Hello and welcome if youre watching in the uk or Around The World. Pope francis has held a symbolic meeting with one of the most powerful figures in shia islam on the second day of his landmark trip to iraq. The popes encounter with grand ayatollah Ali Al Sistani, the spiritual leader of millions of shia muslims, took place in the holy city of najaf. It is the pontiff� s First International trip since the start of the pandemic and the first ever papal visit to iraq. Our rome correspondent mark lowen is travelling with the pope and has sent us this report from the city of ur. If the first day of the pope francis� s visit to iraq was about the politics and about meeting the countrys dwindling christian community, today was about the outreach towards other faiths. Most notably a meeting this morning with the countrys top shia cleric, grand ayatollah Ali Al Sistani, bringing together the leader of the worlds catholics with perhaps the most powerful and influential figure in shia islam. It is thought that they discussed interfaith dialogue and the violence that Iraqi Christians have long suffered at the hands of armed shia groups. Then, the pope came on here to ur, the ancient birthplace of the prophet abraham, in which he met again with members of other religions. He spoke of how hostility and extremism and violence were, in his words, the betrayal of religion. He spoke in favour of peace, unity and against hatred. So, the meeting this morning, perhaps the most symbolic moment of this trip, and then the dialogue here in ur as well, very much the cornerstone of pope francis� s attempts to reach out to other religions. And using a figure of abraham, revered by christians, muslims and jews, to try to spur reconciliation today. Joining me now is archbishop bashar matti warda, who leads the Chaldean Catholic Community in erbil where the pope will be visiting tomorrow. Hello to you, thank you so much for joining us on bbc news. A visit of huge importance for you and for iraq. Huge importance for you and for iran. ,. , huge importance for you and for iran. ,. Iraq. Yes, indeed. It is a historic and courageous iraq. Yes, indeed. It is a historic and courageous visit, iraq. Yes, indeed. It is a historic and courageous visit, to iraq. Yes, indeed. It is a historic and courageous visit, to come. Iraq. Yes, indeed. It is a historic| and courageous visit, to come to iraq and to travel, and to meet all of these important and influential figures hope to make, notjust history, but really to open a history. History, but really to open a histo. ,. , , history. So interesting that this is the po es history. So interesting that this is the popes first history. So interesting that this is the popes First International history. So interesting that this is the popes First International trip| the popes First International trip since the start of the pandemic. He has chosen to come to iraq. Why is that, do you think . Iraq has chosen to come to iraq. Why is that, do you think . That, do you think . Iraq is still one of the that, do you think . Iraq is still one of the important that, do you think . Iraq is still one of the important countriesj that, do you think . Iraq is still. One of the important countries for us, as christians. Christianity has been here for around 2000 years, very historical. At the same time, because of the persecution and difficulties, it is really getting to the stage where there is a danger of disappearing. So it needs to be supported, giving hope, giving all the support that is needed to maintain and to persevere through all of these difficulties. And also to combat and be an important player in the life of all iraqis. I am sure he wanted to visit iraq many times, he wanted to visit iraq many times, he mentioned this to us, when we met him, because he was so close to the suffering of the iraqi people, which everyone Around The World knows because of the war and sectarian violence. But this time, he was able to make it. Violence. But this time, he was able to make it to make it. You spoke about the persecution to make it. You spoke about the persecution of to make it. You spoke about the persecution of christians. To make it. You spoke about the persecution of christians. How l to make it. You spoke about the persecution of christians. How would you characterise that persecution, how intense is it . You you characterise that persecution, how intense is it . How intense is it . You could tell from the number how intense is it . You could tell from the number of how intense is it . You could tell from the number of the how intense is it . You could tell i from the number of the christians left from over i from the number of the christians left from overi million christians, 1. 5 million christians left from over1 million christians, 1. 5 million christians in 2003, less than 200,000 christians now. The people were killed, over 1200 people were killed, not to mention about the ransom. Most in 2003, 5000 christian families, today only 60 families. It is really very hard, very hard years for as christians. In the context of the popes visit, do you think that that is going to, any sense, help boost the Christian Movement in iraq . At any sense, help boost the Christian Movement in iraq . Movement in iraq . At least it reminded movement in iraq . At least it reminded the movement in iraq . At least it reminded the old movement in iraq . At least it reminded the old iraqis movement in iraq . At least it reminded the old iraqis about movement in iraq . At least it reminded the old iraqis about the history of christianity, the contribution of this component also to the history and building the nation. And raising awareness about the christian presence, raising awareness about the difficulties, and hopefully this will encourage the government to take serious steps towards protecting all the citizens of iraq. Today, the grand ayatollah Ali Al Sistani spoke about the christian citizens. It is very important, Notjust Christian important, not just christian people, important, Notjust Christian people, christian citizens. That is what we need. A state of citizens, which is not there yet. Irate what we need. A state of citizens, which is not there yet. What we need. A state of citizens, which is not there yet. We have to leave it there. Which is not there yet. We have to leave it there. Thank which is not there yet. We have to leave it there. Thank you which is not there yet. We have to leave it there. Thank you so which is not there yet. We have to leave it there. Thank you so much | leave it there. Thank you so much forjoining us. Pressure is mounting on the uk government over its proposed pay offer of 1 for Health Workers in england after it was claimed that a Long Term Plan had assumed an increase of double that. Nhs providers which represents trusts in england accused ministers of snatching planned pay rises from the pockets of deserving nhs staff. Four Health Unions have written to the chancellor, urging him to reconsider. 0ur Health Editor hugh pym reports. Nhs providers is the first Employers Group to wade into the Health Service pay row in england. It argues that a long Term Government Financial Plan for the nhs in 2019 included a commitment to pay staff a wage increase ofjust over 2 from this april. The organisation said the pandemic has strengthened the case for better staff pay, so it was very disappointing that only 1 was now being proposed. Government sources said there was an unprecedented strain on public finances which couldnt have been foreseen when the nhs Long Term Plan was drawn up. The Royal College of nursing and the unite union said they were considering strike action. But the Health Secretary defended the plan at a Downing Street briefing. The challenge is that the nations finances are tight, and while everybody else in the Public Sector is going to have a pay freeze, we are able to give a to propose a pay rise for nurses, at 1 . I entirely appreciate that that reflects the difficult financial circumstances that the country is in. A Government Spokesperson said nhs staff continued to benefit from multi year pay deals, including over 12 for newly qualified nurses. But four Health Unions have written to the chancellor, calling on him to think again about the proposal. They said it was unfair to staff who had been on the front line of the pandemic. Hugh pym, bbc news. Well, lets speak now to saffron cordery, Deputy Chief Executive of nhs providers, which represents acute, ambulance, community and Mental Health providers. Hello to you, saffron. The government is saying that 1 is all thatis government is saying that 1 is all that is affordable right now, you disagree. Irate that is affordable right now, you disauree. ~. ,. , disagree. We do disagree. What we know is that disagree. We do disagree. What we know is that a disagree. We do disagree. What we know is that a 2. 196 disagree. We do disagree. What we know is that a 2. 196 pay disagree. We do disagree. What we know is that a 2. 196 pay rise disagree. We do disagree. What we know is that a 2. 196 pay rise was know is that a 2. 1 pay rise was baked into the Funding Settlement for the nhs, which is actually enshrined in an act of parliament. We have got a really strong legal basis here to see that that pay rise was there. 0bviously, that was all set out pre pandemic, but actually the pandemic really only enhances the pandemic really only enhances the case for a pay rise for nhs staff. I think what we have got to remember is that the chancellor, in last years budget, personally committed to give the nhs everything it needed to get through the pandemic. I think it is worth saying that the nhs is founded on its work, it is the backbone of the nhs, and we are not through the pandemic yet. We need a pay rise for nhs staff. The chancellor needs to stand behind his commitment. If the chancellor needs to stand behind his commitment. His commitment. If there were a government his commitment. If there were a Government Minister his commitment. If there were a Government Minister here his commitment. If there were a l Government Minister here talking his commitment. If there were a Government Minister here talking to you, they would be saying that those figures you have quoted of 2. 1 , which you say were baked in, those figures were assumptions, and that the landscape has changed since then. And of course it has. The public purse is bare. Public purse is bare. Yes, The Ublic Public Purse is bare. Yes, the public purse public purse is bare. Yes, the public purse is public purse is bare. Yes, the public purse is extremely public purse is bare. Yes, the public purse is extremely strained, but we have an nhs which has worked its socks off, frankly, over the last 12 months, and it needs to be given both the support and the investment it needs in order to continue to get us through the rest of this year. 0r continue to get us through the rest of this year. Or we will be seeing a real focus on not only the pandemic, which is still leading to raised cases of inpatients and real challenges for the nhs, but also the vaccines programme, which is administered by these very staff, so this is the route out of the pandemic. We have to reward those staff for that. And we have to be in a position. Really effective, well motivated workforce to get us out of the pandemic, to recover services, to tackle that backlog of routine treatments and operations and procedures which have not taken place. 50 procedures which have not taken lace. Procedures which have not taken lace. ,. , procedures which have not taken lace. ,. , place. So the Royal College of nursin place. So the Royal College of nursing is place. So the Royal College of nursing is saying place. So the Royal College of nursing is saying that place. So the Royal College of nursing is saying that its place. So the Royal College of nursing is saying that its members should get a 12. 5 rise instead of the 1 . Where do you stand on a rise of that sort of magnitude . Do you think it should be nearer 2 , as you have said . Irate think it should be nearer 296, as you have said . ~. ,. ,. , have said . We have not actually said that the pay have said . We have not actually said that the pay rise have said . We have not actually said that the pay rise should have said . We have not actually said that the pay rise should be. Have said . We have not actually said that the pay rise should be. We have said . We have not actually said that the pay rise should be. We havej that the pay rise should be. We have put evidence ourselves into the pay review body, just as the government has done, and we are saying, following a survey of trust readers, that they would like to see at least, and i will focus on the at least, and i will focus on the at least, at least 3 for the nhs workforce. So i think that there is a big range to think about here, but thatis a big range to think about here, but that is the role of the independent pay review body, to work out precisely what is needed. So i think we need to leave it to them, but i would say that the assumption is 2. 1 , we know from our trust leaders, who really have their figure on the pulse of what is needed to motivate, to recruit, to retain, and to really have the proper workforce in place. They are seeing at least 3 . You proper workforce in place. They are seeing at least 396. Seeing at least 396. You will be aware that seeing at least 396. You will be aware that some seeing at least 396. You will be aware that some of seeing at least 396. You will be aware that some of the seeing at least 396. You will be aware that some of the unions| seeing at least 396. You will be. Aware that some of the unions are talking about potential strike action. How would you cope if that did in fact happen . Did in fact happen . Obviously the nhs is already did in fact happen . Obviously the nhs is already under did in fact happen . Obviously the nhs is already under significant l nhs is already under significant strain, so the First Priority is to keep patients safe, continue with the service. It would be immensely challenging. What we have got to do is make sure that the government turns its mind to really reconsider its 1 and making sure that we are in a situation where the unions are considering industrial action, that is not in anybody� s interest. It would be a very challenging situation if there was strike action. What i want to say is that inverted. ,. , action. What i want to say is that inverted. , ~ ,. ,. Well, joining me now is our political correspondentjessica parker. Quite a dangerous moment for this for the government. Do you sense any movement . Movement . They have got a bit of breathin movement . They have got a bit of breathing Space Movement . They have got a bit of Breathing Space because movement . They have got a bit of Breathing Space because they movement . They have got a bit of| Breathing Space because they have submitted this 1 recommendation to the pay review body, this independent pay review body. We do not expect to hear back from them until later in this spring. Some Breathing Space, but not some us for the sense that your Hearing Discussions of strike action. You are getting a lot of criticism from Opposition Parties as well, i think Something Else to keep an eye on over the coming days is what is the reaction on the conservative benches . Because of course conservative mps, if they want to pile pressure on the government, the government relies on its conservative mps to back it in its plans, then that could change things. Doctor dan poulter, former Health Minister and a conservative mp, has this morning been saying he thinks it is the wrong time for pay restraint, and he says it can be counter productive because it can mean it is harder to retain staff. We end up spending more on agency staff. Ive been speaking to some other tory mps who say at the moment the reaction they are getting from the reaction they are getting from the public from their E Mail Inboxes has not been overwhelming, so clearly i think they will be keeping an eye on to what extent there is public anger over this. 0pinion might be divided in the coming days. Do you think that this is potentially a special case in that the point has been made that other Public Sector workers are having their pay frozen. 0ur nhs workers, nurses in particular, being seen as a special case . A special case . Matt hancock was t in to a special case . Matt hancock was trying to turn a special case . Matt hancock was trying to turn a a special case . Matt hancock was trying to turn a post a special case . Matt hancock was trying to turn a post that a special case . Matt hancock was trying to turn a post that negative into a positive last night. He said they have carved nhs workers out from the wider pay freeze that youre talking about. 1 , it may have caused fury among some unions, but it is a rise compared to other Public Sector workers, like police and firefighters. Thats what the government are trying to say. The flip side of that is that nhs workers have been amongst the hardest Hit Front Line Workers who have had to deal with this pandemic over the last year. Clearly, there are concerns about exhaustion, morale, retaining staff, and that is one of the reasons that unions are willing to battle over this. We will see where it goes. Hand willing to battle over this. We will see where it goes. Willing to battle over this. We will see where it goes. And there are a cou le see where it goes. And there are a coule of see where it goes. And there are a couple of stories see where it goes. And there are a couple of stories about see where it goes. And there are a | couple of stories about renovations in Downing Street of two separate properties. Quite controversial. There is a renovation of the Downing Street flat, which Boris Johnson were resides in with his fiancee. My understanding is there have been some high level conversations going on about how those renovations might be paid for in recent days, or indeed just in terms of the cost of those renovations. The daily mail have been running suggestions at the cost could be at as high as £200,000. Downing street say they will not comment on speculation. Then theres the renovation of number nine press briefing room, which is going to be this room where they will do white house style Press Briefings, with allegra stratton. They have delayed those Press Briefings because of the pandemic. But the Press Association Have Done A Freedom Of Information Request and there that the renovations of that room have cost £2. 6 million. What the government is saying is that they had to deck it out with audio equipment, visual equipment, it is a grade one listed building, suggesting it might be a little more expensive to do that. They say it is all In The Name Of bringing forward these white house style Press Briefings, which they say will increase transparency for the public. Increase transparency for the ublic. ,. , increase transparency for the ublic. , ~ ,. , in myanmar an increasingly brutal crackdown by police and the military has not stopped protests against the military coup. Meanwhile, the uns Special Envoy On Myanmar has urged the Security Council to restore democracy to the country. In a private 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. They chant. They remain defiant, despite the deadliest week here. Appealing for international support, these signs are reference to the uns responsibility to protect principle, to prevent mass killings. Now, a month after the uns top Security Body called for a return to democracy and for the Immediate Release of detainees, including aung san suu kyi, its met again. We requested this mornings 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. Its 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 wont know how far they are prepared to go. Well 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 at the meeting, the Un Special Envoy on myanmar warned 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 nations democratic progress. But, she warned, the hope that they have placed in the United Nations and its membership is waning. However, china and russia are unlikely to rush towards implementing sanctions, and other asean nations of which vietnam and myanmar are both members are seeking their own solutions, too. Nonetheless, there is no doubt at the shared frustration now building globally at the myanmar military� s increasingly violent approach. Mark lobel, bbc news. Pakistans prime minister, imran khan, has won a vote of confidence in parliament, days after suffering an unexpected political setback. Mr khan himself called the vote in response to the failure of his finance minister, abdul hafeez shaikh, to win a seat in the senate. A victory for the populist leader had been expected with Opposition Mps deciding to boycott the vote. In the end, he received votes from slightly over half of parliament. A soldier has died during a Training Exercise involving live ammunition in wales. The victim was a sergeant in the welsh guards and was fatally wounded at the castlemartin base in pembrokeshire on thursday night. The Ministry Of Defence says his next of kin has been informed and a Police Investigation is under way. There are fears that thousands of School Children in england and theirfamilies could be forced to self isolate as a result of so called False Positives when Mass Coronavirus Testing begins next week. Every Secondary School pupil will be offered three rapid result tests over the next fortnight as part of government plans to bring children back into the classroom. Our Health Correspondent nick triggle has more. The tests that will be used in schools in england are designed to give quick, on the spot results. But its thought that for every 1000 carried out, between one in three will result in an incorrect positive result, a so called false positive. When these tests are carried out at home, users are entitled to a standard covid test thats processed in a lab to check the result is right. But this will not be happening with the tests in schools. Instead, it will be assumed the rapid test is correct. The Royal Statistical Society and Testing Experts are worried low infection rates could cause a higher proportion of positive cases to be false, meaning thousands of pupils and families could be forced to isolate for no reason. The main concerns are that actually, tests are not going to be finding very many cases at all. The data from the last week of testing from the government, from 300,000 children and staff being tested, they were finding one positive for every 1,500 people being tested. And that means the tests are both missing cases, and its a large amount of effort and work being done, being put into this, to find very, very little. But government insists the Testing Regime will have a positive impact by identifying asymptomatic cases that would otherwise be missed. It says around one in three people who have coronavirus have no symptoms. Nick triggle, bbc news. Police say theyre increasingly concerned about the disappearance of a woman in south london. Sarah everard, who is 33, spoke to her partner on the phone while walking from Clapham Junction to brixton on wednesday night which was the last time anyone heard from her. A friend said it was extremely uncharacteristic for her to go missing. The duke of edinburgh has spent his first night back at the private King Edward Viis hospitalfollowing his Heart Surgery at st bartholomews on wednesday. He has spent 18 nights in hospital, his longest ever stay. Buckingham palace says he will remain in hospital for a number of days. Spring is on the way here in the uk, which means its daffodil season. Britain produces 90 of the worlds crop, but this year, millions of the flowers will rot in the field because of a shortage of Seasonal Workers to pick them. Growers are blaming it on the governments post brexit visa scheme. The bbc� sjohn kay reports. It is a beautiful springtime site, but not for Daffodil Farmerjames walkers. It is heartbreaking, it is heartbreaking. Its just saddening to see flowers going to waste. When theyre yellow, its too late to pick them so 50 million daffodils are being left here to rot. Everybody loves to see it, it looks really, really nice as you drive around the county, but to a grower, its a crop loss. We would like to see nice green fields at this time of the year which we know have been picked. Like other farmers, james has come to rely on Seasonal Workers from europe. But this spring he only has half the number he needs. Aurimas has officially settled in the uk, but his lithuanian friends have stayed away. There are some who dont want to come any more because of all the brexit, especially this year, theres not many people in the field, as you can see. So we need more workers here. Farmers hoped they may be able to turn back the clock and attract more local workers like they did in the past. Pickers today can earn £1000 a week. How many british workers have you got here now . None, no british workers at all. We had five young lads who came to work for us and then it got wet and it was windy and their backs Ached Theyjust said they couldnt hack it any more. The government has given 30,000 visas this year to foreign fruit and vegetable pickers, but farmers say the scheme also needs to include flowers. Ministers have promised they will make sure that all sectors will have the labour they need in future. If youre wondering why the farmers dontjust use machinery to pick the daffodils instead, well, they say its not really practical because there are so many different varieties of flower, all growing at different heights, and blooming at different times. They say without changes, their industry could also wither and die. Jon kay, bbc news, cornwall. Now its time for a look at the weather with 0wain. I hope you are doing all right. Its always nice to talk about High Pressure when we are looking at the weather for a weekend because generally speaking hi pressure it was dry and settled conditions. That sets it up for a headline that looks a bit like this. It should be mostly dry this weekend, quite cloudy and cold as well. It was a chilly morning, we have High Pressure perched across the uk at the moment. We have this Weather Front pushing into Western Parts of scotland, that will introduce thicker cloud and some showers as well. As we head through this afternoon. You can see them here on the close up view. I think much of scotland, Northern Ireland, england and wales should be mostly dry. A few showers across eastern coastal parts, these will tend to fizzle out as we head through the day. The heaviest of those showers across the Western Isles and northern isles. Cloudy here as well. Top around 8 9. It was a choice up to the day today, we saw some mist and mist and fog and frost as well. A Repeat Performance in many ways as we cast an eye upon this evenings forecast. We still have this Weather Front introducing a bit more in the way of those showers across mainland scotland as we move through tonight. Meeting colder air, turning to sleet or snow on hills where we could see a light covering in places. You can see the map is awash in blue, sued him for stepping close to, if not below, freezing pretty much wherever we are. Here is how tomorrow is shaping up. It should be a mostly dry day, i think tomorrow is one of those days where, we start to see some sunshine, proud, especially across england and wales, but as we progress through the day, we see thicker cloud building. Scotland, Northern Ireland seeing some sunshine as well. Further north we are still talking about that such a Generating Showers and rain. A bit milderfurther north, starting Generating Showers and rain. A bit milder further north, starting to see milder air pickle n, 6 7 hour temperatures. Its a look at the chart. We have a Weather Front moving in. That will introduce something a bit less settled that as we look towards monday. Into Northern Ireland, Western Parts of scotland as well. I think our top temperatures gradually starting to rise now, 9 10. Thejet stream has woken up, it has been quite quiet over the past week. You can see it youre moving on from the west, introducing a plentiful supply of unsettled weather. This is wednesday, you can see some Weather Fronts, an area of low pressure moves on, and the white lines, the isobars, are very close together. That means we are likely to see strong winds. Temperatures will rise, as well, so where are currently paid over the next few days. A very different feel to proceedings. I will see you soon. Hello, this is bbc news. Im reeta chakrabarti. The headlines speaking out for dialogue pope francis meets one of the most powerfulfigures in shia islam on day two of his historic trip to iraq. Pressure grows on the uk government over its pay offer to Health Service staff more unions have joined the backlash. Concerns over unnecessary Self Isolation for School Children in england because of inaccurate coronavirus test results. A warning for the un Security Council that anti coup demonstrators in myanmar are beginning to lose faith in the organisation. And theyre usually a sign that spring has sprung, but why is this host of golden daffodils being left unpicked . Now on bbc news, ade adepitan looks back at some of the travel show� s top european adventures, including Rajan Datar Testing A Ferrari themed rollercoaster in spain. This week, a look back at some of our favourite