail that of rivals. this is what the media want you to believe. last month, the uk's independent broadcast regulator ofcom removed the licence of china's state—controlled network cgtn. the station had failed to prove its independence from china's leadership. they immediately struck back, banning the bbc�*s world news channel in a tit—for—tat measure. it was merely an escalation of tension. the chinese authorities have long been unhappy about the bbc�*s coverage of detention camps for uighur muslims in xinjiang province, but were particularly angry about recent reports that led to an international outcry and won awards. newsreel: we're constantly followed, and turned back. at makeshift barriers and roadblocks. the bbc team in beijing often face hostility, for roaming around the country is often difficult with a heavy state presence never far away. i arrived in china about four years ago. new york times's bureau chief is currently doing his job from seoul, having been thrown out at a few days' notice. if you're covering topics that are deemed sensitive, you will be met by the police or the secret service, you'll be harassed by the local authorities who will tell you you don't have permission to be in the region, which isn't true. we do have permission to be anywhere in china except tibet, where we are forbidden to go. and that includes not just blocking our work, but also blocking work from our chinese colleagues. china claims it only expelled american journalists after expulsions from the usa. the wall streetjournal team in china is down to just four after ten were expelled in the past year and a half. it's never been easy to be a foreign correspondent in china, but over the last year or so, it's gotten much more difficult. part of that, of course, is the coronavirus. it's difficult everywhere, but especially in china, we feel so much more pressure here from the authorities, from the public and from the media here in terms of what we write and how we report on china. last week, a report from the foreign correspondents club of china argued journalists face growing harassment, weaponising of visas and seeing their work distorted, misrepresented or attacked with fabricated charges. global conflicts used to be mostly about natural resources such as land or water. today, they are increasingly about public information — that is, media. in this too—much—information age, knowledge is power as never before. the western web was meant to democratise knowledge, making it free and universal. the chinese approach to media on and off—line prioritises surveillance and control in service of social order. in a long statement, the chinese government said it opposes... it also says it does not recognise the correspondents club and says its... next year, the world plans to descend on beijing for the 2022 winter olympics. but which china will th