live from london. this is bbc news. a doctor's strike that threatens to be the most disruptive in the history of the nhs begins in england. final preparations for a president — joe biden heads to northern ireland to mark 25 years of the good friday agreement. we will be live in belfast throughout the day looking ahead to the president's visit and speaking to people here about what the agreement means to them. and the head of the uk's largest business lobby, tony danker, has been sacked over �*misconduct�* claims.

hello and welcome to bbc news. we begin here in england — where thousands ofjunior doctors in england have started a four—day strike — that threatens to bring the worst disruption in the history of the health service. it runs all the way through to saturday morning — and could mean the cancellation of 350,000 appointments and operations. the doctors union is in a row with the government over pay forjunior doctors, with the british medical association sticking to its demand of a 35% pay rise and the government refusing to negotiate until what it sees as a more reasonable pay demand is met. catherine burns reports. what do we want? pay rise! how do we get it? strike! this winter, we've got used to seeing nhs staff waving banners on picket lines. we're now into the fifth month of industrial action, but this walk—out byjunior doctors in england is bigger in scale than anything that's come before. the bma is being accused of picking dates to maximise disruption. their view is industrial action

is meant to cause some disturbance. we've been open and honest and transparent through this whole process. 0ur ask has not changed, because all we are looking to do is restore the pay thatjuniors have lost, but at every opportunity that we might think we can break through it seems they have another precondition, another hurdle, another obstacle for us to go through. nhs bosses will prioritise a&e and areas like maternity, neonatal and critical care. but they expect many, possibly around 350,000, routine appointments to be postponed. including philip fisher's surgery to tackle constant ear infections. he says it shouldn't have come to this. when i received the phone call, i was gutted. i ended up crying. because the pain, unbearable. now, what do i do?

what do i do now? i just have to wait. why is it cancelled? who's accountable? how many more people are like me? this will be the second junior doctor strike this year. at the heart of this ,pay. they want a 35% increase to make up for years of below—inflation wages. that's a large demand, when you think about it. don't get me wrong, i do think they should have an increase, but 35% is a lot. i support them. i've got nothing against what they're doing. ijust hope that it does get kind of sorted out quickly. it's really unfortunate if you're - needing a major operation or you've been on a waiting list, - but, ultimately, i think it's the only way that things can change. i think they do need a significant pay rise. 0bviously, 35%, they're aiming very high. that approach has had some luck with other unions — nurses, ambulance staff and physios

are voting on a 5% pay increase — but not, so far, with the junior doctors. catherine burns, bbc news. and catherine burns is in leicesterfor us — so i'm on the picket line now surrounded byjunior doctors, they surrounded by junior doctors, they walked surrounded byjunior doctors, they walked out about two hours ago and obviously have got about four days to go. it's quiet at the second but all morning it has been beep beep from cars going past. i'm joined by twojunior from cars going past. i'm joined by two junior doctors from cars going past. i'm joined by twojunior doctors who from cars going past. i'm joined by two junior doctors who have taken this decision to go out on strike. how easy was it for you to come to this decision? it how easy was it for you to come to this decision?— this decision? it was really difficult. — this decision? it was really difficult, when _ this decision? it was really difficult, when i _ this decision? it was really difficult, when i think - this decision? it was really | difficult, when i think about this decision? it was really - difficult, when i think about it, i have a duty to my patients. but i also have a duty to tell the truth and stand up for the system, and the fact of the matter is, the nhs is broken. ~ . , ., ., broken. what is your 'ob life on a day-to-day * broken. what is your 'ob life on a day-to-day level? _ broken. what is your 'ob life on a day-to-day level? i_ broken. what is yourjob life on a day-to-day level? i work - broken. what is yourjob life on a

day-to-day level? i work in - day-to-day level? i work in reception — day-to-day level? i work in reception in _ day-to-day level? i work in reception in gynaecology, l day-to-day level? i work in i reception in gynaecology, that day-to-day level? i work in - reception in gynaecology, that is looking after people who have viewed dresses, women's health, and delivering babies. at the moment, every single shift, we don't have enough midwives and doctors. we have to have a strategy meeting in the morning, as to who we are going to do induction four, who we will do c—sections for... we don't have enough staff to often do everything thatis enough staff to often do everything that is on the list for the day. on the ground, we often have patients waiting three or four hours, to be seenin waiting three or four hours, to be seen in the maternity assessment unit. 0ut seen in the maternity assessment unit. out of hours, especially, as a doctor i am covering the entire unit. ., ., unit. how do you cope with this? with great _ unit. how do you cope with this? with great difficulty, _ unit. how do you cope with this? with great difficulty, it's - unit. how do you cope with this? with great difficulty, it's very - with great difficulty, it's very hard coming home at the end of the day and not feeling like you've done a good job. feeling like you've not been able to give the care that you want to give to people. to be honest, we all do our best. we give our best every day, but the fact is

we are all running on empty and we need the government to intervene and do something. you need the government to intervene and do something-— do something. you talk about the nhs, the other— do something. you talk about the nhs, the other unions _ do something. you talk about the nhs, the other unions of- do something. you talk about the nhs, the other unions of the - do something. you talk about the nhs, the other unions of the are | nhs, the other unions of the are voting on a 5% pay offer from the government, you guys are asking for 35%, that's quite a big gap isn't it? it 35%, that's quite a big gap isn't it? , , 3596, that's quite a big gap isn't it? , , .. �* 3596, that's quite a big gap isn't it? , , .,~' ., it? it is, but i can't talk for other unions, _ it? it is, but i can't talk for other unions, i'm - it? it is, but i can't talk for other unions, i'm not - it? it is, but | can't talk for- other unions, i'm not prepared to speakfor the nurses other unions, i'm not prepared to speak for the nurses or anyone else... our pair has dropped in real terms by a quarter over the past 15 years. we have doctors on picket lines today who i have spoken to, who have graduated 13 years ago and are being paid the same today as they were then. that is not right. in northern ireland, final preparations are being put in place forjoe biden�*s visit to mark the anniversary of the signing of the good friday agreement. he lands in belfast later today, from where charlotte gallagher sent this report. the us president is coming to town. belfast is preparing forjoe biden, with his presidentialjet,

air force one, landing tonight. this building is the location for his main visit to northern ireland. the trip is notjust about celebrating the momentous good friday agreement and its 25th anniversary but also about looking forward to the future of northern ireland, and many of the generation studying here do not remember the troubles or perhaps were not born at that time. his trip properly starts on wednesday. a meeting with rishi sunak and a visit to ulster university's new campus. butjoe biden won't be visiting this building — stormont — the home of the devolved government. power—sharing here in northern ireland collapsed over a year ago, with the democratic unionist party refusing to return over post—brexit trading arrangements. the president seemingly wants to avoid the political standoff. from wednesday afternoon, he'll be in the irish republic, and it will be a mix of political

business and personal visits. he'll meet the irish president and prime minister in dublin and his relatives in county mayo and county louth. joe biden describes himself as a proud irish—american, and it's clear his ancestral roots are important to him. this trip will also be a homecoming of sorts. you know, i often say we irish are the only people in the world who are nostalgic for the future. laughter. i think that's true, by the way. but, now, the diplomat, leslie shane, once wrote every st patrick's day, every irishman goes out to find another irishman to make a speech to. i said that this morning. so that's why we asked you here, so we can make speeches. luckily, we don't have to go too far today. and with more than 30 million people in the us identifying as irish—american, it might be beneficial at the ballot box, too.

charlotte gallagher, bbc news, belfast. let's go to lucy hockings, our chief presenter who is in belfast today. welcome to belfast and the lyric, a theatre on the banks of the river lagan, which threads its way through a city which has seen years of conflict and in some places remains divided. today, this is a place of hope and a space which brings people together to tell their stories. and that's what we're going to be doing throughout the day here on bbc news, as northern ireland marks 25 years since the signing of the good friday or belfast agreement. an agreement that brought peace but an imperfect peace. the agreement guaranteed power sharing in government between nationalist and unionist communities.

but for more than a third of its lifetime, there hasn't been a sitting government at stormont. and tonight, belfast welcomes president biden. huge security presence in the city when i walked through this morning. we understand he will meet leaders from all political parties tomorrow at an event at ulster university. people will be watching and listening to see if this american president can make a difference to the political stalemate. joining me is dr claire rice, specialist in ni politics at the university of liverpool. claire, very good to see you. when i soke to claire, very good to see you. when i spoke to young _ claire, very good to see you. when i spoke to young people, _ claire, very good to see you. when i spoke to young people, some - claire, very good to see you. when i spoke to young people, some of - claire, very good to see you. when i l spoke to young people, some of them told me they didn't know anything about it. they had barely even heard about it. they had barely even heard about it. they had barely even heard about it. but where would northern

ireland be without the agreement? absolutely, i am of a generation that has lived in the post—1998 a year, certainly, when you look at what is happening with the younger generation they are coming up with no living memory over the trouble is, of the violence of the past. it has been a relatively peaceful existence that they have had, their focus in terms of what politics needs to do is on the more mundane things, jobs, housing, education. it is those sorts of issues that are at the front of their mouths. they have a very different experience of what it is to be in northern ireland and from northern ireland. that has shaped their interests and agenda going forward. 25 shaped their interests and agenda going forward-— shaped their interests and agenda going forward. 25 years ago, it was a very powerful— going forward. 25 years ago, it was a very powerful thing _ going forward. 25 years ago, it was a very powerful thing that - going forward. 25 years ago, it was a very powerful thing that people l a very powerful thing that people had to do to vote for this, what people have to overcome? it is very difficult to boil — people have to overcome? it is very difficult to boil it _ people have to overcome? it is very difficult to boil it down _ people have to overcome? it is very difficult to boil it down to _ people have to overcome? it is very difficult to boil it down to a - people have to overcome? it is very difficult to boil it down to a few- difficult to boil it down to a few sentences, it cannot be

underestimated. politicians sacrifice their own personal safety in order to get the deal across the line, individuals had to contemplate the release of prisoners who may have been involved in incidents involving their own family members and friends, everybody in northern ireland had to make a sacrifice of greater and lesser degrees in somewhere. it was by no means an easy decision, certainly, i think it is one that we are extremely grateful for.— is one that we are extremely grateful for. is one that we are extremely crateful for. ~ , ,., ~ ., ,, grateful for. when i spoke to you esterda grateful for. when i spoke to you yesterday on _ grateful for. when i spoke to you yesterday on the _ grateful for. when i spoke to you yesterday on the streets, - grateful for. when i spoke to you yesterday on the streets, we - grateful for. when i spoke to you l yesterday on the streets, we didn't want to see any return to violence. young people don't remember that time. when you look at the local papers today, we see violence on the 25th anniversary, we see pictures of petrol bombs being thrown, by mostly young men. who are these young men? what is it that they want? it’s young men. who are these young men? what is it that they want?— what is it that they want? it's one of those things _ what is it that they want? it's one of those things that _ what is it that they want? it's one of those things that is _ what is it that they want? it's one of those things that is very - of those things that is very prevalent in media coverage today, certainly, it is only a small faction of northern ireland. in this particular case, it was in derry

city, marking the 1916 easter rising. it was backed by an organisation linked to the ira. there was a lot of tension in the lead up and police were warned that they were expecting some trouble. there were some arrests last year after the parade. this was expected but we have the international attention on northern ireland with the high profile visitors, not least president biden. effectively, it was seen as an opportunity to put forward the agenda of that organisation.— forward the agenda of that oruanisation. �* .. , , , organisation. american presidents have played _ organisation. american presidents have played an — organisation. american presidents have played an important - organisation. american presidents have played an important role - organisation. american presidents have played an important role in l organisation. american presidents. have played an important role in the history of northern ireland, what you think people expect from president biden? i you think people expect from president biden?— president biden? i think they broadly want _ president biden? i think they broadly want to _ president biden? i think they broadly want to see - president biden? i think they broadly want to see him - president biden? i think they - broadly want to see him encourage the du p back into power. to have a strong word with the political parties and encourage them to find a way forward. reflecting on the good friday agreement, there will be a lot of attention on just how far northern ireland has come in the last 25 years. despite the political

difficulties that we have. there will be a cause for celebration and encouragement, two sides of the coin, if i can put it that way. we would normally see some fanfare for a presidential visit to northern ireland, so quite a different style of visit, but that message of continuing hope, resilience, and pragmatism will be at the core of his message. i pragmatism will be at the core of his message-— pragmatism will be at the core of his message. i think his words will be listened _ his message. i think his words will be listened to _ his message. i think his words will be listened to and _ his message. i think his words will be listened to and he _ his message. i think his words will be listened to and he will- his message. i think his words will be listened to and he will be - be listened to and he will be watched very carefully. this is so interesting, hearing the different reflections that people from different generations have. they are very much reflecting on how young people in northern ireland feel, what they want for their future as well. we are going to be looking at and reflecting on some of those stories today. there are so many generations with different stories to share, people that remember and those that are grateful that they don't remember. we are going to be bringing you those stories, looking at the history but also looking to the future. thank you for now, lucy.

tony danker, the head of one of the uk's biggest business groups, the cbi, has been sacked following an independent investigation into specific complaints of workplace misconduct against him. he'll leave the cbi with immediate effect. our business correspondent emma simpson has more. tony danker was the boss of one of the most influential business groups in the uk, representing the biggest names in corporate britain. he has been under investigation since complaints of workplace misconduct were made against him — the first complaint injanuary, which had been dealt with, but then further complaints came to light and in march he stepped aside. after fairly swift investigation, we have the results of these. he has been dismissed, as you say, with immediate effect following specific complaints made against him. the investigation has determined his own conduct fell short of that expected

of the director—general. this is the first phase of the investigation because since he's stepped aside, other complaints, unrelated to him, have come to light which have absolutely rocked this business group, and we have also learned today that three other cbi employees are now suspended pending further investigation into a number of ongoing allegations. this independent law firm is continuing with its inquiry but the cbi is also liaising with police and has made clear its intention to cooperate fully with any police investigations. one other update, it has already appointed a new dg, rain newton—smith. she was the former cbi chief economist and she has agreed to come back to rejoin the cbi as its new boss.

around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. it started in a pub, as often these things do, a bit of banter between three men and they were arguing about who was fitter than who. and they said, well, get a bag of coal on your back and i'll race you from the royal oak to the maypole green, and thus was born the world coal carrying championships. i'm 76. it's a bit emotional now because, you know, i've actually done it again, but, boy, it'sjust incredible. i was very surprised to win! i'm surprised i'm here never mind winning, so, yes, very surprised to win! yes, it was good and it was

enjoyable and it's nice to come along and come first. you're live with bbc news. bbc radio 4's file on a programme has discovered that complaints to police forces across england and wales are being regularly dismissed, with many people being forced to take civil action to get accountability and how one officer with multiple rape allegations against him, was given a job in the professional standards department. last week, dozens of metropolitan police officers were taken away from tackling serious crime and terrorism to investigate wrongdoing in their own force. but there are calls for a complete overhaul of the police complaints system. hayley mortimer is one of the reporters invoved in this investigation. she joins us from salford. good to see you hurley, tells more about what you found... irate good to see you hurley, tells more about what you found. . ._ about what you found... we have found complaints _ about what you found... we have found complaints made - about what you found... we have found complaints made about. about what you found... we have - found complaints made about members of the public about police behaviour

are being regularly dismissed across england and wales. actually, recent reforms have led to fewer officers being referred for potential disciplinary proceedings. we also know that many people, dissatisfied with the outcome of their complaint, are actually resorting to taking legal action against police forces. they are successfully winning damages there as well. this assures that legitimate allegations are being ignored and that police forces are missing opportunities to find bad officers. we have also found that a police officer, who has been accused of multiple allegations, including allegations of rape, was able to get a job in the professional standards unit, in his force. that really raises questions about whether the police are truly able to investigate their own staff. how did you go about investigating what has become an increasingly big

issue? irate what has become an increasingly big issue? ~ , ., ., ., ., issue? we sifted through a lot have already publicly _ issue? we sifted through a lot have already publicly available _ issue? we sifted through a lot have already publicly available data - already publicly available data around police complaints, and we also went about getting our own datasets. submitting freedom of information requests to the home office, and to police forces. we also spoke to lots of solicitors around the country who represent people taking action against the police. it was through those solicitors that we were put in touch with a number of case studies who have experience of the complaints system. whether that is people who are in it right now, are those who have come out of the other side and have come out of the other side and have taken action against the police. we have really heard of the impact that the whole process has on them, due to the complexity of the process and just how long it takes. this is a process that for many people can take years to get answers. that is years of stress and worry. answers. that is years of stress and wor . ~ ., answers. that is years of stress and wor , ~ ., ., , , answers. that is years of stress and wor .l . worry. what has been said in response _ worry. what has been said in response to _ worry. what has been said in response to this _ worry. what has been said in l response to this investigation? worry. what has been said in - response to this investigation? of the police watchdog, admits that there is a lot of work to be done to

restore public confidence in the complaints process. the home office has also sent a statement acknowledging that the reputation of british policing has been damaged. it is asking to root out current offices that are unfit to serve. thank you very much, hayley. the us and the philippines are holding their largest—everjoint military drills a day after china concluded large—scale exercises around taiwan. beijing simulated attacks on taiwan in response to the island's leader meeting the us house speaker last week. plans for the joint exercises between the us and philippines pre—dated china's activities but won't do anything to calm already simmering tensions in the region. 0ur correspondent shaimaa khalil has more details. security personnel will remain in their posts, they will continue to defend the nation, that's what the taiwanese president tsai ing—wen has said.

and even though china announced that these military exercises which started on saturday right after she came back from the united states have ended on monday, we have at least eight warships still in taiwanese water, eight chinese warships. so the drills may have concluded but the presence, the chinese presence is still there, the tension is still there. we have had three days of military exercises, chinese military exercises around taiwan, 0perationjoint sword, where china simulated or practiced precision attacks on taiwanese targets, simulated surrounding taiwan, but also we've had jets flying into taiwanese airspace to taiwan's east and this dramatic animation video that showed china attacking taiwan by sea, air and hitting some targets in taiwan with explosions. so quite dramatic exercises there. a day after that, another set of drills, this time between the us and the philippines,

the balikatan exercises. they announced that they are going to be the biggest ever. they are going to involve 17,000 troops and a live fire exercise on a sunken ship in the south china sea. now, we knew these were going to happen, they were agreed on after the us secured a defence deal with the philippines earlier this year, so we knew they were happening, we knew they were going to be be big, but this large—scale, if you will, display of american air power in the region could not have come at a more sensitive time in the indo—pacific. we know they are going to happen around philippine waters, but also the south china sea. two things you need to know about this area, well, three. it is tense, it is a very, very busy trading route and it's highly contested by china. and already beijing has expressed it is not happy, even though manila has reassured

them that this is to bolster the country's military capabilities. so you've got two sets of drills happening, one after another, at an increasingly tense time here in the region, increasingly high contention between the us and china as those two powers are trying to bolster their military power here in the indo—pacific. lets ta ke lets take you to amsterdam where french president emmanuel macron is making a two—day state visit to the netherlands, accompanied by the first lady. mr mccrone will have a state dinner with the king and queen. he will also meet the prime minister on a canal boat, of course, the visit is meant to highlight a new dynamic between paris and at the hague. mr mccrone is also expected to sign an innovation packed with

the netherlands to promote cooperation in the fields of quantum technology, semiconductors, and a light processing. both countries are hoping that the deal will enhance security. a mass strike byjunior doctors in england is under way. it is likely to mean the cancellation of hundreds of thousands of appointments and operations. nhs england have warned of unprecedented description, although staff, they say will be available for emergencies. the action is part of an ongoing dispute about pay, with the bma saying, junior doctors should get a 35% pay rise. the government saying the demand is unreasonable. at the moment, there is a stalemate, with no negotiations taking place. we'll have plenty more on that, and all

the desktop stories. stay with us here in bbc news. a business round—up will be coming up for you shortly. you can reach me on twitter in the meantime. thanks for watching. hello again. after a fairly dry and sunny start to the day, things are changing for many of us as we head on through the afternoon. it's going to be wet and windy. some of us already have this combination. some of us have it coming our way. so a lot of dry weather across parts of scotland and eastern england, but the rain already in the west and the south west is going to continue to push northwards and eastwards and some of this rain will be heavy. the winds also increasing in areas adjacent to the irish sea. temperatures nine in the north to about 1k in the south. now, as we head through the latter part of the afternoon, this is when the winds really start to strengthen, especially the west of the coasts and hills, could have gusts 50 to 60 miles an hour.

but even inland, we're going to have gusty winds as the rain continues to push east and north, depositing snow above 300 metres we could have 5 to 10 centimetres of snow above 300 metres and it's going to be windy across the northeast of the north sea, including the northern isles. another chilly night. so a chilly start to the day tomorrow as low pressure anchors itself across the uk. but look at the isobars, particularly in the southwest and through the english channel. here is where we'll have the strongest winds through the course of tomorrow. so we start off with the wintriness above 300 metres in the highlands. we could see some wintriness in the tops of the pennines, the cumbrian falls, the welsh mountains and the moors for a time. but that will revert back to rain and showers. and these black circles represent the strength of the gusts of wind. so wherever you are, it's going to be a windy day, but especially so south wales, south west and the english channel coastline. it will feel chilly, too, in the showers,

the rain in the wind, 7 to 12 degrees being our maximum the rain and the wind, 7 to 12 degrees being our maximum temperatures during wednesday into thursday, the low pressure drifts off in the direction of the north sea. the isobarrs really widen. so it's not going to be as windy a day. it'll still be breezy and it's going to be a day of sunshine and scattered showers. the showers in england and wales pushing eastwards, some of those heavy and thundery, and temperatures eight to about 16 degrees. but you can see something just waiting in the wings behind me there. that rain has the potential to cross some southern areas. the northern edge of it still open to question. but in the north of the country, it's more likely to be showers. but into the weekend, it turns milder.

the imf warns of weak economic growth over the next five years, as the annual gathering of central bankers and finance ministers gets under way in washington. in india, a prominent forecaster warns of a deficient monsoon season, threatening crop yields in this farm—driven economy. welcome to world business report. the global economy is expected to grow a paltry 3% over