today at six: thousands ofjunior doctors in england begin a four—day strike. health bosses warn of "unparalleled upheaval". overworked! underpaid! on the picket lines, doctors say industrial action is a last resort, but they're undervalued and underpaid. if we don't protect our personnel, pay them properly and look after them, we cannot provide the high—quality care that we have been trained and are passionate to give. no hustle and bustle today in usually busy hospitals. ministers say they are listening to junior doctors�* concerns. we want to engage constructively. we recognise junior doctors have been under significant pressure, particularly from the pandemic, and we want to work with them to find a fair and reasonable settlement. so what chance of a speedy resolution to the dispute?

also on the programme: president biden boards air force one, destination belfast. he speaks of his hopes on the 25th anniversary of the good friday agreement. make sure the irish accords and - the winter agreements stay in place, keep the peace. - that's the main thing. keep your fingers crossed. one of the uk's biggest business groups, the cbi, sacks its head tony danker after an investigation into workplace conduct. and the wild spring weather continues with warnings of strong winds for western parts of the uk. coming up on the bbc news channel, p9p coming up on the bbc news channel, pep guardiola takes on his old team for the first time since leaving them as manchester �*s city play

good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. thousands ofjunior doctors in england have begun a four—day strike, with nhs leaders warning it'll be the most disruptive in health service history. the dispute over pay is expected to see thousands of operations cancelled, though staff will be available for emergencies. the industrial action began at 7am and will run until 6:59 on saturday morning. during last month's three—day strike byjunior doctors, more than 175,000 treatments and appointments had to be cancelled, but the number this time round is expected to be much higher. the british medical association is calling for a pay increase of 35%. it says this will restore wages to 2008/2009 levels when inflation is taken into account. but downing street says this is unreasonable. in a moment, we'll take a look

at the advice issued to the public today, but first, here's our health editor, hugh pym. overworked! underpaid! junior doctors on the picket line at milton keynes university hospital. what do we want? pay restoration! the strike is set to be the most destructive so far. nojunior doctor cuts! so why are they out for a second time this year? do you know, it's a really difficult decision as a junior doctor to strike, and i've actually felt a lot of agony about deciding, as have many of my colleagues. but at the end of the day, we have had significant pay degradation. is it reasonable to ask for a 35% pay rise? i support all of my colleagues in the health sector who are striking for pay increases. my wife is a nurse, so between the two of us, our real—time pay is being degraded amongst two salaries. we need to find some space for you... - at the same hospital in november, here's what we saw. a crowded corridor with

ambulance staff waiting to hand over patients at a&e. and here's what it looked like this morning. everything a lot quieter. some patients possibly staying away, knowing there was a strike on. the hospital says consultants have stepped in, some cancelling their leave. we have the rotas covered over the next four days. obviously, for any unexpected sickness, or if any major event happens, then we will have to make sure that we are able to cope with that, and i have to be honest and say that things are quite tight. emergency care has been maintained, but it's a different story for non—urgent treatment. usually here in outpatients, every seat is occupied, but today, very few are. the hospital has cancelled more than 200 appointments, and that's just for one day of this strike. junior doctors include those on a starting salary of around £29,000 to more than 50,000 for those with several

years' experience. at another hospital, jackie was due to have breast reconstruction surgery this week three years after a mastectomy, but it was cancelled because of the strike. i'm just really, really upset that it's off. i don't know when it's going to be rescheduled. i've got a husband who's also now being diagnosed with cancer, who is also going to have to have chemotherapy, and i needed that operation to go ahead so that i can look after him. # for better pay...# while striking doctors have been vocal in making their case, the health secretary is adamant that their demands are unrealistic. we are ready to have discussions with them, but clearly, a demand for 35% over £20,000 for some junior doctors, is not fair or reasonable, and that is why we've not been able to make progress so far.

the junior doctors argue that mr barclay should put forward his own pay offer. i would urge him again and ask anyone that is in contact with him to urge him to come to the table in an open and honest way so that we can ultimately bring this dispute to an end as quickly as possible. as striking doctors and others staged a march through westminster, the two sides seemed as entrenched and as far apart as ever. more from hugh in a moment, but nhs england says to cope with the strike, it's prioritising resources to protect life—saving care. the advice to the public is to only use 999 or go to a&e if it's a life—threatening emergency, like signs of a heart attack, stroke, or serious injury. for all other medical concerns, the guidance is to use 111 online as the first port of call. do attend hospital appointments as planned, unless you've been contacted and told otherwise. meanwhile, gp practices will continue to be open during the strike.

the nhs says the public can also play its part by checking in on vulnerable family members and neighbours. let's talk to hugh pym now, who's at university college hopsital in london. whew, all anyone wants to know is, when could we see a possible resolution to this dispute? well,, clive, a resolution _ resolution to this dispute? well,, clive, a resolution anytime - resolution to this dispute? well,, clive, a resolution anytime soon | clive, a resolution anytime soon seems highly unlikely. steve barclay, the health secretary, covering england, made it clear that he would not talk to the bma if there was an impending strike, and they had to back right off their 35% pay claim. for its part, the bma said it would not call of the strike, and as mr barclay —— unless mr barclay came forward with a credible pay offer to get negotiations going. there has been talk of the involvement of acas, the conciliation service. the bma says it raised the idea a couple of months ago and that got nowhere. when put to mr barclay, he says his

door is open and he has done a deal with the health unions and done a deal there, so he is prepared to try and reach one with the bma, but i think progress seems highly unlikely, at least until the end of this week. right now, of course, hospitals in england are focusing very much on maintaining safe patient care. based on the hospital i was out, milton keynes, things seem to be going more or less ok, but across the system, i think there are worries about overnight cover. we will have to wait for more details about tomorrow. i should say, the bma is balloting members in scotland of a possible industrial action, and in wales, calling for a higher pay dealfrom action, and in wales, calling for a higher pay deal from the government. thank you for that, hugh pym, live at university college hospital in london. president biden is due to arrive in belfast tonight for a visit marking the 25th anniversary of the good friday agreement, which largely ended 30 years of conflict. he's expected to meet stormont�*s main political parties and says he looks forward to reiterating america's commitment to preserving peace and encouraging propserity in northern ireland.

on arrival, he'll be greeted by the prime minister rishi sunak. then, tomorrow, he'll deliver a speech at ulster university before travelling to the republic of ireland for events in louth and mayo, where he has relatives. there'll also be official engagements in dublin. he'll then leave for america on friday. here's our ireland correspondent, emma vardy. locking down the streets where the president's motorcade will be rolling into town. this is one of the biggest security operations of recent years for northern ireland. we have been planning for this for a number of weeks. we have prepared for all the various contingencies. our style and tone that will we will be delivering around this police operation will remain a community focused style of policing. presidential visits in the past of held great significance in northern ireland's peace process. you must say to those who still would _ you must say to those who still would use — you must say to those who still would use violence for political objectives, you are in the past.

in objectives, you are in the past. "11995, — objectives, you are in the past. in 1995, not long after a ceasefire had been declared by the republican armed paramilitaries the ira, bill clinton crossed belfast�*s peace line to visit the divided republican and loyalist communities, and in belfast�*s falls road came a historic moment. the first public handshake between a us president — the first public handshake between a us president and _ the first public handshake between a us president and the _ the first public handshake between a us president and the leader- the first public handshake between a us president and the leader of- the first public handshake between a us president and the leader of whatl us president and the leader of what many— us president and the leader of what many still_ us president and the leader of what many still believed _ us president and the leader of what many still believed to _ us president and the leader of what many still believed to be _ us president and the leader of what many still believed to be the - many still believed to be the political— many still believed to be the political wing _ many still believed to be the political wing of— many still believed to be the political wing of the - many still believed to be the political wing of the ira. - political wing of the ira. bill— political wing of the ira. bill clinton's _ political wing of the ira. bill clinton's visit - political wing of the ira. bill clinton's visit helped political wing of the ira. - bill clinton's visit helped pave the way for sinn fein to join peace talks. there was some political pressure, wasn't there, for him not to come here? what did that handshake achieve for you?— here? what did that handshake achieve for you? well,, it was a very clear. _ achieve for you? well,, it was a very clear, symbolic— achieve for you? well,, it was a very clear, symbolic indication i achieve for you? well,, it was a l very clear, symbolic indication to this community, which had suffered previously, that the president of the usa was recognising them, and other communities as well, of course. on this stretch of the road,

you only walk the length of yourself and somebody died here, at the hands of british soldiers of the ruc or the ira, or the loyalists. and it was to have a moment of unquestionable symbolism. there has long been a strong connection with ireland for many americans with irish ancestry. and there is president kennedy. lmilieu and there is president kennedy. when john f kennedy visited _ and there is president kennedy. john f kennedy visited ireland, he described it as the best four days of his life. and joe biden has often spoken of his family's irish roots. but in washington today, he said his focus in belfast would be the peace process in the uk's recent new agreement in brexit.— process in the uk's recent new agreement in brexit. what is your to - agreement in brexit. what is your tap priority _ agreement in brexit. what is your tap priority on _ agreement in brexit. what is your top priority on this _ agreement in brexit. what is your top priority on this trip, _ agreement in brexit. what is your top priority on this trip, sir? - top priority on this trip, sir? make — top priority on this trip, sir? make sure _ top priority on this trip, sir? make sure the irish accords in the winter agreement to stay in place. keep the peace. that's the main thing. soaking up the last of the sunshine. there will be a little less need for those glasses where he is going, as tonight, potus is on course for the rather less sun—kissed belfast international airport. air force one is set to touch down in northern ireland injust a few hours' time, and whenjoe biden understands later on, we understand after a short rating on the tarmac,

he will be whisked away for the night before his visit to ulster university in belfast tomorrow. an invitation to stormont was not taken up stop the optics here deemed less suitable, with the devolved government not functioning for over a year because of disagreements over the brexit arrangements. for this city, it will be a more brief affair than the presidential visits of the past, but still a mark of northern ireland's continuing importance to america in its post—conflictjourney. emma vardy, post—conflict journey. emma va rdy, bbc post—conflictjourney. emma vardy, bbc news, belfast. yes, it is pretty wet in belfast. our political editor, chris mason is there. some of the significance of the us president making this trip? any visit by a us president to the uk, particularly northern ireland, is significant, but it is one that has been in diplomatic discussion for the best part of a year at least. the exact form and duration

of the visit was always going to be tempered and moulded by the politics of northern ireland at the time of the visit. there was relief in washington, just as there was in london, that there was a successful recasting of the brexit arrangement for northern ireland, the so—called windsor framework. that's what has made this visit possible. but the real prize was the restoration of power—sharing devolved government here in belfast, that has not happened yet. so i think that is a contributor to a dial down sense of itineraries from both the president and prime minister. yes, they will meet, as the president arrives tonight, but that is pretty much it in terms of us seeing the two of them together. yes, they will have a meeting tomorrow, and then that speech from the president, before the president heads to the republic, and the prime minister heads back to london. but the prime minister will be back here next week for a more visible set of commemorations that he will be involved in.

0k, he will be involved in. ok, chris, thanks. chris mason there live in belfast. the uk will remain the worst—performing major economy in the world this year, according to forecasts from the international monetary fund. the imf now predicts the uk economy will shrink by 0.3% before growing by i% in 202a. the forecast suggests the only other major economy to contract this year will be germany. our north american business reporter samira hussain is in washington. what are the reasons behind these predictions? there are three real contributing factors. of course, first we have those really high energy prices in the uk. gas prices have gone up by more than 60% in the last 12 months, and electricity prices by more than 130%. so that is having an impact in terms of how much the uk economy can grow. then you have higher interest rates, and remember, they have been raising interest rates to try and

slow down the economy, especially the pace of inflation. that's that cost of living we are talking about. and the third thing has to do with trade. now, a lot of countries so their trade completely crater during their trade completely crater during the pandemic, but since then, most european countries have been able to get back to trade at pre—pandemic levels. the uk has not been so successful. 0k, successful. ok, samira hussain, thank you. samira hussain in washington. the business lobby group the cbi has sacked its director general after an investigation into workplace misconduct. the allegations involve a female employee. tony danker described the claims against him as "distorted", but says he recognised he unintentionally made a number of colleagues feel uncomfortable. our business editor simonjack has the latest. our director—general, tony danker. tony danker was the head of a group representing 190,000 firms in —— employing millions of people but his own employment came to us and then this morning following an

investigation into his conduct towards a female employee. the cbi board said tony danker was dismissed with immediate effect following the independent investigation into specific complaints of workplace misconduct against him. the board has determined that his conduct fell short of that expected of the director—general. mr danker responded on social media saying this... the exact findings of the report remain unpublished, but this brew in suffolk said it was renewing its membership. it suffolk said it was renewing its membership-— suffolk said it was renewing its membership. it is a medium size business that _ membership. it is a medium size business that employs _ membership. it is a medium size business that employs around i membership. it is a medium size i business that employs around 500 people are more than half are female. how would i have been able to have said we will remain members of the cbi in that situation? it was

right, i think, of the cbi in that situation? it was right, ithink, that of the cbi in that situation? it was right, i think, that we reviewed it, but it is also right that we give the organisation a chance to put its house back in order. the the organisation a chance to put its house back in order.— house back in order. the cbi also announced _ house back in order. the cbi also announced three _ house back in order. the cbi also announced three other— house back in order. the cbi also - announced three other employees had been suspended, pending further investigation with police involvement into allegations of serious sexual misconduct, unconnected to mr danker and predating his time in office. it promised a root and branch review of culture, governance and processes and appointed a new director—general, forber cbi chief economist, mr newton smith, now charged with fixing a reputation in crisis. , , ., ., ~ charged with fixing a reputation in crisis. , , ., .,~ , charged with fixing a reputation in crisis. , , ., .,~ , ., ., crisis. this is a wake up to all of us in business _ crisis. this is a wake up to all of us in business to _ crisis. this is a wake up to all of us in business to look _ crisis. this is a wake up to all of us in business to look in - crisis. this is a wake up to all of us in business to look in our- crisis. this is a wake up to all of| us in business to look in our own organisations and make sure that such inappropriate behaviour, as clearly has been happening in the cbi, can't happen in our organisations and are rooted out once and for all. the organisations and are rooted out once and for all.— organisations and are rooted out once and for all. the cbi exists to do two main _ once and for all. the cbi exists to do two main things, _ once and for all. the cbi exists to do two main things, lobby - once and for all. the cbi exists to | do two main things, lobby people, mainly the element and its interests of 2000 memberfirms, and promote

and spread legs practice within those companies. despite the changes into allegations, it's not in a position to do either —— spread best practice. cbi events like the one this year were a key interface between government and business but it said it would extend the pause in dealing with an organisation that describes as the most effective and influential voice for business. the biggest crisis in its near 60 year history is not over yet. the time is 6:18pm. our top story this evening: thousands ofjunior doctors in england have begun a four—day strike over pay and conditions. and coming up: the new government vaping scheme to encourage smokers to kick the habit. coming up on the bbc news channel: with 100 days to go until the women's world cup, england hope for another test against the team who co—host the tournament this summer. they're playing australia in a friendly.

starring role and none off—camera. —— on and off camera. in ukraine, an area roughly the size of england, wales and northern ireland combined is covered in landmines and other explosive devices. both sides in the confict have been using such weapons of war. this map of ukraine from the state emergency service claims the areas in red have been contaminated by mines laid by the russians. they're mostly concentrated in the kharkiv region, where officials say it will take decades to clear them. our ukraine correspondent, james waterhouse, is in kharkiv and has that story. this is what you call a scratching of the surface. a sweep, and a gentle prod for hidden killers. a job with a very obvious occupational

hazards. it's hard to describe this as anything other than random. this is a patch of land in the middle of a city. it's not a place unlike other areas that was once contested, where there was heavy fighting, but what these minesweepers are looking for our so—called butterfly mines. they are banned by international law. they don't look much, but the damage they can cause is severe. only a few inches wide and shaped like a propeller, they are scattered from a flying rocket. they are illegal because of the indiscriminate way they can kill and injure civilians. in the area around here, russia and ukraine have been accused of using butterfly minds. the latter denies it. —— butterfly minds. the city's deputy mayor tells me they have been de—mining every month since the second world war, and it is now everyday. timer;r

and it is now everyday. they are everywhere _ and it is now everyday. they are everywhere. they _ and it is now everyday. they are everywhere. they can _ and it is now everyday. they are everywhere. they can be - and it is now everyday. they are everywhere. they can be found | and it is now everyday. they are l everywhere. they can be found in yards, cemeteries, agricultural fields, woodlands, along the donetsk river. there are a lot of mines. find river. there are a lot of mines. and the damage — river. there are a lot of mines. and the damage they cause is devastating. as shown inside this hospital. this man stepped on one in the garden of his destroyed home. i have no house, no car, no cows, no property, and i used to have it all. it all got burned down, ruined. my grandchildren cannot visit because everything is mined. he is under the care of yuri, the only doctor who kept working throughout the russian occupation last year.— occupation last year. unfortunately, in most cases. _ occupation last year. unfortunately, in most cases, an _ occupation last year. unfortunately, in most cases, an encounter - occupation last year. unfortunately, in most cases, an encounter with i occupation last year. unfortunately, j in most cases, an encounter with an unknown _ in most cases, an encounter with an

unknown explosive device ends tragically, and losing a limb or getting — tragically, and losing a limb or getting other injuries is not the worst— getting other injuries is not the worst outcome. for instance, a week and a _ worst outcome. for instance, a week and a half— worst outcome. for instance, a week and a half ago, we received a patient — and a half ago, we received a patient who uncovered a mine. he is still here, _ patient who uncovered a mine. he is still here, but the other person who was with— still here, but the other person who was with him died. put a still here, but the other person who was with him died.— still here, but the other person who was with him died. at a mine lecture there is an appetite _ was with him died. at a mine lecture there is an appetite to _ was with him died. at a mine lecture there is an appetite to better- there is an appetite to better understand this resident threat. i understand this resident threat. i am very cautious. i don't walk around much, but when i do, i use the same path, because i'm scared. i have a 16—year—old son and i'm really worried about him going out on his own. really worried about him going out on his own-— really worried about him going out on his own. 1, . ,, , , on his own. back here, the butterfly clearin: on his own. back here, the butterfly clearing reaches _ on his own. back here, the butterfly clearing reaches its _ on his own. back here, the butterfly clearing reaches its crescendo. - clearing reaches its crescendo. our job likely to be replicated for decades.

a 19—year—old man has been arrested by police after his mother said he had stabbed his opponent. this is charlie bates, a 16—year—old, stabbed to death in a somerset car park lastjuly. he was with six friends that evening when two cars turned up and an argument, said to be over a debt ofjust £20 escalated. charlie was stabbed in the chest byjoshua del bono. he claimed he was acting in defence of his friend, and this is the moment he was reported by his own mum.

thenjosh then josh came to thenjosh came to the phone. josh's mother took a really important and brave decision to call the police at that point to tell them what had happened, which i think for any parent must be an incredibly difficult thing to do. del bono shouted, don't mess with us again. then he drove off to get rid of the knife and burn his clothes before going home. he will serve at least 21 years for a crime that ended a schoolboy�*s life and stunned this small town. around a million smokers in england will be given a free vaping starter kit to encourage them to give up smoking. our medical editor fergus walsh is here with the details. there's no doubt about the harms of smoking. it is the biggest single preventable cause of ill health in the uk.

a quarter of all cancer deaths are linked to smoking. back in 1974, 45% of adults in britain smoked. by 2021, that had fallen to 13%. but in england alone, that equates to around six million people. the target in england is to get rates below 5% by 2030. a review last year said it would not be achievable without urgent action. the government plans in england today include free "swap to stop" vaping kits for a million smokers, and up to £400 in vouchers for pregnant women to stop smoking. it's estimated nearly1 in 10 pregnant women, 50,000 per year, still smoke during pregnancy. there'll also be a crackdown on the sale of vapes to children. vaping can play an important role in helping _ vaping can play an important role in helping the — vaping can play an important role in helping the government achieve its smoke _ helping the government achieve its smoke 32030 ambition, because it is a double—edged sword. on the one hand we _ a double—edged sword. on the one hand we don't want children to develop — hand we don't want children to develop an addiction to any substance at a young age, but on the

other— substance at a young age, but on the other hand. — substance at a young age, but on the other hand, for adults, vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking. we asked smokers in sheffield what would make them quit. i'mjust so i'm just so used to the cigarettes and i've — i'm just so used to the cigarettes and i've had the vape before but i went— and i've had the vape before but i went back— and i've had the vape before but i went back to cigarettes because they taste better. i went back to cigarettes because they taste better. ~ �* , went back to cigarettes because they taste better-— taste better. i think it's the best idea to vape _ taste better. i think it's the best idea to vape because _ taste better. i think it's the best idea to vape because cigarettes| taste better. i think it's the best i idea to vape because cigarettes are £12 and _ idea to vape because cigarettes are £12 and they're _ idea to vape because cigarettes are £12 and they're going _ idea to vape because cigarettes are £12 and they're going to _ idea to vape because cigarettes are £12 and they're going to go - idea to vape because cigarettes are £12 and they're going to go up i idea to vape because cigarettes are | £12 and they're going to go up soon. it's £12 and they're going to go up soon. its force _ £12 and they're going to go up soon. its force of— £12 and they're going to go up soon. it's force of habit _ £12 and they're going to go up soon. it's force of habit now, _ £12 and they're going to go up soon. it's force of habit now, so— £12 and they're going to go up soon. it's force of habit now, so i've - it's force of habit now, so i've been — it's force of habit now, so i've been smoking for 30 years. the government rejected a proposal to increase the age you can buy cigarettes from 18 by one year every year until no—one can legally buy them, as new zealand has done. in contrast to smoking, vaping levels are soaring. more than four million britons vape, including around 9% of 11 to 15—year—olds in england, even though it's illegal to sell vapes to under—18s.

vaping is important to help adult smokers — vaping is important to help adult smokers quit but we don't want to see children taking it up. enforcement is really important but what is _ enforcement is really important but what is needed as well as changes in regulations. at the moment the products— regulations. at the moment the products are far too appealing to children— products are far too appealing to children and far too cheap for children— children and far too cheap for children to get hold of. many remain concerned about the dramatic rise in vaping among children. although far less dangerous than smoking, its potential long—term harms are unclear. fergus, thank you. there are yellow weather warnings in place for wales and northern ireland, which means some disruption is expected. heavy rain and gusts of up to 60mph are due to arrive in some coastal areas, like here in porthcawl, south—west wales, with winds up to 50mph possible inland. the met office alert came into force this afternoon, placing south and mid—wales also on high alert from tomorrow. time for a look at the weather. here's helen willetts.

hello. some stormy weather is on the way. yes, if you've been listening to the forecast, and because we have a powerfuljet stream you can see behind me here, this powerful upper level wind is driving in this band of cloud from the atlantic, allowing the area of low pressure to deepen rapidly, which gives the strong winds and it's also already giving us some wet weather as well, so we are in for two bouts of windy weather, one this evening i won again through tomorrow morning, so the warnings are in force and we still have a warning for rain in northern ireland but more impactful for most is the really strong bout of wind, severe gales lashing up through the irish sea, accompanying this rain, atrocious conditions if you're travelling. the rain will reach central and northern scotland, clearing most parts by midnight so it becomes clear and quite chilly. yes, it is cold air, and even some snow over the mountains of scotland as well as the colder air

circulating around the low pressure, so a touch of frost and a few parts tomorrow but quite bright and again the calm before the storm because we have another bout of windy weather to come as well as lots of heavy showers and the winds look at this time as though they will be most ferocious around the irish sea coast, wales, southern england and large waves over the top of the coastline and some very strong and gusty winds across northern ireland. aside from the wind and it will be a windy day for most, there will be a lot of heavy showers around tomorrow with hail and thunder and the wet snow even down to the moors in the south but few and far between mostly across the hills of scotland, but a very showery picture, gusty winds and you really will notice the chilly feel after what we've seen recently with temperatures barely reaching double figures for most parts. into thursday, the low pressure is with us in the north sea, piling on more showers but hopefully lengthy spells of drier, brighter weather in between allowing the temperatures to recoverjust a little. april is the cruellest

month. thanks helen. that's it. you can keep up to date with the very latest developments on the bbc website. hello and welcome to sportsday — i'm hugh ferris. the headlines this evening. a champions league quarterfinal full of familiarity. manchester city against bayern munich brings together two managers who've been doing this against each other for ten years. it's australia in brentford for england — 102 before their opening women's world cup match in brisbane. and nearly four years on from winning the cricket world cup with england. liam plunkett is breaking new boundaries in the us. cricket was here first, baseball came along and took them as

supporters and fans. hopefully it is “p supporters and fans. hopefully it is up to