president a week after his predecessor was arrested in a corruption probe. hello, and welcome to audiences in the uk and around the world. the duke and duchess of sussex's highly—anticipated tv interview with oprah winfrey is set to air in the us in the next hour. harry and meghan are expected to discuss their new life in the us and their experiences as senior members of the royal family. earlier, the queen spoke of the importance of maintaining a sense of closeness with friends and family. she was among senior royals appearing in a special programme to mark commonwealth day. our royal correspondent nicholas witchell reports. they sing an image of common unity and purpose. yet this is about two different broadcasts and sharply diverging agendas. first, in celebration of the commonwealth. it embraces nearly a third of the world's population and it's been one of the abiding commitments of the queen over the many decades of her reign. tonight, a pre—recorded broadcast in which the queen spoke about the testing times for the commonwealth of the covid pandemic. stirring examples of courage, commitment and selfless dedication to duty have been demonstrated in every commonwealth nation and territory, notably by those working on the front line. the queen spoke of testing times and have the need to use technology, as she put it, to stay in touch with friends and family. it was all quiet and unflashy. the duke and duchess of cambridge were seen expressing their thanks to health care workers. it's fantastic, what you're doing. a huge congratulations from catherine and i in terms of what you're managing and dealing with. were you silent or were you silenced? but now the focus shifts to broadcast number two, the interview the duke and duchess of sussex have given in california to oprah winfrey. it'll be transmitted in america in the next few hours. their comments potentially will deepen the rift between harry and meghan and the remainder of harry's family. we're on the other side of a lot of... a lot of life experience that's happened. so who has better caught the mood of the moment, the couple in california who've chosen a path away from royal duty, or the monarch, who spoke in her broadcast about selfless dedication to duty and who has epitomised precisely that for so many decades? nicholas witchell, bbc news. our north america correspondent peter bowesjoins me now. soi so i suppose we are being promised unprecedented access to the views, the experience of meghan markle?_ to the views, the experience of meghan markle? yes, and all of that life experience _ meghan markle? yes, and all of that life experience that - meghan markle? yes, and all of that life experience that she - that life experience that she talks about. i think what we're looking in this interview clearly, and it's been an interview where nothing is off—limits, we've had teasers all week about the broad subject areas that meghan will be talking about, and harry as well when hejoins be talking about, and harry as well when he joins the interview later on, as well when hejoins the interview later on, as i understand. but what we are looking for is some detail and, in terms of the issues and differences that she has with the royalfamily, the firm differences that she has with the royal family, the firm as she's described them, that was one of the clips released earlier in the week. so we are looking for detail, and clearly there's an in norma's amount of interest. this will be broadcast in the middle of sunday evening, which is typically one of the highest rated times in america for people to gather around the television —— enormous interest. television -- enormous interest-— television -- enormous interest. ., . ., , interest. how much commentary is there, focusing _ interest. how much commentary is there, focusing perhaps - interest. how much commentary is there, focusing perhaps on - is there, focusing perhaps on race and the duchess's experiences of racism? well, it's certainly _ experiences of racism? well, it's certainly one _ experiences of racism? well, it's certainly one of _ experiences of racism? well, it's certainly one of the - it's certainly one of the issues people will be watching this interview to hear what she has to say on that subject, and clearly a lot of speculation because it is an issue. but i think also, injust because it is an issue. but i think also, in just watching some of the commentary over the last few days, a lot of americans are watching this because of the soap opera style interest in the activities of the british royal family. people watch the crown and here, as we know which is based on a fictitious interpretation of real life events. and that's the fish bone by which many people see the royal family. what they're looking for in this interview is some real life and real life stories — and whether racism comes into that, it seems very unlikely that, it seems very unlikely that oprah will not address the issue head on, but we are looking for the detail. it’s looking for the detail. it's perhaps _ looking for the detail. it's perhaps a _ looking for the detail. it's perhaps a bit _ looking for the detail. it's perhaps a bit of— looking for the detail. it's perhaps a bit of a - looking for the detail. it's perhaps a bit of a risk in that there's a lot of public sympathy for meghan markle, for meghan and harry, and the way they come across. that will also be perhaps viewed critically.— also be perhaps viewed criticall. , ~ , critically. yes, i think people will be watching _ critically. yes, i think people will be watching for - critically. yes, i think people will be watching for the - critically. yes, i think people will be watching for the wayl will be watching for the way they come across, their body language, exactly what they have to say. but yes, especially in the city of los angeles, where she was born and brought up, and this is where she started to work in the entertainment industry as an actress — there's a lot of affection towards her in the city, and perhaps across the board and across the country, you might find different views of these two as a couple. as you might recognise in the uk, public opinion especially of meghan, since she's returned it to the united states.— to the united states. peter, thanks so — to the united states. peter, thanks so much. _ the historic papal visit to iraq is drawing to a close, after pope francis visited parts of the country once held by islamic state militants. on the third day of his trip, he celebrated mass with an audience of thousands at a football stadium in irbil, the capital of iraq's kurdistan region — and left saying that iraq will always be in his heart. our correspondent mark lowen is travelling with pope francis. from the rubble of war, a messenger of peace. face—to—face with the brutality of islamic state terror in mosul, pope francis came to appealfor unity to rise from its ashes. beside a church destroyed in the fighting, a powerful moment of reflection. rarely has the hand of healing been needed more than this. he called for persecuted christians to return here and gave a prayer for the victims. translation: today, . we reaffirm our conviction that fraternity is more durable than fratricide. that hope is more powerful than death. that peace, more powerful than war. then another risk in the trips finale — a large public mass in irbil in the midst of the pandemic. it's what some had warned against — spreading the virus, notjust the word of god. but the papal fans were undeterred. i hope that this visit will bring a lot of peace to this country and to all religions and nationalities — to live together in peaceful life. the short—term impact of these crowds could well be a spike in infection, but from the warmth of his reception to the potency of his message, this is a trip that could have a long—lasting legacy, too, beyond simply the symbolism. that he came at all was, for many iraqis, a miracle. but a defiant pope has made history here, hoping to have given a balm to this injured land. mark lowen, bbc news, irbil. one of the stops of the pope's tour of iraq was the city of ur, the birthplace of abraham, but while both christians and muslims were well represented on this trip, the iraquewish community was not. i've been speaking to edwin shuker, vice president of the board of deputies of british dues, who grew up in iraq but was forced to flee the country by saddam hussein's regime. i began by asking him if there had been a plan to include the iraqi jewish community. i believe there was. i think, even when you hear the pope's message, he also mentioned judaism. and last tuesday, in the press conference at the vatican, they were asked whether there would be a jewish presence, and the vatican spokesman assured them that this would be the case and that they looked forward to interfaith dialogue with them. so why do you think this didn't happen? i think that the iraqi government failed and wasted a golden opportunity, an historic opportunity to make amends with thejewish community that actually lived in that part of the world for 2,600 years, and was unceremoniously displaced and kicked out — the majority in 1950, and myself with the final batch — we escaped in 1971, as you mentioned. and i think that they relied on possibly the localjewish community, but the localjewish community is less than six people, probably five at the most, and they are still terrorised and traumatised without proper protection. therefore there was no chance of them coming to the fore and sitting on the platform with the pope. if you had been invited back, would you have gone to see this moment? oh, absolutely. as the pope left today, and he said that iraq is in his heart, iraq will always remain in the hearts of the jewish community that lived there for so long and for so many decades, who were instrumental in every part and everything, from music to art, to culture to trade — we were very much part and parcel of the diverse iraqi society. and it will never leave us. and actually, i would've loved to take with me and iraqi rabbi, a leader who came with me in 2019, we visited baghdad, and we would've gone there and told the iraqi people that we are part of your family. we might�*ve left physically, but our hearts are with you, and we hope one day will be back with you and actually participate in rebuilding iraq. officials in the west african country of equatorial guinea have appealed for international help following a series of explosions. the president said the blasts were due to negligence in the storing of dynamite at a munitions depot inside a military base. he's said that 15 people have been killed and more than 500 injured. state tv showed video footage of traumatised people staggering to safety and attempts to rescue those trapped under the rubble. the health ministry said three hospitals receiving the injured had been overwhelmed — it urged people to donate blood and asked off duty doctors to help. our africa editorfor the bbc world service will ross has more. clearly the emergency services were completely overwhelmed with at least three hospitals very full very fast. and health officials were appealing for people to go and donate blood and to off—duty medical staff to go and help out. but the scene, the footage that we have seen from the area is extremely distressing, seeing so many people clearly traumatised and somewhat dazed by what has gone on, trying to get to safety, coming out of clouds of smoke, these where we understand four separate explosions that took place and really destroyed many buildings over a large area and as you mentioned there, there is footage on the state television of desperate attempts to try and rescue people amongst the buildings that were completely were completely flattened, people going through with their hands lifting up the bricks and blocks to try and reach people there and at the hospitals, we know there are quite a lot of children amongst the people who were injured. certainly an extraordinary event that has caused a great deal of shock in equatorial guinea. still to come: switzerland votes narrowly to approve a ban on the public wearing of face coverings — such as the burqa. the numbers of dead and wounded defy belief. it is the worst terrorist atrocity on modern soil in modern times is popular in less than 2a hours, the soviet union lost an elderly sick leader and replaced him with a dynamic figure 20 years hisjunior. irate with a dynamic figure 20 years hisjunior-_ hisjunior. we heard these gunshots. _ hisjunior. we heard these gunshots, then _ hisjunior. we heard these gunshots, then they - hisjunior. we heard these gunshots, then they came j hisjunior. we heard these - gunshots, then they came out firing — gunshots, then they came out firing. god, we were all petrified.— firing. god, we were all etrified. , ., , ., firing. god, we were all etrified. , ., ., petrified. james earl ray, aged 41, is sentenced _ petrified. james earl ray, aged 41, is sentenced to _ petrified. james earl ray, aged 41, is sentenced to 99 - petrified. james earl ray, aged 41, is sentenced to 99 years. . 41, is sentenced to 99 years. he travelled _ 41, is sentenced to 99 years. he travelled from _ 41, is sentenced to 99 years. he travelled from memphis i 41, is sentenced to 99 years. l he travelled from memphisjail to nashville _ he travelled from memphisjail to nashville state _ he travelled from memphisjail to nashville state prison - he travelled from memphisjail to nashville state prison in - he travelled from memphisjail to nashville state prison in anl to nashville state prison in an eight — to nashville state prison in an eight car— to nashville state prison in an eight car convoy. _ to nashville state prison in an eight car convoy.— eight car convoy. paul, what's it feel like _ eight car convoy. paul, what's it feel like to _ eight car convoy. paul, what's it feel like to be _ eight car convoy. paul, what's it feel like to be married - eight car convoy. paul, what's it feel like to be married at i it feel like to be married at last? it it feel like to be married at last? , ., ~ , ., last? it feels fine, thank you. do ou last? it feels fine, thank you. do you think _ last? it feels fine, thank you. do you think you'll _ last? it feels fine, thank you. do you think you'll change . last? it feels fine, thank you. i do you think you'll change your life much, you think? i do you think you'll change your life much, you think?— life much, you think? i don't know, life much, you think? i don't know. we — life much, you think? i don't know, i've never _ life much, you think? i don't know, i've never married - know, i've never married before. this is bbc news, the latest headlines... the queen stresses the importance of duty, in her commonwealth day message hours before the broadcast of the much anticipated interview with meghan, duchess of sussex. pope francis prepares to leave iraq at the end of his historic trip. he tells an outdoor mass, "the country will remain in my heart." violence has escalated again in myanmar, with at least 18 people killed on sunday alone in clashes between anti—coup demonstrators and police forces. huge protests broke out after an official of aung san suu kyi's party died in police custody. security forces near the ancient city of bagan fired rubber bullets on people, and in yangon, they carried out several raids, firing at apartment buildings and arresting activists. danai howard reports. instead of the now—usual sounds of gunfire and tear gas, a moment of silence filled the streets of yangon on saturday in memory of protesters killed by security forces. —— on sunday. this man is one of the latest — an official from aung san suu kyi's overthrown government. he died in police custody after being arrested on saturday evening by security forces in yangon. witnesses say he was violently beaten and kicked before being taken from his home. his parents were told he died after fainting. huge crowds of demonstrators took to the streets in response to his death. in some areas, police responded with gunfire, adding to the death toll. the un has condemned it as a gruesome day. when you look at what's going on on the streets of myanmar right now, you see exactly why it is so compelling for countries to take action. we simply can't afford in any sense of the word to sit back and turn our backs on the people of myanmar. some governments have started to take action. australia has suspended defence cooperation with the military and says its development programme will now be directed to the immediate humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable people. and china, whose cooperation is needed in the un to impose sanctions on myanmar, announced on sunday that it is willing to engage with all parties to ease the crisis. beijing's top diplomat says the situation in myanmar is absolutely not what china wants to see. translation: on the basis of respect for myanmar's i sovereignty and the will of its people, china stands ready to engage and communicate with the relevant parties and play a constructive role in easing the situation. as the week begins with international women's day, the protests will take on a new dimension. human rights activists say women in myanmar have long endured inequality and repression under past military regimes. many women activists have paid with their lives in their fight for democracy. women's traditional skirts have become another symbol of the protests. strung across streets like this, it's considered bad luck to walk under them. demonstrators say they're them up to deter advancing soldiers and give the people time to run away. danai howard, bbc news. saudi arabia has condemned a missile and drone attack on oil installations launched by yemen's houthi rebels as an assault on global energy security. the saudi government said 12 armed drones and two missiles had been intercepted. meanwhile, a saudi—led military coalition carried out several air strikes on the yemeni capital saana, which is now in houthi hands. these attacks appear to signal a new escalation in the six—year conflict over yemen. a british—iranian woman imprisoned in iran since 2016, nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe, has been freed after her sentence came to an end — and almost immediately told she'll have to appear in court again on a separate charge. nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe was arrested after travelling from the uk with her baby daughter to visit her parents. she was accused of spying, which she has always denied. the bbc�*s caroline hawley is following the story. a rare glimpse into what's keeping this family together when they're forced to be thousands of miles apart. it's still quite a messy house. for six—year—old gabriela, an image on a mobile phone can't replace the touch of her mother. she's been counting down the days till the end of her mum's sentence. this morning, nazanin's ankle tag was taken off. nazanin said she was ecstatic and went to visit her elderly grandmother, but in a week she faces a different court case on another secret charge. by the time i was speaking to nazanin, everyone was going mad, "is she out?" and yes, she is. technically, the first court case is finished. at the same time, the second court case simultaneously has been evoked. so the foreign office are pleased that they've got the ankle tag off and there's been progress. and they clearly issued a formal note this morning saying, "you have to release her". so the iranians have done that. but they've kept it as leverage going forwards. and i find that my emotional reaction has been quite guarded about what this means and we're still in the middle, we're in the middle of this game of chess. she was at tehran airport, preparing to fly home from a holiday visiting her parents, when she was arrest