welcome to bbc news — i'm james reynolds. our top stories: pope francis begins his historic visit to iraq with an appealfor all religions to come together and work for peace. gunfire more clashes in myanmar — as the united nations security council meets to decide what action to take against its military rulers. "a greater mass trauma than world war ii" — the head of the who says the effects of the pandemic will be felt for years to come. and, the disconnected phonebox injapan that helps relatives remember loved ones lost in the fukushima disaster ten years ago.

we start in iraq, where pope francis has begun the country's first ever papal visit. he brought a message of tolerance, and urged the different religious communities to work together towards peace. our rome correspondent mark lowen is travelling on the papal plane. still masked, but no longer grounded. pope francis�* first trip since covid, his riskiest of all — a perilous pilgrimage to iraq in the grip of a pandemic. on the first ever papal visit here, he told me he was very happy, calling it "special". beneath the pomp is a significant message — dialogue between faiths and support for persecuted christians.

no open—top popemobile here. in a country torn by conflict, an outstretched hand through an armoured car was all most will see. but less protection from the other danger here — the pandemic. little social distancing and few masks are what's worrying many. after a meeting with the president, the pope called for an end to extremism. translation: only if we learn to look beyond our differences | and see each other as members of the same human family will we be able to begin an effective process of rebuilding. for iraq's dwindling christians, it is like a salvation. viva papa francis! haman, who named her son after pope francis, has watched as much of her community were killed or forced to flee. "we have been dreaming of this visit day and night," she says. "we must stop the bloodbath and we must stay in iraq." the risk is that the symbolic

importance of this trip is overshadowed by covid concerns, and that it becomes a super—spreader. but a defiant pope francis believes this nation has waited long enough for a papal visit, and that there is no time to lose to bring a message of peace and hope to iraq. mark lowen, bbc news, baghdad. dr yvette isaac, who's the president and founder of roads of success, a non—profit, humanitarian ngo, tasked with bringing attention and awareness of the situation for middle eastern christians, has met the pope. she told me about the importance, the pontiff places on the fate of christians in iraq. i met him in 2015 and he was just, like, full of passion and compassion towards the people and the christian and the minorities in iraq and i give him pictures of the children, of the refugees and the displaced people, and i looked at him and he started to tear up.

he is a man of love and compassion. and notjust love and compassion, but a man of action. how difficult or dangerous is it to be a christian in iraq? it sure is dangerous. especially we all have seen — the whole world has seen what happened to christians in iraq in the last decades. and although, if you remember the beginning of christianity, it started in this region, it started in iraq — iraq is one of the first churches that started the christianity there. although this is a place, the birthplace of the churches, among one of the birthplaces of the churches there, but they did not have rights, they were persecuted to worship, they were persecuted to act as christians, and once they looked like christians, they would be persecuted. the pope wants to encourage

dialogue between christianity and otherfaiths in iraq. how realistic, though, is that ambition? really, it's very realistic after the pandemic. after the whole world realised that we have to move quickly because nothing is stable and this is the land of abraham, he is the father of all the nations, it is the father of all religions in this part of the world. and he came to say this is the right time. coming at this time, hoping that the hearts would be open to receive the representative of heaven, the representative of christianity that is full of hope and full of always faith and we can get together

and build a highway of reconciliation and the highway of restoration in the land of abraham. dr yvette isaac there. in myanmar, protests against the military coup are continuing, despite the increasingly brutal crackdown by police and the military. meanwhile the un's special envoy on myanmar has urged the security council to restore democracy to the country. in a closed—door meeting in new york, members were told that anti—coup demonstrators were beginning to lose faith in the united nations. mark lobel reports. gunfire. the crackdown continues on citizens calling out the coup. all chant. they remain defiant, despite the deadliest week here. appealing for international support, these signs are reference to the un's responsibility to protect principle, to prevent mass killings. now, a month after the un's top security body called for a return to democracy and for the immediate release of detainees, including unsung ct, it's met again.

we requested this morning's meeting following further deterioration of the situation in myanmar. as of today, more than 50 people have been killed and many more injured since the coup began. over 1,000 people have disappeared or are unaccounted for, the economy is in a state of deterioration, and up to a million people face a humanitarian crisis. but diplomacy can take time. it's significant that security council members and myanmar�*s neighbours and trade partners china, russia, india and vietnam agreed to this meeting. but until a joint statement is issued, we won't know how far they are prepared to go. we'll be exploring further national sanctions and stand ready to consider possible measures under the un charter should the deterioration — the situation deteriorate further. that could mean an asset freeze, travel ban or even arms embargo to cripple the junta.

but members of the meeting were also told by the un secretary general�*s special envoy on myanmar of the consequences of no action. the envoy said that "the people of myanmar, including committed civil servants, are the real heroes and protectors of their nation's democratic progress. but," she warned, "the hope that they have placed in the united nations and its membership is waning." action has been taken online, with youtube removing five of the military�*s channels after facebook removed all of their pages on its site. but china and russia are unlikely to rush to implement sanctions, and with the asean nations — of which vietnam and myanmar are both members — seeking their own solutions too. but there is no doubt at the shared frustration now building globally at the myanmar military�*s increasingly violent approach.

mark lobel, bbc news. stephane dujarric, the spokesperson for the un secretary general joins us now live. young protesters in myanmar might see the lack of action and think there is no point in putting theirfaith in and think there is no point in putting their faith in the and think there is no point in putting theirfaith in the un. what would you say to that? look, we have to do all we can to ensure we are worthy of that faith and that is a role that the united nations in terms of the united nations in terms of the secretariat and the secretary general, and his special envoy, who have been speaking loudly and clearly, bringing attention to the matter, bringing the issue to the security council, and of course it is an issue for the membership of the united nations. it is an issue for the security council and we very

much look forward to the security council speaking with a strong unified voice so we can reverse the actions we have seen by the military on the ground in myanmar. right, lookin: ground in myanmar. right, looking at _ ground in myanmar. right, looking at the _ ground in myanmar. right, looking at the security - looking at the security council, in any major conflict, the un can only go at the speed of the most cautious permanent member of the security council. in the case of myanmar, does this mean that the scale and the speed of the response is decided by china? look, i will leave that _ leave that analysis to you. i think what is clear is that everyone has a role to play. there are no high standards here, whether it is the secretary general, whether it is the cute —— security council as a whole, or individual member states. those who have an influence on the situation in myanmar, whether it is the regional powers, the asean countries, everyone has a role to play. what is important is we all move in the same direction and that is stopping

the violence, ensuring that the prisoners, the political prisoners, are freed, and that the democratic voice of the people in myanmar, as expressed in their own elections in november, is fully restored and respected. but november, is fully restored and respected-_ respected. but if china says no to an arms _ respected. but if china says no to an arms embargo, - respected. but if china says no to an arms embargo, if- respected. but if china says no to an arms embargo, if it - respected. but if china says no to an arms embargo, if it says| to an arms embargo, if it says no to sanctions, there is no direction. no to sanctions, there is no direction-— direction. there are other pressure _ direction. there are other pressure points _ direction. there are other pressure points and - direction. there are other pressure points and i - direction. there are other| pressure points and i think what is clear is that the military needs to see the will of the international community, and we will continue to speak up and we will continue to speak up loud and as much as we can to ensure that the rights of the people of myanmar are respected. the people of myanmar are respected-— the people of myanmar are resected. , ., , .,, respected. there is a problem for the un, — respected. there is a problem for the un, military _ respected. there is a problem for the un, militaryjunta - respected. there is a problem for the un, militaryjunta is i forthe un, militaryjunta is prepared for them to be isolated. that is what it has told the envoy. our envoy has been in touch _ told the envoy. our envoy has been in touch with _ told the envoy. our envoy has been in touch with the - been in touch with the military and she spoke very directly to them and they said yes, we have

been isolated before, we have learned to walk with few friends is what they told her. we also have a whole new generation of young people who we see in the streets, who we see peacefully demonstrating, who have tasted freedom in myanmar, and i don't think their voices and their actions will go away. their voices and their actions will go away-— their voices and their actions will go away. what will make the military _ will go away. what will make the military john _ will go away. what will make the military john to - will go away. what will make the military john to listen? i will go away. what will make | the military john to listen? -- the militaryjohn to listen? —— militaryjunta. the military john to listen? -- militaryjunta.— the military john to listen? -- militaryjunta. military “unta. you would have to ask militaryjunta. you would have to ask them. _ militaryjunta. you would have to ask them, in _ militaryjunta. you would have to ask them, in a _ militaryjunta. you would have to ask them, in a way, - militaryjunta. you would have to ask them, in a way, but - militaryjunta. you would have to ask them, in a way, but we | to ask them, in a way, but we would have to make sure that the international solidarity stays strong.— the international solidarity stays strong. are you able to in any way — stays strong. are you able to in any way continue - stays strong. are you able to in any way continue a - stays strong. are you able to in any way continue a lasting | in any way continue a lasting dialogue with the generals? are you able to ask them to sit down with aung san suu kyi? we have no down with aung san suu kyi? - have no choice but to remain engaged. and being engaged does not mean that it is legitimate rising the military leadership in myanmar, but our envoy is

the voice of diplomacy, she has to stay engaged, she will travel to the region, meet with asean countries. she is hoping very much to go to myanmar, a visit that would have to be without any preconditions. to try to overturn the situation. no—one is saying that is going to be easy and it is going to happen overnight, but we have to keep trying. that is our responsibility.— responsibility. myanmar's ambassador _ responsibility. myanmar's ambassador to _ responsibility. myanmar's ambassador to the - responsibility. myanmar's ambassador to the un - responsibility. myanmar's| ambassador to the un was recently fired by the military junta. there is, as i understand it, an argument about who currently represents the country at the un. if the un can't even work out who sits in myanmar's chair in meetings, how will it be able to help to solve the country's problems? it depends what part of the un you're talking about. there were some issues about the representation of myanmar, the permanent representative is the one who had been there a ago, month a week ago, is back in

his seat. his credentials have not been challenged. but that is not the focus of the work of the united nations. we have a very strong country team in myanmar, i think we have about 2000 people who work there who had been engaged in the covid vaccination. humanitarian aid, in helping myanmar on the road to democracy. all of these things have now been derailed, and that adds to the urgency of getting things back on track. stephane dujarric, thank you very much. the head of the world health organization has said there must be no relaxation in the fight against the coronavirus because there could be more waves of the pandemic. dr tedros gabree—yaysus added the world had experienced a trauma greater than it did after world war ii. and now, even with this covid pandemics with bigger magnitude, more lives have been affected — almost the whole

world is affected. each and every individual on the surface of the world, actually, has been affected. and that means mass trauma which is beyond proportion, even bigger than what the world experienced after the second world war. joining me now to discuss those comments by the head of the world health organization is professor of psychology adam brown from the new school for social research in new york. professor, thank you for joining us. pandemic has lasted a year and has killed 2.5 million people and world war ii lasted six years and killed more than 75 million people. it is the who direct really right in saying the mass trauma of the pandemic is greater than that of the war?— that of the war? you know, i think it's _ that of the war? you know, i think it's really _ that of the war? you know, i think it's really difficult - that of the war? you know, i think it's really difficult to i think it's really difficult to compare statistically. arc then we were not assessing or measuring mental health rates the way that we are now. we

know indirectly for certain that people's lives were profoundly negatively impacted by world war ii but we also know now that covid—i9 has had a massive effect on the bulk of people's lives and given the amount of loss and the protracted nature and the way in which this disease is tearing at the fabric of our social communities, i think he's right. i think we need to be prepared and we need to take action because unfortunately, there will be people throughout there will be people throughout the world, developing mental health issues and who will continue long after covid—i9. are there any lessons to learn as to how the world recovered either from world war ii or from other major wars or pandemics that you may have looked at?— pandemics that you may have looked at? ., , . ., , looked at? over the last couple of decades _ looked at? over the last couple of decades the _ looked at? over the last couple of decades the mental - looked at? over the last couple of decades the mental health . of decades the mental health community, the public health community, the public health community has been doing remarkable research trying to understand why logical, social factors that help people be resilient and overcome profound adversity. i think one of the things we've learned is that we have good multisector well

co—ordinated efforts, we can deliver good mental health to people even in the darkest of times, and i think it's that co—ordination that we need from the un, local governments, with ngos, across the sector is to make sure that we can get these different strategies into the hands of people who need it most. ~ u, , hands of people who need it most. ~ u, , ., hands of people who need it most. ~ , ., ., ,, most. we will carry on talking about world _ most. we will carry on talking about world war _ most. we will carry on talking about world war ii _ most. we will carry on talking about world war ii because i most. we will carry on talking l about world war ii because that is what the who director talked about and at the end of the war soldiers who came back from conflict zones were instructed to not talk about what you saw. they buried their feelings for years. have we changed as a society now? i years. have we changed as a society now?— society now? i think there is still quite — society now? i think there is still quite a _ society now? i think there is still quite a bit _ society now? i think there is still quite a bit of _ society now? i think there is still quite a bit of stigma - still quite a bit of stigma throughout the world that we really have to understand and try to combat. it does not mean that everyone has to talk about everything they have enjoyed but i think what we have to do is to really understand the local customs and traditions and experiences people have helping connect with the kind of resources that will make them feel safe and help them get back to work and stay connect to other people and really mcflynn really productive ways. really mcflynn really roductive wa s. ~ , productive ways. when user resources. _

productive ways. when user resources, what _ productive ways. when user resources, what do - productive ways. when user resources, what do you - productive ways. when user i resources, what do you mean? whether it is economic resources, resources spiritual resources, resources spiritual resources in the community but really thinking about different kinds of strategies where people continue to feel empowered, feel safe, where they can connect with other people who give them meaning and hope for the future. professor, has anything good come from the way we have all had to endure the pandemic? that's a really hard question. i mean, ithink that's a really hard question. i mean, i think overall this has been an incredibly hard time for everyone so i don't want to paint a silver lining on anything but one of the things i have noticed is that almost through every sector of society people are talking about mental health in ways they've never talked about before. people i think are really starting to recognise that if we want people to get back to work and stay connected with each other in good ways, mental health cannot be something on the side. mental health has to be a part of all of our conversations and i'm hoping that after covid—i9 we continue to centre mental health and is really important ways.

health and is really important wa s. ., health and is really important was. ., ~ ., ways. professor adam brown, thank you _ ways. professor adam brown, thank you very _ ways. professor adam brown, thank you very much. - ways. professor adam brown, thank you very much. thank i ways. professor adam brown, i thank you very much. thank you. you are watching bbc news. the headlines: pope francis has begun his historic visit to iraq with an appealfor all religions to come together for peace. the united nations special envoy to myanmar has called on the un security council to stop the military violence against protestors and to restore democracy following last month's coup. the us economy added 379,000 jobs in february as hiring surged, but there's still a long way to go. there are almost ten million fewerjobs in america than there were a year ago, and it's women who've lost theirjobs in disproportionate numbers, as our business correspondent michelle fleury now reports. so, we have two eggs to last for... dilys ramalhi is one of million of women in the us workforce hit hard by this pandemic. she spends most of her days helping her 12—year—old grandson with remote learning. she uses to be a cook at newark airport, but she lost her job in april. it's been very stressful.

it's frustrating sometimes, you know? it's been difficult. the unemployment rate for black women is even higher than for white women. dilys, pictured here with herfamily in happier times, now faces a stark choice — her old job wants her back but with schools closed and with no—one to watch her grandson, she can't. if she says no, she'll lose her unemployment benefits. i don't know what the future will be after that because that is what i'm depending upon — so it is going to be very much more difficult than it is in the next couple of months, i think. when brooke gasaway applies forjobs, she is wary bringing up being a parent. —— of bringing up being a parent. i have had interviews where companies have said "are you sure that this is the right role for you? you're a new mother. this requires x, y, z. are you sure you're able to do that? would you be able to do this or that?" she used to work in corporate training and communications. she was laid off in april while four months pregnant with her first child.

now she's searching for a full—timejob. i found myself applying to far more junior roles or to roles that i was overqualified for during the pandemic because it felt safe. but at the same time, i step back and think about that, i'm like, "what am i doing? i am setting myself back." the clock has turned back by at least a generation. the share of women in the workplace is at levels not seen since the late 1980s. with more women out of work than men, some people are calling this recession a �*she—cession'. it's sad, because we women are pushed out right now because of the responsibility of child care or thejob not being there for us. it's hurtful. michelle fleury, bbc news. the us space agency's perseverance rover has taken its first brief drive on the surface of mars. it moved 6.5 metres, which nasa described as a major milestone. the one—tonne robot landed on the red planet two weeks ago.

since then, engineers have been carrying out extensive tests on its complex systems. perseverance is expected to travel about 15 kilometres over the next two years, conducting experiments and searching for evidence of ancient life. it's capable of driving about 200 metres a day. no speeding tickets on mars! let's get some of the day's other news. at least ten people have been killed in a car bomb attack on a restaurant in the somali capital mogadishu. police said a rickshaw packed with explosives blew up outside the lul yemeni restaurant. the islamist militant group al—shabab said it carried out the latest attack. a boeing 737 max aircraft has made an emergency landing in the us after the captain shut down an engine because of a suspected mechanical problem. the american airlines flight landed safely at newark airport in newjersey. the company said the problem was not linked to the plane's flight control software.

japan will mark the tenth anniversary of the deadly earthquake and tsunami that caused devastation in the north of the country next week. around 20,000 people are believed to have lost their lives. many of the survivors had to deal with desperate grief. some have found a unique way to cope, as tim allman explains. under the branches of a cherry tree stands this lonely phone box. inside, the line is disconnected, the receiver remains silent, but kazuyoshi sasaki does not care. he comes here quite often and dials the number of his wife's mobile phone. his wife died ten years ago in the tsunami. speaks japanese. he tells her about the stars at night that shine like jewels and he tells her how grateful he is that they met. translation: this phonej

booth embraces all of me. it embraces the people affected by the earthquake and tsunami. it is a place that embraces not only the people who are alive, but also those who've passed away. itaru sasaki owns this garden. he put up the phone box the year before the tsunami after his cousin died from cancer. he knows why the so—called �*wind phone' has become so important to so many people both near and far. translation: they were suddenly i unable to see their loved ones, i so there are feelings left behind. they would have wanted to say something for the last time, had they known they were not going to see them again. and grief moves down the generations. daina okawa is 12 years old. his grandfather died in the disaster. speaks japanese. he tells him he will soon be going to secondary school. he tells him about the coronavirus, but he says

they're all doing well. thousands come here now, from all overjapan, to speak to the dead. no answer is ever received, of course, but comfort is given with every call. tim allman, bbc news. let's and with the inspiring story of a belgian woman living in turkey who is literally fighting parkinson's disease. see what i mean? when nancy first stepped into the ring to members watched in awe as the grandmother of eight through punch after punch. including these mightyjabs! she now gloves up to three times a week and says the punches are slowing down the degenerative effects of parkinson's. knock them out, nancy! more on our

website. you can reach me on twitter. i'm @jamesbbcnews. please do stay with us. hello. last weekend was a mainly dry weekend across the uk, with high pressure in control and this weekend will be the same. but there is a significant difference between weekends — that word there, cold. a very different feel to things. spring in the air last weekend — 15 celsius in the sunshine. this weekend, with only a few sunny spells around, it's closer to 7 degrees. and it feels like winter's still got a bit of life left in it. but it is high pressure across us, so it is going to be mainly dry. just this one weak weather front will deliver a bit of rain into parts of scotland, especially the further north you are. there is milder air out in the atlantic. it will come our way

in the week ahead, but that's not the only change coming, as i'll show you in a moment. this is how saturday begins. temperatures well below freezing. in the coldest parts, a widespread frost to start the day. some mist and fog patches around. there's the chance of catching a shower along the north sea coast, maybe around the thames estuary early on. they'll fade, showers come into the western isles, far north of mainland scotland, one or two into the northern isles. elsewhere, variable cloud, some sunny spells and temperatures only around that 7 celsius mark. on into saturday night, then, we'll keep a few areas of cloud but also some clear spells. the rain becoming a little bit more widespread across northern scotland with some heavier bursts around here keeping the temperature up, whereas elsewhere, if you're clear for any period of time, your temperature will drop below freezing and there will be another frost on sunday morning. still in scotland on sunday, towards the north and north—west, some outbreaks of rain. elsewhere, well, again, it's the sort of day where if you start sunny, you're likely to cloud over. if you start with cloud,

you'll eventually see a few sunny spells. a little less cold in scotland and northern ireland. and then on monday, it is again scotland most likely to see a few outbreaks of rain, but the odd spot in parts of northern england and northern ireland can't be ruled out. to the south, after a frosty start, still a fair amount of cloud around, maybe a few early mist and fog patches. but significant weather changes on the way into midweek. goodbye, high pressure. hello, low pressure. and that does mean a change to, yes, slightly milder weather coming our way, and some potentially disruptive wet and windy weather once more.

world war.

this is bbc news, the headlines: in baghdad, pope francis has urged iraq's different religious communities to join together in a journey towards peace. his call comes at the start of the first—ever papal visit to the country where he's also called for an end to violence and extremism. the un's special envoy on myanmar has told the security council that democracy must be restored to the country. christine schraner said anti—coup demonstrators were beginning to lose faith in the united nations. protests against last month's military takeover have been met by an increasingly violent response by the military and security forces. the head of the world health organization says there must be no let—up in the fight against covid—i9 — he warns there could be further waves of the disease. dr tedros ghebre—yesus said it was a mistake to think that falling death rates in some countries meant the worst was over.