5 things you need to know this morning: March 8, 2021

Start your day off right with five things you need to know this morning.

Five things you need to know

1. Meghan and Harry lay into Royal Family during Oprah interview

Multimillionaire aristocrat Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has made incendiary claims about the Royal Family in an interview with multibillionaire entertainment mogul Oprah Winfrey. She said that she "didn't want to be alive anymore" and wasn't given any help when she was living in the UK. She also claimed, without providing details or evidence, that a member of the family asked how dark her son's skin could be. An investigation into claims the Duchess bullied Royal staff is ongoing.

In a deeply personal interview, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, said she found life within the British Royal Family so difficult that at times she "didn't want to be alive anymore". Prince Harry said he felt 'let down' by his father, Prince Charleshttps://t.co/BjQdZ3YNrq

— BBC World Service (@bbcworldservice) March 8, 2021

2. Over a dozen killed in explosions at military base

In real-world news, at least 17 people have been killed and hundreds injured after multiple explosions at a military base in Equatorial Guinea. Officials said the disaster was caused by farmers burning stubble, which set off dynamite at the base. The country's president said "huge damage" has been caused by the blasts.

At least 15 killed in explosions at barracks in Equatorial Guinea https://t.co/lebh680LxG

— The Guardian (@guardian) March 7, 2021

3. China still 30 years from becoming 'great power'

A Chinese government official has said the communist country is still three decades away from reaching its potential as a manufacturing "great power." Miao Wei said the country's "basic capabilities are still weak." China is already the world's preeminent manufacturing superpower, having begun an epic process of industrialization in the 1970s.

Former industry minister Miao Wei says China’s basic capabilities are ‘still weak’ and risks have significantly increased.https://t.co/fpuOQOXAf3

— Al Jazeera News (@AJENews) March 8, 2021

4. Switzerland bans face coverings in public

Voters in Switzerland have opted to ban face coverings in public. They backed a proposal to outlaw the likes of the burka (which some Muslim women are expected to wear) by 51.2% to 48.8%. The Central Council of Muslims in the country has already complained that the law represents the "exclusion" of Muslims.

Switzerland votes to ban most full-face coverings in public place https://t.co/f4WuvoFmtT pic.twitter.com/7VSroWUTpl

— The Hill (@thehill) March 7, 2021

5. MacKenzie Scott announces marriage to teacher

MacKenzie Scott, who became one of the richest people in the world after divorcing Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has married a teacher from her children's school. She is estimated to be worth about US$53 billion, but has pledged to give most of her money away. She revealed her marriage to Dan Jewett via a philanthropy website.

MacKenzie Scott, the philanthropist formerly married to Jeff Bezos, has married again following her 2019 divorce from the Amazon founder https://t.co/LjESX4w9hQ

— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) March 7, 2021