, partners to do —— with international partners like the uk. the uk and raman are working on this because it is important —— the uk and rwanda are working on this because it is important, not because it is easy because it buys you quick and easy popularity. we do this in spite of the fact that it is difficult and sensitive. if we do not address these issues, the people who will ultimately be the winners are the people smugglers. they are the other slave traders. they are the criminal gangs. they are the extremist voices who always take advantage of human difficulties and hardship. rwanda is stepping forward to be a thoughtful and careful partner in solving these incredibly difficult international issues. i think they deserve support in doing that. i have been uncomfortable with the tone and the

volume of some of the criticism directed at rwanda for having the courage to step forward and to try to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem. thank you minister, thank— than part of the problem. thank you minister, thank you _ than part of the problem. thank you minister, thank you secretary, - than part of the problem. thank you minister, thank you secretary, that l minister, thank you secretary, that is all_ minister, thank you secretary, that is all that_ minister, thank you secretary, that is all that we — minister, thank you secretary, that is all that we have _ minister, thank you secretary, that is all that we have time _ minister, thank you secretary, that is all that we have time for - minister, thank you secretary, that is all that we have time for today. i is all that we have time for today. if is all that we have time for today. if you _ is all that we have time for today. if you have — is all that we have time for today. if you have any— is all that we have time for today. if you have any more _ is all that we have time for today. if you have any more questions i if you have any more questions please — if you have any more questions please let_ if you have any more questions please let me _ if you have any more questions please let me know. _ please let me know. studio: _ please let me know. studio: ride - please let me know. studio: ride that. please let me know. l studio: ride that was please let me know. - studio: ride that was the uk please let me know. _ studio: ride that was the ukjames cleverly in rwanda. i want to recap what the foreign minister of rwanda said: he said that rwanda has a belief in what is right to stop that is of course in response to much of the criticism that has been levelled against the country in terms of its safety record. he said that the information that the uk supreme court has relied on is speculative, and he also blamed some of the

perception... mackie said it was linked to the internal uk politics that we have here in the uk. in terms of what james cleverly talked about, he talked about rwanda's strong reputation for humane treatment of migrants and refugees. those were his words, and the uk pass commitment to safety and working with the manner in that regard. he also said that the robustness of rwanda's judicial system is clear. he talked about expanding work when it comes to tourism and the agricultural development of the country. he said that it development of the country. he said thatitis development of the country. he said that it is something he is proud of that it is something he is proud of that the treaty amplifies the relationship between the two countries. this is the first time he is there to talk about their relationship in this regard. he addressed issues with the plan, the asylum seeking plan so far in that he believes those issues will be addressed in a new domestic

legislation in the uk. finally, he talked about the rwandan government's sincere desire to address and improve its processes as many governments do, that is what he said. if they do not work together on this issue, then, in his view, the people smugglers will win. well, as a reminder, he is in rwanda where he has now signed a new treaty with the country. the government is hoping it can restart plans to send some asylum seekers are to have their claims are processed. that is after the supreme court ruled against the policy. the government is putting more measures in place and that could include allowing parliament to vote and confirm that rwanda is a safe destination for asylum seekers who come to the uk. we go live to our west african correspondent who is in kigali on the ground. thank you so much for joining. iwant the ground. thank you so much for joining. i want to get your reaction

there. the foreign minister of rwanda was talking about the fact that all of this criticism is amplified by uk domestic concerns, uk domestic politics, in fact. there is also concern within the country, is also concern within the country, is there not?— is there not? yes, certainly, the opposition _ is there not? yes, certainly, the opposition here _ is there not? yes, certainly, the opposition here has _ is there not? yes, certainly, the opposition here has criticised i is there not? yes, certainly, the| opposition here has criticised the scheme. in their view, they say that despite the fact that rwanda is one of africa's fastest expanding economies, it is still a developing country that needs to do a lot of work to lift parts of its population out of poverty. for them, they believe the rwandan government should be focusing on its own citizens rather than welcoming newcomers n.— newcomers n. what does the government _ newcomers n. what does the government say _ newcomers n. what does the government say to _ newcomers n. what does the government say to make - newcomers n. what does the government say to make the | newcomers n. what does the - government say to make the case that the partnership is a good idea for the partnership is a good idea for the country?— the partnership is a good idea for the country? from what they have been saying. _ the country? from what they have been saying. they _ the country? from what they have been saying, they say _ the country? from what they have been saying, they say that - the country? from what they have been saying, they say that this - the country? from what they have been saying, they say that this is l been saying, they say that this is not only a problem affecting britain rwanda, they said as a global problem, they want to play their part. it is an image that the

rwandan government been trying to project lately. the foreign minister mentioned other schemes they had been involved in, welcoming refugees in from libya, for example, from sudan, and from other places around the world. it is showing itself as an african country that takes leadership when it comes to immigration issues, ban political issues —— geopolitical issues, it positions itself as an outward —looking country, meaning that the rwandan government is a part of showing the world that it is outward —looking, a modern country, a thriving economy, and therefore trying to change a reputation of the countries have had in the past, not respecting certain human rights, a freedom of expression, arbitrary detentions, all of the things associated with the country the government says are unfair. they are a modern country that is changing and welcoming in newcomers. before we let ou

and welcoming in newcomers. before we let you go. _ and welcoming in newcomers. before we let you go, when _ and welcoming in newcomers. before we let you go, when you _ and welcoming in newcomers. before we let you go, when you look- and welcoming in newcomers. before we let you go, when you look at - we let you go, when you look at this, here is james cleverly, the third home secretary to arrive in rwanda and make the case for this policy, what is different about the environment in rwanda right now? is there the same level of commitment towards this agreement? or is this opposition actually ratcheting up? it has always been clear that they are committed to this scheme. they say that any challenges made in the uk court, any decisions by the uk are within the uk's right to do so, but they remain committed to it. in terms of the opposition to it, it remains at a certain level. it is very difficult to get people to speak candidly against the government in rwanda. people tend to not want to do that for fear of potential repercussions. certainly, the government's stance has not really changed, and the opposition continues to reiterate that they are

opposed to this scheme. ladle continues to reiterate that they are opposed to this scheme.— continues to reiterate that they are opposed to this scheme. we will have more updates — opposed to this scheme. we will have more updates on _ opposed to this scheme. we will have more updates on the _ opposed to this scheme. we will have more updates on the bbc— opposed to this scheme. we will have more updates on the bbc news - more updates on the bbc news website. please do check those out. now, let's go to our political correspondent who is in westminster. thank you so much forjoining. it was april of last year at pretty patil was making the case that this policy. that was when she went rwanda. this now, james cleverly is there as well. are they any closer to getting this down the line? the government _ to getting this down the line? tie: government certainly hopes so. that will remain to be seen. we know that they have signed this treaty today, we've not yet seen the details of it, we know the government was hoping to use the treaty to address one of the points in the supreme court raised when it challenged the government's plans to send asylum seekers to rwanda, primarily the supreme court's concern that some asylum seekers may wrongly be sent back from rwanda to their home countries, potentially facing consequences for them there. that is

one of the things the treaty was meant to address. now, separately to that, the government has been working up new legislation to try and get through parliament. again, trying to tackle some of the issues that have been raised by the supreme court. there been a lot of pressure on the government, particularly from right—wing mps on the government, particularly from right—wing mp5 on the conservative party make that legislation essentially say that the government can override and ignore all kinds of international treaties, human rights laws which are currently blocking the plan from getting through. that in itself has been controversial, there are some in the conservative party you don't think that is the answer, he don't think the government should be looking to, for example, lever exempt itself from the european convention on human rights. we are yet to see detail of this treaty that has just been signed, but also, the new legislation the government has been working up. we are not closer yet as to knowing whether the plans will literally be off the ground for the

government.— literally be off the ground for the government. ., ., ~' ., ,., .., government. looking at the political environment — government. looking at the political environment in _ government. looking at the political environment in the _ government. looking at the political environment in the uk, _ government. looking at the political environment in the uk, how- government. looking at the political environment in the uk, how badly i environment in the uk, how badly does the government need to get through? i does the government need to get throu~h? ~ ., ,., through? i think that the government is hoinu through? i think that the government is hoping rwanda _ through? i think that the government is hoping rwanda will _ through? i think that the government is hoping rwanda will be _ through? i think that the government is hoping rwanda will be one - through? i think that the government is hoping rwanda will be one of- through? i think that the government is hoping rwanda will be one of the l is hoping rwanda will be one of the dividing lines between the conservatives and labour at the next election, labour have confirmed they do not support the plan to send asylum seekers to rwanda and that the money would be better spent on tackling criminal gangs behind some of the small boat crossing is in the channel. i think the government certainly hopes that if they could have a flight leave before the next election, that would be seen as a sort of political win for them, they are under pressure to tackle small boats crossings, it is one of the primers to's five priorities. so far, there have been certain measures they have taken which have proved to get the crossings down, whether that is a return agreement for example with albania or increasing the number of caseworkers processing asylum claims and getting

the asylum claims backlog down. they hope that rwanda will be one of the big political dividing lines between labour and the conservatives. the problem when it is that it has not yet become operational.- problem when it is that it has not yet become operational. thank you so much, i will — yet become operational. thank you so much, i will again _ yet become operational. thank you so much, i will again appointee - yet become operational. thank you so much, i will again appointee to - yet become operational. thank you so much, i will again appointee to our. much, i will again appointee to our live page where we have updates in real time as this trip inland that continues. more in our breaking news story. south wales police say that a 29—year—old woman has been stabbed. this morning, emergency services responded to reports of a serious incident in aberfan. police have asked residents to avoid the area around moy road. police are searching for a suspect who has left the scene. now, another bit of breaking news. the british medical association says that junior breaking news. the british medical association says thatjunior doctors will face further strikes in england this month and next. 3% is going to

be added to pay this year. that is on top of an average 9% already awarded. the strike dates are from the 20th of december to the 23rd of december and then from the 3rd of january until the ninth. it is now time for a look at the weather with tomasz schafernaker. hello. if you've had enough of the cold and you'd rather have the mild weather, well, be careful what you wish for, because we could be in for a lot of rain and some strong winds, but not in the short term. this evening, actually, the skies are going to be clearing and there's another frost on the way tonight. quite a sharp one and some fog forming, too. now, in the short term, quite thick cloud across parts of england and wales, although in the northwest here we've had some clearer skies, it's also been colder. and you can see at 5:00 pm, temperatures around freezing in aberdeen, about four degrees in the south of england. now this evening, we're in between weather systems, one pulling away towards the east, another one advancing here from the west. in between calm conditions, clear skies and fog will form. and on top of that, also

very frosty weather. in fact, in parts of scotland, in rural spots, temperatures could be minus seven, minus ten degrees celsius and certainly a frost further south too. now out towards the west, we're starting to see that milderair coming in. you can see the southerly ease just ahead of this weather front here, which will bring rain, too. but for a time, that fog will linger tomorrow, particularly across parts of the midlands, southern england, the southeastern, where it does during the day, it could be really quite, quite raw, barely above freezing through most of the afternoon. but i think most of us should get at least some sunshine, particularly out towards the east. so more like five or six degrees. but look how much milder it is in belfast and plymouth. plymouth have double figures. so that wind and rain sweeping in. as i said, it could be a fair amount of rain over the next few days. we've already had some flooding recently in the southwest, so more rain to come and that weather system will be sweeping across the uk during the course of wednesday night through thursday as well.

ahead of it there could be a little bit of wintry mess a little bit of wintryness across the scottish hills or the pennines to and then really a blustery day with a spell of heavy rain, at least for a time on thursday before things turn a little bit drier out towards the west. and you can see those temperatures recovering as well. so, a very turbulent weekend on the weather front with low pressure sweeping in and weather fronts. i don't think it's going to be raining all the time because the winds will be quite strong. so pushing those clouds along quite quickly towards the east. but if you look at the outlook, i think it's a case of rain symbols pretty much every single day for most major places. and you can see temperatures into double figures.

live from london, this is bbc news. the home secretary signs a treaty with rwanda in the hope the government can fulfil its promise to send migrants to the country.

rwanda is helping the uk in our fight against illegal and people smuggling. they are doing so professionally, thoughtfully and as a partner genuinely willing to work with us. a woman has been stabbed in aberfan in south wales just after nine o'clock this morning, putting nearby schools into lockdown while officers try to find the suspect. armed police are investigating. israel intensifies its operation in southern gaza with reports of bombardments by israeli forces around the southern towns of khan younis and rafah. it comes amid fresh warnings from the un of an �*even more hellish' situation for civilians in gaza. it is terrifying, i have women and children hang onto me, saying, please give us water, get us out of here.