Filling up a very public row about this weeks1 pay offer, with claims an increase of 2. 1 had been baited as part of a longer term settlement. It baited as part of a longer term settlement baited as part of a longer term settlement. ,. , settlement. It is enshrined in an Act Of Parliament settlement. It is enshrined in an Act Of Parliament so settlement. It is enshrined in an Act Of Parliament so we settlement. It is enshrined in an Act Of Parliament so we have settlement. It is enshrined in an Act Of Parliament so we have a l Act Of Parliament so we have a strong legal basis to say that that pay rise was there. Obviously that was set out pre pandemic but the pandemic only enhances the case for a peer race for nhs staff. An pandemic only enhances the case for a peer race for nhs staff. A peer race for nhs staff. An nhs fundin a peer race for nhs staff. An nhs funding boost a peer race for nhs staff. An nhs funding boost was a peer race for nhs staff. An nhs funding boost was enshrined a peer race for nhs staff. An nhs funding boost was enshrined in i a peer race for nhs staff. An Nhs I Funding Boost was enshrined in law, see the government, but not figures on pay. Its proposal will be looked at by an independent Pay Review Body. Last night again the message the pandemic has changed things. The the pandemic has changed things. Lie challenges the pandemic has changed things. Iie challenges that the pandemic has changed things. Inez challenges that the nation puzzle like finances are tight and while everybody else in the Public Sector is going to have a pay freeze we are able to give, to propose, a pay rise for nurses. Able to give, to propose, a pay rise for nurses for nurses. They say over1 million nhs staff have for nurses. They say over1 million nhs staff have benefited for nurses. They say over1 million nhs staff have benefited from nhs staff have benefited from existing deals but is this new offer counter productive . A former conservative Health Minister says yes. Conservative Health Minister says es. ,. ,. ,. ,. , conservative Health Minister says es. ,. ,. ,. ,. ,. , yes. You begin to erode morale and ou ush yes. You begin to erode morale and you push peeple yes. You begin to erode morale and you push peeple to yes. You begin to erode morale and you push people to agency yes. You begin to erode morale and you push people to agency staff yes. You begin to erode morale and i you push people to agency staff and that costs the nhs much more than employing permanent staff and giving them a slightly better wage settlement. Them a slightly better wage settlement. ,. ,. , settlement. Out on the water earlier this week, settlement. Out on the water earlier this week. The settlement. Out on the water earlier this week, the prime settlement. Out on the water earlier this week, the Prime Minister settlement. Out on the water earlier this week, the Prime Minister posedi this week, the Prime Minister posed budget with a chancellor who talked about fixing the public finances. With the threat of Strike Action already the right is getting bumpy. Pope francis has met the spiritual leader of iraqs shia muslims, in the city of najaf on the second day of his trip to the country. Hes the first pope to hold talks with grand ayatollah ali al sistani, a highly influential figure in the middle east. Pope francis has now arrived in the ancient city of ur where the prophet abraham central to islam, christianity and judaism is believed to have been born. Our correspondent mark lowen reports. If the first day of pope francis� 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. 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 and 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, then the dialogue here in ur, as well, very much at the cornerstone of pope francis� 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 leaders of catholicism and shia face to face in a country torn apart. Mark lowen reporting there. Concerns are being raised that thousands of pupils and their households may wrongly be told to isolate because of inaccurate covid test results. Secondary School Pupils in england will be offered lateral flow rapid tests as schools return next week. These tests are less accurate than the ones carried out at official Testing Centres which are anaylsed in labs. Ministers say the tests will help identify asymptomatic cases. Spring is on the way here in the uk and that 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. Jon 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, it is 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 round the county, but to a grower its a crop loss. 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 that dont want to come any more because of the brexit, especially this year. There are not many people in the field, as you can see. Farmers hoped they may be able to turn back the clock and attract more local workers like they did in the past. 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 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. With all the sport now, heres Gavin Ramjaun At The Bbc Sport centre. Englands cricketers have been humbled in the final test in india, losing by an innings and 25 runs. They were bowled out for 135 in their second innings, meaning india didnt have to bat again, to complete a 3 1 series victory. Joe wilson reports. One consolation for england. It is finally all over. No more must they endure the embarrassment of batting india. Crowley began the final collapse. There is still soon followed, and other not for him. Stokes had onlyjust finished bowling. He was batting briefly. Two runs from ten, too asked of him. What of burden onjoe root . He made 30. Familiar looking lbw left england 65 6. Patel had his fifth wicket. Whether the ball is red or pink at times to go then his hand. England needed 190 to make india bat again and needed pride. At least 50 was something to get dressed up for. That as a surprise. This wasnt. Five wickets. England all out to spin. This test last like the previous two and a series which began with two nations competing ended with one utterly dominating. Britains andrew pozzi sailed through to the final of the 60 metres hurdles at the European Indoor Athletics Championships in poland. Hes won gold in this event twice before, and he looked really impressive, winning his heat with ease. You can watch the evening session on bbc two from 5. 15. The three time european Champions Saracens Begin Life In The Second Tier of English Rugby Union today, when the championship finally starts. None of the other sides in the league has played since their season was scrapped nearly a year ago. Joe lynskey reports. In 2019, saracens were the best team in europe. This year they swapped the continent for cornwall. When saracens broke salary cap regulations, their punishment was relegation. They start in the second tier, here, at cornish pirates. Im expecting some real big challenges. Long gone are the years when you see teams go down and put hundreds of points on teams. Itjust doesnt happen. Its a different competition with a different vibe. Obviously that was forced upon us, but there are a lot of positives in there. We spoke about it this week, about going back to our roots. No Championship Team shows its roots quite like ampthill, where players walk through a wood to reach the pitch. But ampthill couldnt afford a season watched on byjust the trees. They were set to drop out of the league until fundraising started, and donations came in. The three time european champions, saracens, their Supporters Group made a £1,000 donation. I mean, itjust demonstrates the ethos of rugby union, looking after one another, it has been a little overwhelming, if im completely honest. Each club aims to play ten games byjune, and forjersey reds, thats especially tough. For this team to play on, they have to keep an island safe. We have to travel in and out on the day. So were out on a charter flight in the morning, we play the game at the ground, back onto the two coaches, back onto our charter flight, back intojersey. We feel privileged to be able to go out there and compete and play our games. Saracens are heavy favourites to go up, but there will be no relegation for any side in the third tier. After 12 months, this is their chance to play again, and build back up from the bottom. Joe lynskey, bbc news. A quick update from the Early Premier League game its1 1 between burnley and arsenal. Thats all the sport, back to you. You can see more on all of todays stories on the bbc news channel. The next news on bbc one is at 5 20pm. Bye for now. Imran khans supporters have been imran khans supporters have been imran khans supporters have been celebrating this as a hello. Youre watching bbc news with me reeta chakrabarti. Lets return to the news that pressure is mounting on the 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. Conservative bankbencher and mp for north thanet sir roger gale gave me his reaction to the news. I dont like the way, the lines that the unions are taking, any more the way i like the way the government has handled this issue. I way i like the way the government has handled this issue. Has handled this issue. I fully understand has handled this issue. I fully understand the has handled this issue. I fully understand the financial has handled this issue. I fully i understand the financial position that the country is in, but i also understand that in the private sector thousands of people have lost jobs and thousands of businesses are having a very hard time. And all thatis having a very hard time. And all that is said, the government indicated clearly that it wanted to reward the people who have given so much in the Health Service and are 1 increase, which would be swallowed up effectively by inflation, i dont think as a reward. , inflation, i dont think as a reward, ,. , inflation, i dont think as a reward. ,. ,. , reward. So this is a Recommendation B the reward. So this is a Recommendation By the government reward. So this is a Recommendation By the government to reward. So this is a Recommendation By the government to the reward. So this is a Recommendation By the government to the pay reward. So this is a Recommendation By the government to the Pay Review Body. The Pay Review Body has to look at that recommendation, it will take recommendations from unions, employers, go away and think about it. What do you want the government to do, to reconsider, resubmit the recommendation . To do, to reconsider, resubmit the recommendation . What i would like is not a resubmission recommendation . What i would like is not a resubmission of recommendation . What i would like is not a resubmission of the not a resubmission of the recommendation, i would like no recommendation, i would like no recommendation, and a sense. We are dealing with the end of an exceptional here, we know that some Health Service workers who had pay increases over three years, but that has come to an end. We know Energy Situation we are now in a new situation. I would like to review body to be able to get on and do its job and make a recommendation. Exceptionally, because of what the Health Service and the Health Service family have been through this year, and that is notjust nurses, that is doctor and ancillary nurses, that is doctor and ancillary nurses, the people who do the really nest messyjobs, the people in the kitchens. I think we have to recognise exceptionally this year that they have done something that warrants rewards and i would hope that the government might say to the review body, get on with it, make a recommendation and on this occasion we will meet at. You recommendation and on this occasion we will meet at. We will meet at. You say exceptionally, we will meet at. You say exceptionally, so we will meet at. You say exceptionally, so that i we will meet at. You say i exceptionally, so that could we will meet at. You say exceptionally, so that could take the form of a bonus, rather than a regular pay rise . Regular pay rise . Well, you could do. I regular pay rise . Well, you could d0 i dont regular pay rise . Well, you could do. I dont think regular pay rise . Well, you could do. I dont think it regular pay rise . Well, you could do. I dont think it is regular pay rise . Well, you could do. I dont think it is my regular pay rise . Well, you could do. I dont think it is my job i regular pay rise . Well, you could do. I dont think it is my job to i do. I dont think it is myjob to recommend a figure or the nature, thatis recommend a figure or the nature, that is thejob recommend a figure or the nature, that is the job of the Pay Review Body. People have suggested there could be a tax free bonus as a one off payment, that might be one way of addressing the issue. What i do know is that the people who i represent expect and believe that there should be a reward, and that means, im afraid, more than 1 , even though i understand the position that the chancellor finds himself in, and it was a very good budget. He himself in, and it was a very good budaet. ,. , himself in, and it was a very good budaet. Himself in, and it was a very good buduet,. , budget. He sat at the beginning he didnt like the budget. He sat at the beginning he didnt like the position budget. He sat at the beginning he didnt like the position of budget. He sat at the beginning he didnt like the position of the i didnt like the position of the unions. Is that because they are calling for a much higher rise of 12 , or is that because of the potential for Strike Action . I think both. The figures potential for Strike Action . I think both. The figures that potential for Strike Action . I think both. The figures that the potential for Strike Action . I think both. The figures that the unions| both. The figures that the unions are demanding our unrealistic in the present climate, particularly given the situation the private sector faces. I also think that Strike Action under the circumstances is wholly unwarranted. I dont want this to be a political football, wholly unwarranted. I dont want this to be a politicalfootball, or Party Political football, or a this to be a politicalfootball, or Party Politicalfootball, or a union football. The Pay Review Body, whose job it is to review nhs salaries, to do theirjob. On this occasion, in a vacuum. The government is normally normally recommends a figure, the union is recommended to and they meet somewhere in the middle. I think it would be much better if the Pay Review Body were allowed to get on and do theirjob. On this occasion, exceptionally, the government should be able to say up front, gimmick the recommendation and on this occasion we will meet it without question. As weve been hearing, 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. 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. Hes chosen to come to iraq. Why is that, do you think . Well, iraq is still one of the important countries for us as a christian. Christianity has been here for around 2,000 years, very historical, and 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 thats needed to maintain and to persevere through all of these difficulties. And also to come back and be an important player in the life of all iraqis. I am sure he wanted to visit iraq many times. He mentioned this to us as bishops 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. 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. 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. Our pakistan 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 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 oppositions 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 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 the recent weeks. We can expect more political manoeuvring in the months to come. Thousands of Indian Farmers are blocking a highway near the capital, delhi, in their latest protest against agricultural reforms. Farmers have parked cars, trucks and tractors on the multi lane expressway, blocking toll booths and disrupting traffic. Theyre marking 100 days since their protests started. The government says the reforms will benefit farmers, but farmers fear they may lead to the abolition of government protection, including minimum prices for their produce. Bbc hindis salman ravi has more it has been 100 days since different Farmer Organisations have surrounded delhi from all directions in protest against the farm laws enacted by the indian parliament. Farmer organisations say that these laws are only going to make way for corporations into the Agricultural Sector and that is why they are protesting against it. But the government says that the farmers have got nothing to fear because they are going to be protected by the government. But the Farmer Organisations say that they want a new Law Guaranteeing A Minimum Price for their produce. That is why a stalemate is continuing for many days now. There were violent protests on indias republic day when farmers took a Tractor Rally across this countrys capital. Many people were injured and many have been arrested in connection with those incidents. Today, the Farmer Organisations, on the completion of 100 days, have called for a blockade of highways for many hours in the day in protest against the decision of the government not to withdraw the laws that were enacted by the parliament. Farmer organisations are saying it is a symbolic protestjust to convey their demands to the government so that they can repeal the laws that were enacted recently. 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 upright. 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 tomasz. Thank you. Well, it is pretty quiet out there at the moment. Most of us admittedly stuck underneath a layer of grey. It is also pretty cold in places with temperatures colder than they should be at this time of year. This is what it looks like around, four, five, 6 degrees, may be getting up to seven this afternoon. There is some sunshine on the way. Some of us have had decent sunny spells but they are at a premium. Tonight in scotland there is going to be some rain. Mild and damp here, but for the rest of the uk, where this sky is clear that temperatures will dip to freezing or below, so A Touch Of Frost first thing on sunday morning. In the north of the country, we are expecting further cloud and outbreaks of rain, especially in western and northern scotland, but as far as Northern Ireland england and the dan it is going to be pretty much the same as what we have had today so far. Goodbye. Hello this is bbc news. The headlines pressure grows on the uk government over its pay offer to Health Service staff in england more unions join the backlash. Speaking out for dialogue pope francis meets one of the most powerfulfigures in shia islam on day two of his historic trip to iraq