this is bbc news. i'm ben brown. our top stories... schools in england are reopening to all pupils tomorrow — borisjohnson describes it as "the first step" in moving closer to normality. rolling out to the under—60s. more than a million people in england aged between 56 and 59 will now be offered a coronavirus vaccine. on the third day of his historic trip to iraq, pope francis visits a former stronghold of islamic state militants. a tale of two broadcasts — the royal family mark commonwealth dayjust hours before the duke and duchess of sussex's interview with oprah. voters in switzerland go to the polls, to decide whether to ban face coverings such

as the burqa and the niqab. the five—year jail sentence imposed by iran on the british—iranian woman nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe officially ends today, but it's unclear if she'll actually be released. hello and welcome to bbc news. the british prime minister, borisjohnson, has described the reopening of schools in england to all pupils tomorrow as "the first step" in moving closer to normality. nearly 57 million lateral flow tests for coronavirus have been delivered to schools and colleges. the national education union has called for a phased reopening, similar to the process in scotland and wales, warning that what it describes as a "big bang" approach is "reckless". but a survey by the insitute for fiscal studies suggests the vast

majority of parents are happy to send their children back, with two thirds concerned about the amount of lost learning. our education editor, branwen jeffreys, reports. it's been tough for parents, home—schooling while juggling work. but it's back to classrooms in england tomorrow and most parents are relieved. almost 6,000 parents gave their views on school return. around 90% support the return to classrooms, more than 60% are worried about lost learning. so, it's no surprise that 80% support tutoring. but parents also want creative and outdoor activities. so, how long do they think it will take children to catch up? 31% of parents who are concerned about lost learning think that it will take their child a whole year or longer to make up for everything that they've lost out on over the course of the pandemic. at the extreme end, 9% of secondary school parents think that their child won't be able

to make up for their lost learning ever. tutoring is already under way in some schools, a national programme in england is part of catch up — the government has committed £1.7 billion for this year and next, but faces calls for a longer—term plan after that. branwen jeffreys, bbc news. well, for more on this we're joined by our correspondent, jessica parker. a jessica parker. big moment in terms of boris johnson's a big moment in terms of boris johnson's road map on easing restrictions in england.- johnson's road map on easing restrictions in england. yes, it is the first step _ restrictions in england. yes, it is the first step on _ restrictions in england. yes, it is the first step on what _ restrictions in england. yes, it is the first step on what is - restrictions in england. yes, it is the first step on what is hoped . restrictions in england. yes, it is i the first step on what is hoped the last lockdown. the previous lock than was hoped to be the last one but one of the reasons, and they have talked about this, the cautious approach ministers say they are taking, there is quite a big gap between each step is that they want to really closely monitor the impact of each step. schools is a big one,

children returning to schools, staff returning to schools. yes, they have this testing regime in place. but the government will want to monitor the government will want to monitor the impact and case rates very carefully. and those kind of follow—on dates are all earliest possible date, we are told. i am sure the government wants to stick to those because you can tell people those are the earliest possible dates but people and businesses will pin their hopes on those dates. find pin their hopes on those dates. and in preparation, 57 million test kits sent out to schools.— in preparation, 57 million test kits sent out to schools. there will be a lot of testing! _ sent out to schools. there will be a lot of testing! and _ sent out to schools. there will be a lot of testing! and questions - sent out to schools. there will be a lot of testing! and questions about| lot of testing! and questions about whether parents _ lot of testing! and questions about whether parents are _ lot of testing! and questions about whether parents are always - lot of testing! and questions about whether parents are always giving | whether parents are always giving their consent for their children to actually be tested. this their consent for their children to actually be tested.— their consent for their children to actually be tested. this was raised b the actually be tested. this was raised by the national _ actually be tested. this was raised by the national education - actually be tested. this was raised by the national education union, | by the national education union, which is more broadly critical of the government's handling of this issue and they say some school leavers are struggling to get parental consent which is needed in order to test students. testing is voluntary although i think it is very much encouraged in terms of getting students and staff tested. there are ongoing concerns about the accuracy of the fast turnaround

tests. there will also be quite a lot of scrutiny in the first couple of weeks as to how well that is working for schools and families. a lot of families will be looking forward to tomorrow because the challenges of home—schooling has put an enormous strain on some families. but it is new ground in terms of where things are headed tomorrow and people want to see very closely how it will end. ~ ., ., .. it will end. meanwhile, the vaccine roll-out in — it will end. meanwhile, the vaccine roll-out in the _ it will end. meanwhile, the vaccine roll-out in the uk _ it will end. meanwhile, the vaccine roll-out in the uk continues - it will end. meanwhile, the vaccine | roll-out in the uk continues apace. roll—out in the uk continues apace. and news the authorities are moving down an age bracket to vaccinate more people. down an age bracket to vaccinate more maple-— down an age bracket to vaccinate more people. another sign of the success of _ more people. another sign of the success of the _ more people. another sign of the success of the vaccine _ more people. another sign of the success of the vaccine roll-out. l success of the vaccine roll—out. what is different this time in terms of getting schools back is that the success of the vaccine roll—out is that there are more confident that things can work in terms of easing restrictions. the aim is to get an offer of a vaccine to all over 50s by mid april and they brought forward the date for all adults in england to the end ofjuly. that continues apace. so much is pinned

on the vaccine in terms of trying to ensure notjust that people are protected from serious disease and illness but hopefully it has an effect on transmission rates and another thing ministers are keeping another thing ministers are keeping a close eye on is the variance. where there are concerns that may be the vaccine can be less effective. thank you very much indeed, jess parker, our political correspondent. an independent report has warned that the guidelines on personal protective equipment for health workers in england are "fundamentally flawed". the study, commissioned by the nurses' union, the royal college of nursing, says the guidance relies on research which is out of date, and does not acknowledge the full risk of airborne transmission of coronavirus. the department of health said staff safety was a top priority. pope francis is visiting parts of northern iraq that were once held by islamic state militants. it's the third day of his historic trip to the country, the first ever papal visit to iraq. let's take a look at these live

pictures coming to us from the village of qaraqosh, where he is set ot visit the church where he is set to visit the church of immaculate conception. people are lining the roads for the pope. the village known by christians as bakhdeda, is home to iraq's largest christian community. earlier, the pope offered prayers for peace by a church in mosul that was reduced to rubble during the fighting. the city was occupied by the jihadists for three years — until 2017. and later in the day, he will will celebrate mass in the iraqi kurdish city of erbil. up to 10,000 people are expected to attend, fuelling concerns that it could spread the coronavirus. iraq is experiencing record high levels of transmission. pope francis has been vaccinated. in myanmar, an increasingly brutal crackdown by police and the military has not stopped

protests against the military coup. security forces near the ancient city of bagan fired rubber bullets at protesters hiding behind homemade shields. in the main city, yangon, security forces carried out several raids, firing at apartment buildings and arresting activists. the southeast asian country has been plunged into turmoil since the military overthrew and detained elected leader aung san suu kyi on february 1st. so while the protests continue in myanmar is there anything more the international community can do to exert pressure on the junta? here's tom andrews, the un's special rapporteur on human rights in the country. they have said forever that they can go on their own, they are impervious to international pressure. but what we have found from history is that that's not true. that, in fact, the

reforms, the democratic reforms, that we've seen overturned by this gentler on february one were reforms that were created precisely because tough economic sanctions were applied on thejunta. they tough economic sanctions were applied on the junta. they and the generations following the older generations following the older generation of generals, they want to make money, they want to be part of the international economy. so there is pressure building from within the military to engage with the world, so that they can be able to prosper. they conceded they had some reforms, modest reforms, but they were reforms. the point is, they reacted, they responded to economic pressure. i believe that they can and they will again now. 41 countries, for example, have some form of arms embargo. we have to increase that number. and sanctions, tough, clear, economic sanctions. 35 countries have some form of economic sanctions already in place. they are a hodgepodge and a wide variety. we need to focus those sanctions and

make sure they are clear, tough and coordinated, that they work together. so that the collective weight of these countries that are imposing these sanctions will have the strongest possible punch. ideally it is the security council that will be doing this. and they could also make reference to the international criminal court that could investigate, prosecute, could put those responsible for these atrocities behind bars. until we can get a unified response from the security council there are a number of things that individual countries can do and the best thing they can do is work together. voters in switzerland are going to the polls to decide whether to ban face coverings such as the burqa and the niqab. supporters of the move say it would be good for women's equality and public safety. 0pponents claim it's an anti—islam policy. 0ur correspondent, imogen foulkes, reports from bern. is this a hotly debated issue in

switzerland and which way is it likely to go? it switzerland and which way is it likely to go?— likely to go? it has been hotly debated, yes. _ likely to go? it has been hotly debated, yes. and _ likely to go? it has been hotly debated, yes. and when - likely to go? it has been hotly debated, yes. and when the l likely to go? it has been hotly - debated, yes. and when the campaign first started, the opinion polls were showing a pretty big majority would vote in favour of a ban. those polls have really narrowed, as we get towards voting day. but what has been very interesting to see is that this is a bit more of an unexpected kind of debate than you might think. for example, we have sections of switzerland's muslim community who say, yeah, we think it's a good idea, we are not saudi arabia, we are not pakistan. less than three dozen women in switzerland are estimated to where the niqab. nobody, apparently, where is the burqa. they are saying, yeah, we should say that's not part of our islam —— people wear. 0ther should say that's not part of our islam —— people wear. other groups in the muslim community say this ban has come from primarily the right wing swiss people's party, the same

ones who proposed and succeeded with a ban on minarets over a decade ago. it feels islamaphobic. it makes us feel unwelcome. and, really, feminists, as well, saying, really, the government should not be telling women what they can and can't wear. it is the 21st—century. it is a very interesting and complex debate and we may have a bit of a weight today before we get the results. ianthem before we get the results. when rou~hl before we get the results. when roughly we _ before we get the results. when roughly we hear? _ before we get the results. when roughly we hear? well, - before we get the results. when roughly we hear? well, we - before we get the results. when roughly we hear? well, we will. before we get the results. when - roughly we hear? well, we will have the first projections _ roughly we hear? well, we will have the first projections roundabout - roughly we hear? well, we will have the first projections roundabout at i the first projections roundabout at lunchtime. but, as i said, it is a close vote. we need to have a majority of the popular vote and count on is to pass this. this will be a constitutional amendment written into the swiss constitution saying no one should wear face coverings in public places. it may be that we have to wait for the very big early count ons like zurich and the city of bern to get their view and they could be decisive because

the urban centres are probably going to vote no, whereas some of the rural areas and french speaking part, it looks like they will be voting yes. it could be close, but we will know in the early evening i think. ~ , . ~ i. think. we will be back with you when we aet a think. we will be back with you when we get a result. _ think. we will be back with you when we get a result, thank— think. we will be back with you when we get a result, thank you _ think. we will be back with you when we get a result, thank you very - we get a result, thank you very much, imogen. 0prah winfrey's controversial interview with the duke and duchess of sussex — airs in the us later tonight. just hours before the interview, the queen will address a uk television audience to share her annual commonwealth day message. 0ur royal correspondent, nicholas witchell, has more. it is a sharp divergence within the royalfamily, and over the next 2a hours, it will be sharply demonstrated by two very different broadcasts. in the early hours of tomorrow, uk time, the duke and duchess of sussex will unburden themselves on us television. it will be a broadcast, when, as the preview clips have shown, meghan will explain why she needed to escape from life within the royal establishment.

as an adult who lived a really independent life, to then go into this construct that is, um... different than i think what people imagine it to be, it's really liberating. hours before the sussex broadcast, from westminster abbey in london, the queen and other principal members of the royal family will focus on the covid pandemic. in pre—recorded messages to mark commonwealth day, they'll reflect on the pandemic�*s impact around the world. amidst such heartbreaking suffering, however, the extraordinary determination, courage and creativity with which people have responded has been an inspiration to us all. the duke and duchess of cambridge will pay tribute to health care workers. catherine and i have spoken to a lot of health care workers in the uk, i and around the world, over the last year and we hear your worries - and your concerns and thank you for your time _ chatting to us about it.

thank you, you know, for sharing for us and asking for help for us. so, thank you very much. there will also be a pre—recorded message to the commonwealth from the queen. her theme — the importance of working together. nicholas witchell, bbc news. angela levin wrote harry's biography and has had quite a few conversations with him. we can talk with her now. thank you so much for being with us. as we were hearing, a tale of two royal broadcasts. do you think meghan and harry's in particular will be a no holds barred interview? yes. harry's in particular will be a no holds barred interview? yes. we have the two absolute _ holds barred interview? yes. we have the two absolute opposites. _ holds barred interview? yes. we have the two absolute opposites. we - holds barred interview? yes. we have the two absolute opposites. we havel the two absolute opposites. we have the two absolute opposites. we have the royals, the queen and kate and william absolutely their sense of duty above all else. and happy to work together, that was quite a subtle comment, that this is all about working together. and we have

harry and meghan, who are just so self obsessed that it is absolutely extraordinary. we are all hungry to see it. i'm going to be up all night, watching it. but it's actually... it does seem a lot of nonsense, really. the majority seems grievances that have held on for years about small things. you know, that you couldn't talk to 0prah before the wedding, for example. but, actually, that's often done by the courtiers because they want to protect the young royals, particularly if they are not used to being a young royal. they sit in, they are quiet, and they... just to make sure that the interviewer doesn't take advantage of them. meghan spoke a lot... the engagement she did. that the queen especially chose that she thought she would like. she took over from harry, speaking when they were out together. i mean, poor harry, he

just seemed a shadow of himself from the one i knew. he was bright and lively. we saw moments of that with james corden when he was on the top of a bus in los angeles. but, otherwise, he looks terrified. and the only way i can see him terrified is that he's scared he's not making meghan happy enough. but she seems to be... and in the papers today, that nothing would satisfy her, because she's determined to be a victim. it's a terrible, scary, damaging thing to say. but, i mean, it's coming out in droves. the wave is coming back to show some other side of the scale. i is coming back to show some other side of the scale.— side of the scale. i mean, you're makin: side of the scale. i mean, you're making some — side of the scale. i mean, you're making some pretty... - side of the scale. i mean, you're making some pretty... er... - side of the scale. i mean, you're i making some pretty... er... caustic comments about meghan. 0f making some pretty... er... caustic comments about meghan. of course, she does have lots of supporters around the world. and, also, you say that they are self obsessed, but surely we are obsessed with them? and you yourself say you'll be up all night watching this. yes.

and you yourself say you'll be up all night watching this. yes, that's it. it's all night watching this. yes, that's it- it's very — all night watching this. yes, that's it. it's very compelling _ all night watching this. yes, that's it. it's very compelling to - all night watching this. yes, that's it. it's very compelling to watch i it. it's very compelling to watch it. it's very compelling to watch it. it's very compelling to watch it. i saw meghan i was with them when they went on their first date together, engagement together to nottingham. i thought she was fantastic. i thought she would bring a breath of fresh air to the family. i thought she seemed composed. she looked as if she'd done it all her life. she kept glancing at harry and smiling lovingly. i thought this is absolutely terrific. but she's a woman reading the papers carefully today that nothing was ever enough. she would scream and shout and be very, very difficult. it was quite obvious she was a difficult woman but he thought, well, she's not used to the uk, she is not used to, of course, being in the most famous and admired royalfamily in the course, being in the most famous and admired royal family in the world. you're making a lot of allegations about her, isn't this exactly why meghan wants to have her say for a couple of hours with 0prah meghan wants to have her say for a couple of hours with oprah winfrey? to put the record straight. two counter the sort of view is that people like you have about her, which are maybe not founded on

reality, because she would say, she would argue, you don't know her. you don't know the real meghan and she is trying to get that across with this television interview.- is trying to get that across with this television interview. well, a lot of these _ this television interview. well, a lot of these accusations - this television interview. well, a lot of these accusations have - this television interview. well, a i lot of these accusations have come out after we've seen snippets from the interview. these are not... they been hidden before. many... interference br; been hidden before. many... interference— been hidden before. many... interference �* , ., ., ., interference by not gearing dealing with -- not dealing _ interference by not gearing dealing with -- not dealing with _ interference by not gearing dealing with -- not dealing with the _ with —— not dealing with the allegations. i mean, she's got freedom with harry. she's got a marvellous house. she's got wonderful offers from netflix and spotify. you know, she's very rich. she is one of the most famous women in the world, now stop there is a compromise you have to do to get that so quickly, in under two years. —— there is a compromise. that so quickly, in under two years. -- there is a compromise.- -- there is a compromise. angela levin, -- there is a compromise. angela levin. harry's _ -- there is a compromise. angela levin, harry's biographer, - -- there is a compromise. angela levin, harry's biographer, thank. -- there is a compromise. angela i levin, harry's biographer, thank you very much for being with us. thank

ou. president biden has described the senate's approval of his coronavirus relief bill as "one more giant step forward" in helping americans to deal with the impact of the pandemic. the package, which is worth nearly $2 trillion will provide one—off payments to millions of people. republican senators were united in opposing the bill. 0ur washington correspondent, lebo diseko, reports. the yays are 50. the nays are 49. the bill as amended is passed. a vote on party lines gavejoe biden the victory he needed in the senate, after a marathon session lasting more than 2a hours. this is his first major piece of legislation as president — a package, he says, is necessary to turn the toll of the pandemic around. this plan puts us on a path to beating the virus. this plan gives those families who are struggling the most the help

and the breathing room they need to get through this moment. this plan gives small businesses in this country a fighting chance to survive. and one more thing — this plan is historic. the bill will help fund payments for the unemployed. last month's job gains are still too slow, says the president, with the country still down 9.5 million since this time last year. money, too, to speed up production and distribution of the vaccine — the hope being that that will help significantly increase the 10% of americans who have been fully immunised. but republicans say the cost is too high, and they were united in their opposition with not one voting in favour of the bill. voters picked a president who i promised unity and bipartisanship. democrats' response is to ram i through what they call "the most progressive domestic legislation | in a generation" on a razor—thin| majority in both houses. there was criticism, too,

from within the democrats' own ranks which almost derailed the bill — all of this an indication of how difficult it will be for president biden to fulfil his agenda. the bill has been substantially changed since it passed in the house of representatives, so it will go back there for a vote on tuesday. democrats are racing to get it signed by the president by 14th march, when key unemployment benefits expire. lebo diseko, bbc news, washington. let's get some of the day's other news. israel is reopening more of its economy, with the lifting of restrictions tied to advances in its vaccination programme. restaurants, cafes and universities will be allowed to admit those who received two doses of a vaccine. for the first time since early january, tel aviv airport will again accept travellers. auckland in new zealand has now come

to the end of its strict seven—day coronavirus lockdown. officials say they're confident a virus cluster in the city has been contained. despite this, limits on public gatherings are still in place and everyone must wear a mask on public transport. the five—year jail sentence imposed by iran on the british—iranian woman nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe officially ends today. mrs zaghari—ratcliffe was convicted at a secret trial, after being charged with membership of organisations working against the iranian state. it's unclear whether or not she'll be allowed to return to the uk. caroline hawley reports. it's what she lives for, precious moments by screen. i'lljust show you. it's still quite a messy house. richard, gabriella and nazanin haven't been together for five years, an ordinary family going through an extraordinary ordeal. gabriella's been counting the days until she hopes her mum comes home. she was only one when nazanin was arrested, then sentenced to jail at a secret trial.

singing. little could they imagine when this was filmed that months of solitary confinement for nazanin, years of separation for them all, lay ahead. since march last year, nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe has been out ofjail under house arrest with an ankle tag. what does today mean? i mean, nazanin�*s been counting down to this day for a very long time. and, you know, back when she was in solitary, or, the conversations i was having with her in prison for a month after, and even when she had come out, is that the worst—case scenario would be i'll be coming home on march 7th, and that would be when it's over. and as we've got close to that, that's felt less sure. now she's not... i mean, really, quite, quite wobbly and stressed and anxious and fearing all sorts of things. for gabriella, it probably means another broken promise. and none of you ever imagined it

would go on this long? i remember thinking that, "there's just no way it's going to last five years." and now to be sitting here and actually, five years would be good outcome. we'd take that at this point because it could be six, or seven, or whatever. is she supposed to come out? no, she's supposed to come back, that's right. but is she gonna? i'm not sure, if i'm honest. richard says iran's holding his wife hostage. it wants britain to repay a long—standing debt and his family is caught in a political game of chess. as they wait for the next move, nazanin�*s being painting her hope that's kept her going through the darkest of days. she drew a picture of me and her embracing and that sort of reunion. partly to keep herself calm, but partly to hold onto the idea that, you know, there is a home waiting for her, that i'm waiting for her, that there's a normal family life to restart. for both of us, holding onto that sense that the other one is waiting for them, is going to be with them, and we'll get through this... i love you, baby.

say bye to mummy. love you! bye — bye. love you, ba by. try and stay well, eh? speak soon. love you. caroline hawley, bbc news. part of iceland is being shaken by an intense series of earthquakes. more than 20,000 have been recorded in the past ten days. that's nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe. we are talking about a volcano in iceland. the seismic activity in the south west of the country is thought to be caused by movements of molten rock underground. isabella allen reports. 20 miles south of the icelandic capital lies this mountain. the last major eruption happened here eight centuries ago but that period of rest may be coming to an end after days of intense seismic activity.

normally, there are around 1,000 small earthquakes a year. but there have been more than 20,000 in the past ten days, including 3,000 on friday alone. leading scientists to believe that an eruption is imminent. the magma is fracturing. it is so close to the surface, we have to take it seriously and the possibility that a new eruption can occur. the close vicinity is uninhabited and there is no immediate danger to the public. but roads have been closed and people are being told not to travel to the area. the small fishing port is only a few miles away. the feeling is never enjoyable, i can say that for sure. because when mother nature is, like, shaking underneath your feet, you feel a lot of power... you feel powerless. but i have been living here since i was born.

this has been happening time to time. but this is the first time we are having such a powerful earthquakes so frequently. earthquakes are common in iceland because it straddles two of the earth's tectonic plates. in 2010, the explosive eruption of a more southerly volcano caused huge disruption in international air travel affecting as many as 10 million travellers. but if any eruption occurs this time, it is thought lava will emerge more slowly from a crack in the surface so it is unlikely to cause the same chaos. in case of an eruption, we are expecting a small one. but lava is flowing, we are not expecting large explosive eruptions, with minimal impact on atmosphere, flights and living conditions of people. as the ground awakens after 800 years, people await the outcome of this seismic storm.

isabella allen, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with sarah keith—lucas. hello. it's another fairly dry, settled day of weather with high—pressure holding on for most of us. temperatures still a bit low for the time of year but things will be changing, turning milderand more unsettled into next week. today, variable amounts of cloud across much of the uk. some sunshine here and there, particular for south—west scotland, wales and southern england. patchy rain working in across northern parts of scotland through the day. temperatures 7 or 8 in the south, 9 or 10 further north. into the afternoon and in the evening, the rain will push further south. 0vernight, patchy rain and cloud will work in across northern england. south over england and wales, we keep clearer skies tonight, another cold night with a touch of frost in the south first thing on monday morning. milder conditions across scotland, northern england and northern ireland with patchy outbreaks of rain lasting on and off through monday. drier and brighter conditions holding on further south across england and wales with temperatures on monday

around 9 or 10 degrees. bye— bye. if this is bbc news, i'm ben brown, the headlines: schools in england are reopening to all pupils tomorrow — borisjohnson describes it as "the first step" in moving closer to normality.