In the fourth test to secure the series 3 1. Hello and welcome, if youre watching in the uk or Around The World. Pressure is mounting on the uk government over its proposed pay offer of i 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. Our 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 i was now being proposed. Government sources said there was 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 i . 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, we can speak now to Tory Bank Bencher and Member Of Parliament for north thanet, sir roger gale. What sir roger gale. Do you think of the way that the what do you think of the way that the government has handled this . First of all, i dont like the line that the unions are taking any more that the unions are taking any more that i like the way the government has handle this issue. Ifully understand that the financial situation that the country is in. I also understand that in the private sector thousands of people have lost jobs and thousands of businesses are having a very hard time. With all that said, the government indicated clearly that it wanted to do what the people who have given so much in the people who have given so much in the Health Service. A i increase, which effectively will be swallowed up which effectively will be swallowed up by which effectively will be swallowed up by inflation, i dont think it is a reward. 50 up by inflation, i dont think it is a reward. ,. , a reward. So this is a recommendation a reward. So this is a recommendation to i a reward. So this is a i recommendation to the a reward. So this is a recommendation to the government to the Pay Review Body, which i still look at that recommendation and take recommendations from unions and employers and think about it. What do you want the government to do, reconsider or resubmit the recommendation . Reconsider or resubmit the recommendation . ~. ,. , ~ , recommendation . What i would like is no recommendation recommendation . What i would like is no recommendation in recommendation . What i would like is no recommendation in this recommendation . What i would like is no recommendation in this instance. L no recommendation in this instance. We are dealing at the end of an exceptional year, we know some Health Workers have had a phased increase over the last three years about that has now come to an end. We are now in a new situation. I would like the review body to be able to get on and do is job and make a recommendation. Exceptionally, because of what the Health Service and the Health Service family have been through, notjust nurses. The Service Family have been through, notjust nurses. Notjust nurses. The doctors, ancillary notjust nurses. The doctors, ancillary workers, notjust nurses. The doctors, ancillary workers, people notjust nurses. The doctors, | ancillary workers, people who notjust nurses. The doctors, ancillary workers, people who do the really messy jobs, ancillary workers, people who do the really messyjobs, the people in the kitchens the whole body. I think we have to recognise exceptionally this year that they have done something that warrants reward, and i would hope that the government might say to the review body, get on with it, make your recommendation. On this occasion, we will meet it. You make your recommendation. On this occasion, we will meet it. Occasion, we will meet it. You say exceptionally. Occasion, we will meet it. You say exceptionally, that occasion, we will meet it. You say exceptionally, that could occasion, we will meet it. You say exceptionally, that could take occasion, we will meet it. You say exceptionally, that could take the | exceptionally, that could take the form of a bonus, for example, rather than the regular pay rise . It form of a bonus, for example, rather than the regular pay rise . Than the regular pay rise . It could do. I than the regular pay rise . It could d0 i dont than the regular pay rise . It could do. I dont think than the regular pay rise . It could do. I dont think it than the regular pay rise . It could do. I dont think it is than the regular pay rise . It could do. I dont think it is my than the regular pay rise . It could do. I dont think it is my job than the regular pay rise . It could do. I dont think it is my job to do. I dont think it is myjob to recommend a figure, that is the job of the review body. It has been suggested there could be a tax free bonus as a one off payment, that might be one way of addressing the issue. But what i do know is that the hope that i represent expert and believe that there should be a reward, and that means im afraid more than i , even though i i understand the position at the chance of finds himself in, and it was a very good budget. You chance of finds himself in, and it was a very good budget. You said you didnt like the was a very good budget. You said you didnt like the position was a very good budget. You said you didnt like the position of was a very good budget. You said you didnt like the position of the didnt like the position of the unions. Is that because they are calling for a much higher rise of 12 or because of the potential of Strike Action . I 12 or because of the potential of Strike Action . Strike action . I think both. The fiaure is Strike Action . I think both. The figure is unrealistic Strike Action . I think both. The figure is unrealistic in Strike Action . I think both. The figure is unrealistic in the Strike Action . I think both. The figure is unrealistic in the face | Strike Action . I think both. The i figure is unrealistic in the face of the pandemic. I also believe that Strike Action under these circumstances is wholly unwarranted. I dont want this to be a Party Political football, i dont want this to be a Party Politicalfootball, or i dont want this to be a Party Political football, or ageing i dont want this to be a Party Politicalfootball, or ageing in football. I think we shall let the Pay Review Body, whose job it is to review the nhs salaries, to do their job. On this occasion, in a vacuum. I know the government normally recommends a figure, unions recommends a figure, unions recommend a figure, and somewhere that they usually meet in the middle. But under these circumstances, i think it would be much better if the Pay Review Body were allowed to get on and do the job. I also think that the government ought to be able to say up government ought to be able to say up front, you make the recommendation, and on this occasion we will meet it without. Pope francis has held a symbolic meeting with one of the most powerfulfigures 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 Franciss 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. Its 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 Franciss 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. The archbishop bashar matti warda, leads the Chaldean Catholic Community in erbil, where the pope will be visiting tomorrow. He said the visit was hugely symbolic. Its a historical and courageous visit to come to iraq, and to travel, and to meet all of these important and influentialfigures. Hope to make notjust a history, but really to open a history. So interesting that this is the popes First International trip since the start of the pandemic. He has chosen to come to iraq why is that do you think . Well, iraq is still an important country for us, as a christian. Christianity here is around 2000 years, very historical. At the same time, because of the persecution and difficulties, its really getting to a stage where there is a danger of disappearing. So, it needs to be supported, given hope, given all the support that is needed to maintain and persevere through all of these difficulties. Also, to come back and be an important player in the life of all iraqis. Im sure he wanted to visit iraq many times, he mentioned this to us as a bishop 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. Archbishop bashar matti warda. 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 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. There are fears that thousands of schoolchildren, in england, and their families 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 1,000 carried out, between one and 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, put into this, to find very, very little. The 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. Lets return to the news that 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. Well, earlier, iasked saffron cordery, Deputy Chief Executive of nhs providers which represents acute, ambulance, community and Mental Health providers their response to the 1 pay rise for nhs workers. What we 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 say that that pay rise was there. Obviously, that was all set out pre pandemic, but actually 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 workforce, 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 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. 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. Well 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. 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 . We have not actually said 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 leaders, that they would like to see 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 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 who really have their finger on the pulse of what is needed to motivate, to recruit, to retain, and to really have the proper workforce in place, they are saying at least 3 . 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 . Obviously the 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 arent 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 see is that inverted. 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. 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. 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. Our islamabad correspondent, secunder kermani, has more. Imran khans supporters have been celebrating this as a victory. In reality, he was always all but guaranteed to win this vote of confidence, especially after the opposition announced that it would be boycotting the proceedings, knowing it had no realistic chance of defeating him. In the end, imran khan received the Backing Ofjust over half the parliament. In a speech, he thanked the party and promised they would emerge more strongly from this. The background to this whole episode is that imran khans Ruling Alliance has a slender majority in the lower house. But during a secret ballot earlier this week, a number of its members voted against his candidate for a Crucial Senate seat, and in favour of the opposition� s candidate. Now, imran khan has accused the opposition of corruption, of having paid for those votes that went against him. They deny that and say that this shows that he is losing his grip on power. Having now reasserted his mandate in parliament, imran khan will dismiss what happened earlier in the week as an example of the kind of backroom, dirty political dealing that he says he is trying to fight against. But this has also been a boost for the opposition alliance, which has been calling on imran khans government to resign, which had looked to be faltering in recent weeks. We can expect more political manoeuvring in the months to come. Secunder kermani reporting. 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. John kay reports. It is a beautiful springtime sight, 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. India have thumped england by an innings and 25 runs in the fourth and final test in ahmedabad. It means india complete a 3 1 series victory against the tourists. England collapsed to 135 all out in their second innnings on day three of the test. Its indias 13th consecutive test series victory at home, and has secured their place in thejune final of the World Test Championship against new zealand. You are watching bbc news. Ear cropping, where part or all of an animals ear is removed, is illegal in the uk but the rspca says theres been a sharp rise in the number of dogs that have had the procedure. The charity blames the increase on footballers and Reality Tv Stars who have dogs with cropped ears, and post pictures of them on social media. A warning some viewers may find some of the details in charlotte gallaghers report distressing. This is eton, who is a neapolitan mastiff, when he was just a tiny puppy, his ears were cropped for no reason other than how it looked. It has affected him in so many ways. If you go to touch eton around his head, if you are someone he does not know, he is incredibly wary. Its like hes waiting for something unpleasant to be done to him. Ear cropping is a painful procedure. Dr Samantha Gaines is from the rspca. In some cases, part of that Ear Structure will be removed, then it will be splinted and then taped, so that the ears then grow and heal back erect so that they stand up right. But in other cases, and what we are seeing quite a lot of now, particularly with american bully dogs, itsjust where their ear is completely removed, so the entire ear flap is removed. In 2015, the rspca received 1a reports about ear cropping from callers in england and wales. By last year, that figure had risen to 101, a rise of 621 . The rspca says celebrities with these dogs is driving what it calls a worrying trend. Leigh anne pinnock from little mix, love islands jack fincham, and the premier league footballer, jesse lingard, all own dogs with cropped ears. Jesse lingard and Jack Finchams pets came from firms that specialise in personal security dogs. These animals are imported from countries where ear cropping is not banned, and the companies are not breaking the law. Leigh anne pinnock� s came from a uk breeder that was later prosecuted for cutting puppies ears to make them look tougher. There is no suggestion the singer knew what was happening or condoned it. Pinnock and lingard have not commented. Jack fincham says he did not buy the dog, it was a rescue and going to a rehoming centre, adding that he does not condone ear cropping and thinks it is cruel. Some celebrities are speaking out against the practice. People that have got a platform and social media presence, who are looked at as role models, they should be telling people no, this is not a good idea, rather than showing off their dog and saying, this is what it should be like. Ear cropping is illegal in the uk, but it does still happen. However, one of the biggest problems is dogs being bought from overseas with their ears already cropped, that you can see on eton here. The rspca is now working to ban these imports. It is a measure that is supported by some mps. We could introduce a ban very simply in the act that is coming up, the agricultural bill coming up. We could introduce a ban on the import of dogs with cropped ears. The rspca believes unless this ban happens and attitudes changed towards ear cropping, we will see cases continue to rise in the uk. Charlotte gallagher, bbc news. Now its time for a look at the weather with owain wyn evans. Hi, everyone. I hope youre doing all right. We have High Pressure nearby at the moment and it is always nice to talk about High Pressure when we are looking at the Weather Forecast for a weekend, because generally speaking, that means it will be mostly dry and we will see some sunshine as well. There is quite a bit of cloud out there today however, but for most of us it is a dry story. Now we have a Weather Front pushing into Western Parts of scotland, the western isles, the Northern Isles seeing some showers, breezy here as well, but as you can see, elsewhere it should be mostly dry and we will see a bit of sunshine as well. It was a chilly start to the day with some mist and fog, temperatures today reaching about seven or eight celsius at best i think. Lets look at this evening and we still have that Weather Front across parts of scotland. This will very gradually push further south and further east as well, we could potentially see some sleet or snow falling on hills. You can see the map is awash in blue, so really wherever we are, temperatures dipping close to if not below freezing. Here is how tomorrow is shaping up, it will be cloudy across much of scotland