this is bbc world news. 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 church in the northern town of qaraqosh, which was torched by islamic state militants in 2014. a tale of two broadcasts — the royal family mark commonwealth dayjust hours before the duke and duchess of sussex's interview with oprah winfrey. 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.

gunshots. gunfire echoes across the streets of myanmar, as thousands defy a security crackdown and join protests against the military coup. 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, 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 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. people in their late—50s in england are now being invited to book their coronavirus vaccination. letters sent to hundreds of thousands of people between the ages of 56 and 59 began arriving yesterday, with more expected to be delivered tomorrow. here's our health correspondent, nick triggle. the nhs has given the green light to those below the age of 60 in england to start getting their first dose of the covid vaccine. people aged 56 to 59 are now able to go online or call 119 to book an appointment for their jab. letters have also been arriving at people's homes,

inviting them to take up the opportunity. there are 1.7 million people in this latest age group in england. it comes after 21.8 million people in the uk have been given their first dose so far, that's two—fifths of all adults. it's so important for everyone to take up their offer when it's their turn, because it's the best way to protect you, to protect your loved ones, and get back to the lives that we've all loved and missed so much. and by protecting yourself, you're protecting your community, as well, so we really do urge you, if you've been offered the vaccination, take it up without delay. so far, more than nine in ten people aged 65 and over, and those who are clinically vulnerable, have been vaccinated. and the nhs has offered nearly all those aged 60—64 a jab, as well as younger adults with health conditions. it means the programme can now move onto the under—60s. in fact, some areas which have made the most progress have already started doing this.

the aim is to offer all adults a firstjab by the end ofjuly. ministers have said they are expecting an increase in vaccine supply during the second half of march, and it will not be long before the rest of those aged over 50 are invited for a jab. nick triggle, bbc news. 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

pictures coming to us from the village of qaraqosh, where he is visiting the church of immaculate conception, the village is home to iraq's largest christian community. the scene of violence during the occupation of the so called islamic state group. well, the scars of islamic state brutality are clear here at the church of the immaculate conception in qaraqosh, this place is riddled with bullet holes. stones were ripped away here, as it was used for target practice by islamic state militants, when they controlled this part of iraq. and yet, five years on, the pope is now coming here to give mass, a potent symbol of rebirth, recovery and defiance. earlier in the day, he was in mosul, the is stronghold in iraq,

where he offered a prayer for the victims of the war. this is a day focused on paying homage to those who have suffered in iraq's many conflicts, but also reaching out to the persecuted christian community in this part of the country. they were fairly numerous and have declined and have been forced to flee all killed by the sunni extremists. the message from the pope is that they must remain here and that they must return to live in peace and in security. mark lohan reporting from the pope �*s to iraq. 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 yangon, security forces carried out several raids, firing at apartment buildings and arresting activists. the country has been plunged into turmoil since the military overthrew and detained elected leader aung san suu kyi

on february first. on february 1st. bbc burmese journalist nyay—in chan ijoins us from yangon. as we say, despite the huge loss of life, the terrible bloodshed, the live bullets being fired into the crowd by security forces, protesters are still coming out onto the streets. , �* , , ., are still coming out onto the streets. , �*, , ., ., streets. yes, it's true. instead of marchin: streets. yes, it's true. instead of marching out _ streets. yes, it's true. instead of marching out to _ streets. yes, it's true. instead of marching out to the _ streets. yes, it's true. instead of marching out to the main - streets. yes, it's true. instead of| marching out to the main streets, they rather stay inside their own township and then they try to stage a sit in protest within their own neighbourhood. and they continue their protests. when we talked to their protests. when we talked to the protesters and what we are told, they want to continue the protests just to help the government staff

who are on strike. they who are on strike. interference they are worried that _ who are on strike. interference they are worried that government _ who are on strike. interference they are worried that government staff - who are on strike. interference they are worried that government staff or i are worried that government staff or others, they have more oppression from the military regime. that is why they are willing, they are sacrificing their life and they take some risk. they know the risks are there in the streets. but they still continue. and we see today again a number of crackdowns already in many places. here in yangon, as well. interference in their neighbourhood, people create their own barricades, makeshift barricades and they are prepared for the security forces to come in. so we are seeing, like, some... i come in. so we are seeing, like, some... ~' �*

come in. so we are seeing, like, some... ~ �* some... i think we've lost the line. our correspondent _ some... i think we've lost the line. our correspondent in _ some... i think we've lost the line. our correspondent in myanmar. . some... i think we've lost the line. i our correspondent in myanmar. thank 0ur correspondent in myanmar. thank you very much indeed for that update. 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. 0ur our latest headlines... schools in england are reopening to all pupils tomorrow — borisjohnson describes it as "the first step" in moving closer to normality. rolling out the vaccine to the under—60s. more than a million people in england aged between 56 and 59 will now be offered a coronavirus vaccine. 0n the third day of his historic trip to iraq, pope francis visits a church in the northern town of qaraqosh, which was torched by islamic state militants in 2014. 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 tomorrow. and you. love you. caroline hawley, bbc news. the uk labour party have accused the chancellor of "sneaking out" an announcement on nhs pay a day after the budget because labour says he was "too cowardly�* to announce it on the day. cowardly" to announce it on the day. the government have proposed a 1% pay increase for nhs workers in england next year. well, for more on this we're

joined by our political correspondent, jessica parker. this is a huge row about nurses's pat’- this is a huge row about nurses's -a . this is a huge row about nurses's .a _ , this is a huge row about nurses's -a . , ., , this is a huge row about nurses's a. , ~ , pay. the budget was on wednesday and the government — pay. the budget was on wednesday and the government saying _ pay. the budget was on wednesday and the government saying it _ pay. the budget was on wednesday and the government saying it was _ the government saying it was submitting a recommendation, and it isjust a recommendation submitting a recommendation, and it is just a recommendation at the moment, for a 1% pay rise for nhs workers. there was quite a backlash from unions and, actually, from nhs providers. they represent health trusts in england. they said there was a long term funding settlement for the nhs which was enshrined in law which included an assumption that nhs workers would actually get a 2.1% pay rise over the coming year. that is something that labour's shadow health secretary, jon ashworth, was keen to bring up this morning. this document is the nhs long—term spending plan. well, i can't read it from here! no, i know you can't. but it promised... it promised a 2.1% increase for nhs staff. not only was it promised, it was budgeted for and it was legislated upon. so...

this is the law of the land. tory mps voted for 2.1%. that's the document. you can ask gavin williamson about it, if you like, i'll give it to you, there. that's really interesting. that is the basis... you say 2.1%. the rcn says 12.5%. there's a big, big gap. now, let me finish. so, the government budgeted 2.1% and they passed that in legislation, because the spending plans for the nhs came to the house of commons and it went through the house of commons. every tory mp voted for 2.1% injanuary, last year. so it's law? that should be the basis on which negotiations and discussions are now entered into with the trade unions. now, what the government have been saying in terms of this 2.1% is that while an overall funding settlement was enshrined in law, specific figures on pay were not. and of course ministers have been pointing as well to the economic situation at the moment. they say nurses, for example, are being exempted from a wider public sector pay freeze. but interestingly, labour has been asked what it would put to the pay review

body in terms of a recommendation and it is not naming a figure. it is just saying the pay review body should look at the issue. jonathan ashworth was asked if he would support the possibility of strike action by nurses and he described that as a hypothetical and said nurses didn't want to go on strike and he would also always support nurses. not entirely a direct response to that question. nevertheless, this row has been rumbling on for a number of days and gavin williamson, the education secretary, was asked this morning if the pay offer was an insult to nurses. nurses have been doing the whole| nhs, but also right across society, have been doing an amazing job and putting themselves... - going to enormous lengths in order to be able to help us beat this - pandemic and we're incredibly grateful for that work but this| is why we are backing it up- with investment we are putting in place on the nhs. supporting notjust those nurses, doctors, but the whole system i in order to be able to recover. but i very much look forward to sort of seeing that continued _

investment flow into the nhs. the government has also talked about how over 1 the government has also talked about how over1 million nhs workers they say are benefiting from existing multi—year pay deals. say are benefiting from existing multi-year pay deals. meanwhile we have schools — multi-year pay deals. meanwhile we have schools in _ multi-year pay deals. meanwhile we have schools in england _ multi-year pay deals. meanwhile we have schools in england going - multi-year pay deals. meanwhile we have schools in england going back. have schools in england going back tomorrow. the first stage of the prime minister's road map out of lockdown. . ., �* , ~ prime minister's road map out of lockdown. . . �* , ~ , lockdown. yeah, that's right. a big moment. lockdown. yeah, that's right. a big moment- it — lockdown. yeah, that's right. a big moment- it is _ lockdown. yeah, that's right. a big moment. it is the _ lockdown. yeah, that's right. a big moment. it is the first _ lockdown. yeah, that's right. a big moment. it is the first step - lockdown. yeah, that's right. a big moment. it is the first step out. lockdown. yeah, that's right. a big moment. it is the first step out of| moment. it is the first step out of the third lockdown for england. schools are reopening, as you say, too many students from tomorrow. they have been open to some children, vulnerable children and children, vulnerable children and children of key workers throughout. it will be interesting to monitor the impact on case rates. we have seen this fall in case rates recently. because of the lockdown. people are keen to track the impact of the vaccine. and the government's testing regime is going to come under quite a lot of scrutiny. there has already been some criticism from the national education union saying some school leaders are struggling

to get parental consent for doing these tests, tests that are not mandatory. gavin williamson described them as an extra layer of protection but it is seen as a key part of trying to get schools back safely and trying to get children that key face—to—face learning that everybody agrees is really important. everybody agrees is really important-— everybody agrees is really imortant. . , . important. thanks very much indeed, jess important. thanks very much indeed, jess parker. — important. thanks very much indeed, jess parker. our _ important. thanks very much indeed, jess parker, our political _ jess parker, our political correspondent. china's foreign minister has denied his country is carrying out genocide against ethnic uighurs in xinjiang. wang yi called the accusation preposterous and said the government was trying to eradicate extremism. but beijing is accused of carrying out forced sterilisations and separating children from theirfamilies. it's thought to have detained a million people in re—education camps. for more on this i'm joined by the bbc�*s asia pacific editor michael bristow. michael, we often hear government denials from china about mistreatment of the uighurs but this is quite a ferocious denial, saying

the accusations of genocide couldn't be more preposterous. it is the accusations of genocide couldn't be more preposterous.— be more preposterous. it is perhaps the most high-profile _ be more preposterous. it is perhaps the most high-profile denial - be more preposterous. it is perhaps the most high-profile denial of - the most high—profile denial of claims of genocide against the uighurs so farfrom claims of genocide against the uighurs so far from the chinese government. it was made by the foreign minister, wang yi, speaking at an annual press conference he held during china's annual parliamentary session. he was answering a question from someone from the state run media in china. it appears it is set up... the question was set up and the answer was set up to show the world that they are abutting what's going on in xinjiang. temp wang he said he was quite colourful, when they think about genocide, they think of native americans —— essentially, what wang yi said, he was quite colourful. they think aboutjewish and aboriginal communities. they don't necessarily think about xinjiang. he called the accusations that china

was carrying out genocide in xinjiang absolutely preposterous. beyond preposterous. but those accusations do remain. find beyond preposterous. but those accusations do remain.— beyond preposterous. but those accusations do remain. and 'ust to be more specific, * accusations do remain. and 'ust to be more specific, the fi accusations do remain. and just to be more specific, the accusationsl be more specific, the accusations are that the chinese government are detaining about1 million people in re—education camps, forced sterilisations, separating children from their families?— from their families? yeah, the chinese don't _ from their families? yeah, the chinese don't deny _ from their families? yeah, the chinese don't deny that - from their families? yeah, the chinese don't deny that they i from their families? yeah, the i chinese don't deny that they are carrying out a campaign in xinjiang, which mainly targets the uighurs. they say they are doing it to stop extremism and terrorism. but, as you suggested, they are putting people... they have detained people in re—education camps. there is evidence that they have carried out forced sterilisation of women, leading to a fall in the birth rate, leading to a fall in the birth rate, leading to a fall in the birth rate, leading to a fall in the uighur population. and forcing people to travel thousands of miles from their homes in order to take upjobs. no choice in that. and separating children from their families. but

many of these things constitute genocide, as the un defines it. and, indeed, the united states, canada, and the netherlands have already, their individual countries, have already declared this to be genocide. so, despite wang yi's protestations today, this isn't an issue that is going to go away for china. mil issue that is going to go away for china. �* ~ . ., �* , ., china. all right, michael bristow, thank you. _ china. all right, michael bristow, thank you. the — china. all right, michael bristow, thank you, the bbc's _ china. all right, michael bristow, thank you, the bbc's asia - china. all right, michael bristow, thank you, the bbc's asia pacific| thank you, the bbc�*s asia pacific editor. voters in switzerland are going to the polls to decide whether to ban face coverings such as the burqa and the niqab. supporters say a ban would be good for women's equality, and good for public safety. 0pponents claim it is another anti muslim policy from the same group which introduced a ban on minarets over a decade ago. the swiss government and parliament oppose a nationwide ban. 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 and 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 - promised unity and bipartisanship. democrats' response is to ram . 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. you are watching 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, particularly 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. further 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.

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. 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. 0n the third day of his historic trip to iraq, pope francis visits a church in the northern town of qaraqosh, which was torched by islamic state militants in 2014. a tale of two broadcasts — the royal family mark commonwealth dayjust hours before the duke and duchess of sussex�*s interview with oprah winfrey. 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. there's been more gunfire in myanmar —— as thousands of peiople continue to defy the security crackdown — and join protests against the military coup. now on bbc news: hardtalk with stephen sackur. despite losing the presidency and both houses of congress, donald trump still seems to have a hold on the republican party. so what should republican anti—trumpers do now?

hardtalk with stephen sackur ...despite losing the presidency do they fight from within, or create a new conservative party? stephen sackur interviews evan mcmullin, one of their key organisers and strategists welcome to hardtalk. i'm stephen sackur. never mind losing the presidency and both houses of congress — donald trump still seems to have a choke—hold on the republican party. already he's dropping hints about running again in 2024. and, even if he doesn't, he'll have a huge say in who does. so what are anti—trump republicans to make of it? my guest is evan mcmullin, one of their key organisers and strategists. fight from within or create a new conservative party — what should unhappy republicans do?