of the public sector unions have reacted angrily to the proposed 2.8% increase. also on the programme... farmers protest in westminster, and accuse the chancellor of refusing to engage with them on changes to inheritance tax. thejustice minister says prisons in england and wales will be full in three years, despite a new building programme to create more places. saudi arabia is poised to host the 2034 world cup, as human rights and environmental campaigners attack the choice. and the epic tale of a travelling whale — scientists say its 8,000—mile migration is one of the longest ever. and coming up on bbc news... harry brook's stellar winter so far takes him to the top of the test batter world rankings, replacing england and yorkshire teammate joe root.

good afternoon, and welcome to the bbc news at one. the teaching union the nasuwt has threatened "industrial relations misery" over next year's recommended public—sector pay rise. the 2.8% increase will apply to more than a million workers — including teachers, nhs staff, and civil servants. but already trade unions have reacted angrily, saying the figure is too low. our political correspondent iain watson has more. overworked! underpaid! with the labour government awarding a substantial pay increase to junior doctors, you might have thought scenes like these wouldn't be repeated. but think again. the government is proposing pay increases for many public—service workers which are barely above inflation. and the unions are very vocally expressing their discontent this winter. including some which help fund the labour party. nhs staff are facing a huge challenge going into this winter,

with the quad—demic on the horizon, and the huge challenge to try and bring down those unacceptable waiting lists. pay is really key to that. the biggest worry at the moment is this news will drive more people to leave, and that will make the situation even worse. for many public—sector workers, ministers are recommending a pay rise of 2.8% for next year. that's just above inflation, which is expected to rise to 2.6%. the government has already upset farmers over inheritance tax, and some pensioners over cuts in winter fuel payments. and now they could be on a collision course with the unions. the government's proposed 2.8% increase will now be put to independent pay review bodies to consider. they have to take into account the need to retain and recruit staff. that could lead to them to recommending a higher increase. but there's a sting in the tail because the government's saying that anything above 2.8% would have

to come from existing departmental budgets. that means they will have to find efficiencies, or make cuts. the teaching unions say pay has declined by as much as a fifth in the past decade, making recruitment more difficult. but they say any pay increase should not be at the expense of spending on schools. there's also something else that is problematic in the evidence that the government has submitted to the pay review body. in the fact that the expectation is that any pay award next year should come out of existing school budgets. so there would be no extra funding made available. the current government is hoping that the unions, like them, will blame the previous government. i would hope that they recognise that the government's fiscal inheritance has been extremely difficult, and we do have to make sure that the books overall balance, as well, and that pay is on a sustainable footing. but the previous government wasn't exactly offering to share responsibility. labour have got themselves into a real bind here where,

you know, they've sort of announced 22% for doctors a few weeks ago, 2.8% is on the table here now. they've got to own the process. final decisions on pay are still some way off, so there won't be any new strike action soon. but there's clearly gap between the unions�* expectations and the government's intentions. iain watson, bbc news. joining us now is our employment correspondent zoe conway. zoe, how is this figure decided, and who will it affect? the public sector pay review bodies will come up with their recommendation. we expect to hear from them in april. and they can reject what the government is saying. they've got a number of factors that they've got to take into account. notjust what factors that they've got to take into account. not just what the government is saying but they might for example with the nhs, they might look at staffing levels. there are big gaps in staffing when it comes to the nhs, and amongst teachers, and to make sure that any pay that is recommended helps to fill those

gaps. i think following on from what iain is saying, i think it is too soon to talk about the possibility of strike action at first public sector. i have spoken to several of the big trade unions this morning that but thank god, it happened. it is only the third day. what are you hoping for the new leadership? i am hoinu “ust hoping for the new leadership? i am heping just to _ hoping for the new leadership? i am hoping just to free _ hoping for the new leadership? i am hoping just to free syria. not like it is going — hoping just to free syria. not like it is going to be like someone in the previous president, i don't want it to be _ the previous president, i don't want it to be like — the previous president, i don't want it to be like emma. we want syria.

we don't _ it to be like emma. we want syria. we don't wonder anyone just like one leadership, _ we don't wonder anyone just like one leadership, we want someone who is from us _ leadership, we want someone who is from us and — leadership, we want someone who is from us and works only for us. not working _ from us and works only for us. not working for— from us and works only for us. not working for himself. that is why i am working for himself. that is why i anr hoping — working for himself. that is why i am hoping i am so happy and i am hoping— am hoping i am so happy and i am hoping for— am hoping i am so happy and i am hoping forthe am hoping i am so happy and i am hoping for the best. no one is going to do— hoping for the best. no one is going to do like _ hoping for the best. no one is going to do like he did. it was so sad, i was_ to do like he did. it was so sad, i was so— to do like he did. it was so sad, i was so depressed. this to do like he did. it was so sad, i was so depressed.— to do like he did. it was so sad, i was so depressed. this is why they colle . e was so depressed. this is why they college the — was so depressed. this is why they college the slaughterhouse - was so depressed. this is why they college the slaughterhouse where l college the slaughterhouse where thousands were tortured to death here? i thousands were tortured to death here? ., , thousands were tortured to death here? , ,, here? i was so depressed,. there was a notice about — here? i was so depressed,. there was a notice about the _ here? i was so depressed,. there was a notice about the prisons _ here? i was so depressed,. there was a notice about the prisons about - here? i was so depressed,. there was a notice about the prisons about how. a notice about the prisons about how people _ a notice about the prisons about how people used to be treated there but i people used to be treated there but i could _ people used to be treated there but i could not— people used to be treated there but i could not believe it. maybe it has happened — i could not believe it. maybe it has happened but now, it is true, it is even _ happened but now, it is true, it is even worse —

happened but now, it is true, it is even worse. it is over but thank god, _ even worse. it is over but thank god, they— even worse. it is over but thank god, they are all free, most of them and i_ god, they are all free, most of them and i am _ god, they are all free, most of them and i am sorry for people who lost their— and i am sorry for people who lost their family. and i am sorry for people who lost theirfamily. my and i am sorry for people who lost their family. my friend lost her dad and her— their family. my friend lost her dad and her uncle, all of them but thanks— and her uncle, all of them but thanks to _ and her uncle, all of them but thanks to god, we are hoping that my kids, thanks to god, we are hoping that my kids. my— thanks to god, we are hoping that my kids, my knees, my nephew, maybe theyare _ kids, my knees, my nephew, maybe they are going to live a better life more _ they are going to live a better life more than — they are going to live a better life more than me. i could not be here like this— more than me. i could not be here like this for— more than me. i could not be here like this for 13 years. i used to come — like this for 13 years. i used to come and _ like this for 13 years. i used to come and play here and play thereabout now i couldn't. thank you some much — thereabout now i couldn't. thank you some much for— thereabout now i couldn't. thank you some much for sharing _ thereabout now i couldn't. thank you some much for sharing your- thereabout now i couldn't. thank you some much for sharing yourjoy, - thereabout now i couldn't. thank you some much for sharing yourjoy, it i some much for sharing yourjoy, it is written all over your face. this is written all over your face. this is what you hear from the syrians, theirjoy. they took of is what you hear from the syrians, their joy. they took of a is what you hear from the syrians, theirjoy. they took of a free syria and that about their home. it is early days and they reference to the horrors of the past of the prison where thousands went to their death.

tortured to death, where there has been absolutely heartbreaking scenes of people hoping against hope their loved ones were still alive but so few came out alive. this is such an extraordinary moment in the history of this ancient civilisation and they are now hoping that after the worst of years, the best of syria can emerge. breaking news of a trial that has gripped the country, the case of sara sharif, the murder trial. this was the ten—year—old girl who died on the 8th of august 2023 at her home in surrey. her body was found with dozens of injuries to days later and we have had the trial of the father, stepmother and uncle of this young girl, 10—year—old sara sharif, and we are starting to get

those verdicts in it now. i can take you through them. the father of sarah sharif has been found guilty of murder. her stepmother, also guilty of murder. the uncle, not guilty of murder. the uncle, not guilty of murder. the uncle, not guilty of murder. in the murder trial of three people over the death of 10—year—old sara sharif. sara's father urfan sharif and stepmother beinash batool have both been found guilty of murder. sara's uncle was found not guilty of murder but guilty of allowing the death of a child. ten year old sarah sharif, always smiling, a confident, caring little girl who loved to sing and dance. but in august last year, she died after months of brutal violence. more than a day after sara had died, herfather made the call to the police.

he had left sara's body alone at home in woking in surrey, and fled with his family to pakistan. police! as sara's father was still on the phone to the police — officers were already inside the house. police. sarah was found with more than 70 external injuries and more than 25 fractures. it was the view of the pathologists who gave evidence here at the old bailey that she died as a result of complications from

multiple and extensive injuries. she had been found limp and in a very pearly way, as you would expect with those injuries, on the 8th of august and then the chronology of events is that on the 9th of august last year, her father, that on the 9th of august last year, herfather, his wife, the that on the 9th of august last year, her father, his wife, the uncle and the rest of the family flew to pakistan. her body was found on the 10th of august after police received a call from pakistan and the three defendants returned to the uk from pakistan on the 13th of september and they were charged on the 15th of september. there is much more i can tell you in a moment about what has been happening in court this morning because two of the defendants were discharged from their duty because of illness and that meant that only ten were left to deliberate, seven women and three men. they came back quite quickly this morning with

those verdicts. sara sharif loves to sing and play the guitar. she was a confident, caring little girl, but in august last year, she died after months of brutal violence. last year, she died after months of brutalviolence. more last year, she died after months of brutal violence. more than a day after she had died, herfather made the call to the police. mr; after she had died, her father made the call to the police.— the call to the police. my daughter is dead. the call to the police. my daughter is dead- you _ the call to the police. my daughter is dead. you killed _ the call to the police. my daughter is dead. you killed your _ the call to the police. my daughter is dead. you killed your daughter? it is dead. you killed your daughter? it was _ is dead. you killed your daughter? it was me — is dead. you killed your daughter? it was me. he had left sara's body alone at home in woking in sir and fled with his family to pakistan. police! sara's father was still on

the phone to police, officers were already inside the house. upstairs, undercover in a bunk bed, they found her body. herfather undercover in a bunk bed, they found her body. her father had left a handwritten note, love you, sir, it is me who killed my daughter. the little girl had over 70 injuries, including fractures, bruises, burns and bite marks. she including fractures, bruises, burns and bite marks.— including fractures, bruises, burns and bite marks. she had in'uries to her shouldersfi and bite marks. she had in'uries to her shoulders which h and bite marks. she had in'uries to her shoulders which are _ and bite marks. she had injuries to her shoulders which are said - and bite marks. she had injuries to her shoulders which are said to - and bite marks. she had injuries to her shoulders which are said to be | her shoulders which are said to be very rare, by the pathologist, and she had lots of injuries so you can imagine the fractured ribs, the pain that would have been causing. her blood was discovered on this cricket bat and her father used this metal pole to beat her with. with the body

upstairs, desperate to leave, a father and his wife were making plans to flee. hours later, the family were at heathrow, heading for pakistan. but after months on the run, the father, stepmother and uncle returned to the uk. they were immediately arrested. the uncle returned to the uk. they were immediately arrested.— immediately arrested. the body of sara sharif was _ immediately arrested. the body of sara sharif was discovered, - immediately arrested. the body of sara sharif was discovered, you i immediately arrested. the body of| sara sharif was discovered, you are therefore arrested for the murder of sara sharif. fist therefore arrested for the murder of sara sharif. �* �* ., , sara sharif. at the old bailey trial, the six _ sara sharif. at the old bailey trial, the six days _ sara sharif. at the old bailey trial, the six days in - sara sharif. at the old bailey trial, the six days in the - sara sharif. at the old bailey i trial, the six days in the witness box, sara's father sobbed as he denied almost everything and blamed his wife. but on the seventh day, he made an extraordinary confession will stopjurors were made an extraordinary confession will stop jurors were left open—mouthed as sara's father began confessing, trembling, he said, he beat his daughter over a number of

weeks, repeatedly, and with force. she died because of me, he said. he denied burning and biting sara. his wife refused to avoid dental records for comparison. i wife refused to avoid dental records for comparison.— wife refused to avoid dental records for comparison. i am on my 30th year and i have never— for comparison. i am on my 30th year and i have never seen _ for comparison. i am on my 30th year and i have never seen a _ for comparison. i am on my 30th year and i have never seen a case - for comparison. i am on my 30th year and i have never seen a case that i and i have never seen a case that has included such horrific suffering of a young person. it has included such horrific suffering of a young person-— of a young person. it was a brutal end for sara- _ of a young person. it was a brutal end for sara. the _ of a young person. it was a brutal end for sara. the spirited - of a young person. it was a brutal end for sara. the spirited little i end for sara. the spirited little girl who had dreams of becoming a ballet dancer. very distressing details there in that report. let me update you on what we have been hearing from the old bailey. we have correspondence inside the courthouse at the moment. 0ne inside the courthouse at the moment. one of the things i can tell you, the defendants will be sentenced on tuesday. that coming to us from the judge. the case, above any other, has been stressful and traumatic, he

said, in a building where there are many trials and emotional cases, this one has been particularly highly charged. those words were spoken as he addressed the jury, a very difficult time for the jury for them to sit through some of the testimony and he addressed them before they left the court for the last time, thanking them for the care and attention they had given to this case. let 1415 00:16:2