in the uk, the transport secretary mark harper has criticised the decision of rail unions to hold strikesn song contest. speaking on sunday with laura kuenssberg, he said it was especially appalling due to the role that ukraine's railways had played in resisting vladimir putin. the uk is hosting eurovision in liverpool on behalf of ukraine who won the contest last year. i spoke to our political correspondent david wallace lockhart who told us more about this. all the strikes looming here, whether it's nurses, potential teaching strikes. but the transport secretary, mark harper, because of his job role, particularly focused on strikes coming up in the railways by the rmt union. some big events are going to be affected by that, notjust the fa cup final, big football event in the calendar year, but of course the eurovision song contest, which the uk is hosting on behalf of ukraine this year. and the transport secretary arguing that it's cynical to be targeting this event with rail strikes. fair and reasonable pay offer that network rail made to their staff was put by the rmt to their members

mark harper said it was especially appalling due to the role that ukraine's railways had played in resistingladimir putin. tens of thousands of people attended an open air mass in a central budapest square on pope francis�* third and final day in hungary. the pope called on hungarians to be "open" toward migrants coming from outside europe. and the british public will be invited to join and swear allegiance to king charles and his heirs during his coronation next monday wherever they are in the world in a first for the british monarchy. now on bbc news, defenders of donbas. they're one of ukraine's most decorated brigades in a daily battle to hold back russia on the eastern front. for the 1st tank brigade, it's the fight of their lives. under constant attack from airand ground. come, quickly. ..they gave us unprecedented access to their front lines. ..while they fight to keep russia out from a town under constant attack. dog barks explosion the bombing is relentless. explosion shallow trenches offer the barest of protection from russian fire. come on! this way. down. down, down, down, down.

the uk transport secretary mark harper has accused the rail union — the rmt, of "cynically targetingtrikes on the day of the event. the strike is due to take place on may the 13th after the union rejected the latest pay deal from train operators. the rmt said the rail delivery group, which represents the train operators, had "torpedoed" pay talks. staying with strikes, the uk�*s let�*s get some of the day�*s other news now. officials in india say 11 people have died after a gas leak in the northern state of punjab, in an industrial area of ludhiana. four people are still in hospital. the source of the leak, as well as the kind of gas are not known yet. poor safety standards and insufficient checks make gas leaks common in india. also in india, forest officials have captured a rogue wild elephant that has killed seven people and destroyed houses in the state of kerala. more than 150 officials were involved in the operation to tranquillise the animal and then transport it through a specially designed lorry to a nature reserve. villagers had held protests demanding action, saying it was

mark harper's back. welcome to the programme.ed? i the strikes, that has failed and you have failed?— have failed? i said i would facilitate _ have failed? i said i would facilitate fair _ have failed? i said i would facilitate fair and - have failed? i said i would i facilitate fair and reasonable have failed? i said i would - facilitate fair and reasonable pay offers being made to the trade unions and that's exactly what i did. that their unreasonable pay for network rail made to their staff was put by the rmt to their members and overwhelmingly accepted, 90% of 76% voted in favour and what is inexplicable to me is a similar offer has been made by the train operating companies through their grouping, the rail delivery group, it has been put to the rmt executive and for the third time that executive will not put it to their members and have called strikes which are cynically targeting the eurovision song contest, as you said. it is not our song contest, we are hosting it for ukraine and i have met the head of ukrainian railways.

we're joined now by the transport secretary, mark harper.has taken five months. no doubt an extensive report after that period of time. the prime minister will want to read the report himself in full before he reaches a conclusion. i think that is the fair thing to do, both for the complainants, who made some serious complaints but also for dominic raab. full both sides in this case, i think the prime minister should take the time. he did only receive the report yesterday. taking time to get it right before he announces a decision, i think, right before he announces a decision, ithink, is right before he announces a decision, i think, is the right thing to do. to decision, i think, is the right thing to do— thing to do. to be clear this morning. — thing to do. to be clear this morning, have _ thing to do. to be clear this morning, have you - thing to do. to be clear this morning, have you spoken l thing to do. to be clear this. morning, have you spoken to thing to do. to be clear this - morning, have you spoken to the prime minister directly

i shall be puttrhp-hart- putting them to mark harper rtpht— putting them to mark harper. rtpht—rrahsporth-uatohlharper- running rings around government oh-uatohlharper .- running rings around government on watch, harper . no, on your watch, mr harper. no, i ooh-t— on your watch, mr harper. no, i ooh-t agree— on your watch, mr harper. no, i don't agree with— on your watch, mr harper. no, i don't agree with that . c? don't agree with that. camilla. on don't agree with that. camilla. oh the— don't agree with that. camilla. oh the what— don't agree with that. camilla. oh the that r— don't agree with that. camilla. on the what i promised to do. i said we would make sure we taottttatet— said we would make sure we facilitated fair— said we would make sure we facilitated fair and reasonable aha— facilitated fair and reasonable and affordable— facilitated fair and reasonable and affordable pay offers to the trade— and affordable pay offers to the trade unions. _ and affordable pay offers to the trade unions. now— and affordable pay offers to the trade unions. hrir�*u and affordable pay offers to

,-transport_ i'm going to be speaking to mark harper, transport secretary harper, the transport secretary

transport secretary mark harper that mark harper says that he supports nation wide supports a nationat the numbers-moving to numbers of people moving on to nopiiiry— numbers of people moving on to mobility-they've- mobility scooters, they've oinoer— mobility scooters, they'vei oinoer—or mobility scooters, they've - almost—of the almost become the sort of the ne— almost become the sort of the rire or— almost become the sort of the rire or poeeoge— almost become the sort of the rite of passage .— almost become the sort of the rite of passage . you know, you rite of passage. you know, you give— rite of passage. you know, you give-driving.— rite of passage. you know, you give-driving,-you- rite of passage. you know, you give driving, you know, give up driving, but you know, you— give up driving, but you know, you-eriii— give up driving, but you know, you-still have— give up driving, but you know, you still have mobility you can still have a mobility eooer— you can still have a mobility eooer ono— you can still have a mobility scooter and-do- you can still have a mobility scooter and do g