a record number of migrant crossings in the uk, more than 5000 people have arrived in the uk since the beginning of this year. from today the mean rate of the national living wages going up by more than £1 per hour, it will apply to all workers over the age of 21 rather than just over 23. working to all workers over the age of 21 rather thanjust over 23. working in of two—year—olds in england should be able to access 15 hours of free childcare per week from today. but a number of providers say they will struggle to offer those extra hours. as part of his budget last month the

chancellor announced a cut of 2p in a national insurance. that takes effect from saturday. that, and lower energy bills that we have talked about, is good news. on the other hand, water bills are going up in england and wales. there is an even bigger increase in scotland. those percentages work out at an average of £30 or more each year. it is a similar story when it comes to council tax. three quarters of local authorities are expected to put bills up by the maximum possible amount this year. it is worth seeing in scotland the charges there have been frozen. after being frozen, the tv licence will go up to nearly £170 for people. lots of mobile phone and broadband providers will be charging more, evenif providers will be charging more, even if you are in the middle of a contract. vehicle tax, nhs dentist fees, and the cost of a new passport are also going up. that is before we talk about rent and mortgage costs.

the advice that now is a good time to do an audit of your income and your bills, because there are lots of changes. let us get more from someone who knows all about this. our money and work reporter in salford. let us start with the energy bills. the new price cap comes in. also, a change in standing charges as well. that audit could take a well given the list of changes. let us start with energy bills. this is the biggest financial headache for many households over the last couple of years. any change downwards is good news. the annual bill for a household using a typical amount of gas and has dropped, from today, by £238. that is the lowest level for two years but still well above where we were pre—pandemic. some of the government support payments that we have enjoyed in that period, they have enjoyed in that period, they have gone. this isjust

have enjoyed in that period, they have gone. this is just that pair units gas and electricity charges. fixed daily standing charges, that cover the cost of supplying energy to our home, you have to pay those no matter how much energy you use, those charges are going up. there is also, as ever with the price cap, regular warning, very important, this is not a cap on the amount you paid. if you use more energy you will still pay more. and there is regional variations within that as well. the other big and that i mention that will affect millions of people is that combination of that national living wage going up by more than £1 for the first time, and also the national insurance changes. yes. this is the government's position, you hear them talking about this regularly. although some of those support payments are going, they say, they are supporting people in work. both of those measures are quite significant. 0n the national minimum wage, there is an increase today, rising by more than £1 for

the first time, to £1144 per hour. also an extension, for the first time you will be entitled to receive that if you are over 21, rather than just over 23. a full—time adult worker paid the minimum wage, we are talking about a pay rise worth £1800 per year. not insignificant. younger workers will also seek a rise in the rates that apply to them. on 6th of april, the second cat this yearin on 6th of april, the second cat this year in national takes effect. the rates paid by employees. that will go down to 8%. the devil is in the detail. tax thresholds have been frozen. essentially, more authors are stealthily being dragged into either paying tax for the first time or paying a bit more. essentially, not everyone will necessarily be better off, despite this reduction in national insurance. these mobile phones and broadband is, a lot of those are going up, evenif

is, a lot of those are going up, even if we are in that contract. this is controversial. essentially most broadband and mobile phone providers are currently introducing rises this month, instead —— of up to 8.8%. even if you are in the middle of a contract. this increase has not come from nowhere. but back in december, an extra charge on top. this comes hot on the heels of another big increase that lots of mobile phone and broadband bill pierce have had to deal with. these mid—contract hikes, they are allowed at the moment, but the approach is expected to be band by regulators later in the year, which is what makes this move particularly controversial. consumer groups see it now is a good time, when it comes to mobile phone and broadband, to shop around and make sure you are getting the best deal. also, if you are on a low and camp there are social tariffs out there.

they are available. it is worth looking into those. all of this is just to see that while some bills are going down, and as i going up, and you are going to have to do that audit, work out whether you are better or worse off. thank you very much forjoining us. and you can get a lot more on the energy bills and the rise in the minimum wage on the cost of living section of bbc news website. also, good advice and tips there. you can see the address on your screen, or the bbc news app. the number of migrants crossing the channel and small boats has risen sharply in the first three months of the year. almost 5500 people made the year. almost 5500 people made the journey, the year. almost 5500 people made thejourney, an increase of the year. almost 5500 people made the journey, an increase of 43% on the journey, an increase of 43% on the same period last year. labour says the government's plans to stop the boats is in tatters. let us go live to our correspondent in dover. why have we seen this increase at the start of this year?

it has been a busy easter weekend in the channel. 0n it has been a busy easter weekend in the channel. on saturday almost 350 people made the crossing. yesterday it was almost 400 people. numbers do fluctuate according to factors such as the weather. today it is windy in the channel so we are seeing no crossings, but at the weekend it was very calm and we saw large numbers of people arrive. 0ther very calm and we saw large numbers of people arrive. other factors, the supply of boat parts, plus how many french police officers are patrolling pictures over in northern france to dry to stop the boats lunching in the first place. but the increase in numbers over the past three months or so is down also to a couple of increased factors, for example, the number of people per boat. when these crossing started in earnest there was an average of around seven people per boat. that has now gone up to around 50. the smugglers organising the chinese don't have to launch as many boats,

but they are still able to get large numbers across. —— the smugglers organising these crossings. the government plan to send asylum seekers —— a senior officer at borderforce has told me seekers —— a senior officer at border force has told me that smugglers are telling people they need to make this journey quickly before those flights to ruan that possibly start taking off towards the end of spring stop —— to randa. that might be a factor pushing people to make this crossing over the worlds biggest shipping lane. the government has pledged to stop the boats. this will be a general election issue. yes. the rise in numbers is going to be a huge headache for the government. rishi sunak has made it a personal priority to dry to stop the boats. to be fair, last year the numbers

making the crossing did come down by about one third. now we have seen at the start of this year numbers going up the start of this year numbers going up by the start of this year numbers going up by 43%. that is a big number. the home office told as that the rise in numbers is unacceptable but it shows the need to get those flights to rwanda off the ground. ten people, including 288—year—old pensioners, have been given six weeks to move out of their homes. nearly every tenant, after it was said it didn't meet the criteria to live there. those affected say they are devastated and have nowhere else

to go. both going to be evicted. we are not. doreen says she cannot stop we not. — doreen says she cannot stop crying. ever since she opened the letter out of the blue saying she has just six weeks to leave her home of ten years. it weeks to leave her home of ten ears. , ., , years. it is the worst feeling i have ever _ years. it is the worst feeling i have ever had _ years. it is the worst feeling i have ever had in _ years. it is the worst feeling i have ever had in my - years. it is the worst feeling i have ever had in my life. - years. it is the worst feeling i have ever had in my life. i - years. it is the worst feeling i | have ever had in my life. ijust feel sick. have ever had in my life. ijust feelsick. i have ever had in my life. ijust feel sick. i don't think i'd have the energy to move. god knows how much time i have got left. but i would like to spend it here. it is horrible to see your mother like that — it is horrible to see your mother like that. ., it is horrible to see your mother like that. . , like that. her daughter lives next door on lake _ like that. her daughter lives next door on lake house _ like that. her daughter lives next door on lake house close, - like that. her daughter lives next door on lake house close, she i like that. her daughter lives next | door on lake house close, she has also had an eviction notice telling her to leave by may the 12th. i am worried about _ her to leave by may the 12th. i am worried about my _ her to leave by may the 12th. i —.n worried about my mother. it is not just my mother, it might be me as

well. there is no that is like this, next to each other, next to the doctors, the shops. ijust don't understand why. are we not vulnerable? jonathan's dad is also 88. he doesn't know he is being evicted. jonathan intercepted the letter, afraid of what it would do to his father. he has heart disease. a number of other ailments. he has heart disease. a number of otherailments. if he has heart disease. a number of other ailments. if he had read that letter, the shot, in the worst—case scenario, could have killed i cannot believe that a company could just serve that letter on somebody. it is immoral and unethical. round the corner glenn has been told he has just four weeks to get out. 13th of april. not having a place to live. it alters everything. your health. your prospects. his home is also full of black mould and he has no hot water. you are living in a multi—home that

you have complained about and now they are evicting you.— they are evicting you. nice, isn't it. the government had pledged to abolish no—fault evictions like this, but a abolish no—fault evictions like this, buta ban abolish no—fault evictions like this, but a ban would require a court hearing for each case, and the courts have huge backlogs. housing minister michael gove originally said the courts must be reformed first, told the bbc in february that that would be in place by the general election. but the residence mp who is also the shadow homelessness minister says that is not soon enough. section 21 no—fault evictions, they are driving homelessness. rough sleeping is at 37%. homelessness overall as that. and here we are, my constituency, almost an industrial scale, and legally they can do this at the moment. cedar key told us the properties are not full life forms and the phone people identified by council added extra support, it says the tenants don't fall into those katic is and should never have been living there.

it said it will refurbish homes like glenn's that were not maintained by the previous landlord and if the council says residents do require support they can move back in. cheshire westchester council said it has not been contacted by cedar key and a swing into the situation. meanwhile, doreen and the other residents say they have no idea what to do. i do wish they would think again and help us. i never missed a rent or anything. you just don't know what you've done wrong. hand—made silhouettes of almost 1,500 servicemen are being made inengland and will go on display in normandy later this month to mark the 80th anniversary of d—day. the standing with giants installation is made from recycled signs and has taken artist dan barton four years to plan. john maguire has been to the studio with veteran stan ford to see the finishing

touches added to the project. not all giants loom large. yes, i remember him. yes. i was only 18 when i when ijoined. i'm proud to have done my bit. proud. very proud to have done my bit. yeah. and my eight brothers, they all done their bit. stan ford is among kindred spirits — among those who served, as he did, on d—day — and among symbols of those who never returned home. it's an honour to be in the presence of this. it does give you some idea — a great idea of the...of what the cost, and the people involved. he's here to see the making of standing with giants — an installation representing, in silhouette, the almost 1,500 men of the army, navy and air force under british command who died on that first day, june the 6th. like sentinels, they will stand

at the british normandy memorial above ver—sur—mer in northern france — codenamed gold beach during the allied invasion. they've been created by dan barton — a labour of love, commitment and dedication, four years in the making. the multiples of the same figure — itjust seems tojust really drive the point home, just how many people suffered for our freedom. part of dan's vision was to involve as many volunteers as possible — more than a thousand have helped to create the figures from recycled signs. he's borrowed thousands of pounds against his 0xfordshire home to self—fund the project, and to make his vision a reality. you don't really get parents taking their children and standing them by the — sadly — the monument in the village and taking a photograph of prosperity, whatever. but you do with our figures — they come along, they take a lot of pictures with their children and conversations start.

and it's a way of telling youngsters, you know, just to be mindful of where their freedom came from. and, you know, that's... that's... this is a passion project for those involved. for sure. today, personnel from the nearby raf base, brize norton, are lending a hand. like many in the armed forces, the station commander has a family linked to the second world war — her mother's father drove a tank onto sword beach during the d—day landings. it wasn't something he talked about quite a lot, and i thinkl he was just that kind of quite a modest, reserved man. - and we learn about our history when you're in the military, i right from day one of being in the service, so we knowl the sacrifices that our- predecessors have made — and they made them under really difficult conditions, as well. - but, of course, it's really important to remember. the people that made those sacrifices, because if not, . then what was it all for? the silhouettes will travel to normandy in these specially created stillages, adorned with poetry,

prose and poppies — hand—made by volunteers from the women's institute, and delivered in mail sacks bursting at the seams. and some have 600, 700 poppies in them from a wi, maybe from edinburgh or down in cornwall, and then another one has got a little envelope with maybe one or two in them. but every one comes with a letter, or a card — and honestly — about who they know, somebody that was involved in the d—day at normandy. and even if they're just given one poppy, that makes a difference. it means the world to dan and his volunteer army to have stan's approval — notjust of the concept, but also the design, as the men are depicted with their heads bowed. if they'd have all been stood up like this, you know, it wouldn't have been quite so... the reverence is there. and with a bowed head is really good. really good. i'm... i'm proud to be here, and to see it myself.

dan's ambition is to create a mobile display that can travel around during commemorations. his mission — as with the normandy memorial itself — is to encourage people to pause, remember and to learn — but also to ensure the fallen are never forgotten. john maguire, bbc news, 0xfordshire. a large humpback whale has been rescued. rescuers managed to cut the ropes off the distressed wheel and set her free.

go the two tone ribbon was bigger than all of as that is why it has survived. that moment in time, at the time nobody— that moment in time, at the time nobody saw— that moment in time, at the time nobody saw that it was unique. coventry. — nobody saw that it was unique. coventry, 1979. a backdrop of rising

unemployment, social unrest, and racial tension. unemployment, social unrest, and racialtension. it unemployment, social unrest, and racial tension. it gave birth to a genre of music that seemed to sum up the feel of the city and the country. cou ntry. two country. two tone. it was the only reason i wanted to write songs, the enormities of what was going on. we were only singing about what was being talked about in every pub and every bus stop. it being talked about in every pub and every bus step-— every bus stop. it wasn't 'ust about the music. — every bus stop. it wasn't 'ust about the music. but every bus stop. it wasn't 'ust about the music, but that _ every bus stop. it wasn't 'ust about the music, but that was _ every bus stop. it wasn'tjust about the music, but that was the - every bus stop. it wasn'tjust about l the music, but that was the backdrop to our— the music, but that was the backdrop to our lives — the music, but that was the backdrop to our lives. whatever you are bringing — to our lives. whatever you are bringing to the stage, you have any part of— bringing to the stage, you have any part of your— bringing to the stage, you have any part of your life to part of your thinking, — part of your life to part of your thinking, part of your way of interpreting the world at that time. this bands— interpreting the world at that time. this bands such as the selector and their specials at the forefront of two tone. made up of both black and white musicians, sending a message to a divided nation. it wasjust to a divided nation. it was just great to look out at a sea of people and see yourself

reflected in it. and you were fronting to a whole load of people, some of which did not like you very much. the music. indie some of which did not like you very much. the music.— much. the music. we were very different people. _ much. the music. we were very different people. i— much. the music. we were very different people. i think - much. the music. we were very different people. i think that - much. the music. we were very| different people. i think that was the interesting thing about the specials — specials. the thing that we all get speerere. — the thing that we all get wrong about their specials, is that their songs were of a moment. they were bob dylan, they were political hand grenades. too much to yank was a generation. within a few years despite all the success all three bands had split. 45 years on two tone is still going strong. the music it created seems just as relevant.

i am sure two tone was played on offshore radio station radio caroline. it has been celebrating its 60th anniversary. it made its first unauthorised pop music broadcast in 1964. this weekend people got a nostalgic tour of the pirate radio ship. 0ur reporter went along. my along. my first view of radio caroline. this is radio caroline. anybody been on board before? he welcomes to a party of fans who want to rock and roll back the years. he gives them a two above decks, below decks, and then to the lee grail, the radio studios. in 1987 rate was one of the radio caroline djs. this weekend as part of our three day special birthday broadcast he is still doing his stuff. what do visitors make of it? they

love it. what do visitors make of it? they love it- they _ what do visitors make of it? they love it. they come _ what do visitors make of it? they love it. they come to _ what do visitors make of it? they love it. they come to a _ what do visitors make of it? iie: love it. they come to a rusty what do visitors make of it? "iie: love it. they come to a rusty smelly old ship that the magic is there. they are favourite djs put up with heavy seas. so many memories. in the 1960s when rock was young these dg pilots had so much fun. by broadcasting from international waters caroline exploited a legal loophole. loved by millions much loathed by the government. pirate radio was banned in 1967. caroline refused to die. now it has a license, and it broadcasts online around the world. this brought rocks every fourth weekend with eight djs on board. what makes you different? indie weekend with eight djs on board. what makes you different? we do it for the love — what makes you different? we do it for the love of _ what makes you different? we do it for the love of it. _ what makes you different? we do it for the love of it. that _ what makes you different? we do it for the love of it. that is _ for the love of it. that is reflected in the output. we just love doing it.

reflected in the output. wejust love doing it. what reflected in the output. we just love doing it. what is the legacy of radio caroline? 0bstinacy and dedication. that dedication is passed on. josh is just that dedication is passed on. josh isjust 18. is just 18. having isjust18. having radio is just 18. having radio caroline isjust18. having radio caroline on your cv can't be bad. to having radio caroline on your cv can't be bad-— can't be bad. to say i have been involved with _ can't be bad. to say i have been involved with the _ can't be bad. to say i have been involved with the name - can't be bad. to say i have been involved with the name caroline j can't be bad. to say i have been - involved with the name caroline and the names involved here, it is amazing. the team here are looking for money to get her into dry dock. the dream is to make this lovely old troll at shipshape again and then take radio caroline around the british isles so that listeners can enjoy the physical heritage of pirate radio. 0n pirate radio. on a very special birthday, caroline's pot pilots, are back on the water and flying the flag.

the race is on to be top penguin in the pecking order. this pendant is hoping to be crowned world space penguin. she faces tough competition. the votes, run by penguins international, closes at six o'clock tomorrow morning. at the moment lizzie is trailing by 500 votes. flippers crossed for lizzie. time for the weather. today we have seen some rain moving slowly northwards followed by some sunshine and some showers. that pattern will continue over the next few days. we will keep those cold east north—easterly winds in scotland. much further south winds are south—westerly bringing milder conditions but that is for the wet weather will be coming in from. these are the temperatures this

easter monday afternoon. quite a bit chillier in northern england and southern scotland. that rain continuing to move northwards this evening. the showers that follow do tend to decay and fade away. some showers running eastwards across southern counties of englund. that rain are northern end of the northern ireland peace is further north into scotland. the laws temperatures tonight are likely to be in the north—east of england. patchy rain into tomorrow in scotland. practically in the north—east of scotland. early showers in the south—east will be followed by sunny spells. cloud rebuild that. showers are likely to develop. and then we will see further rain coming into the south—west during the afternoon. temperatures more widely will be 14 or 15 celsius in the midlands and eastern parts of england, but with the sunshine and the showers, chillier and the stronger winds of the north—east of scotland. rain in the north—east of scotland. rain in the south—west during the afternoon, thatis the south—west during the afternoon, that is pushing northwards on

tuesday night. this area of low pressure will be setting over the uk on wednesday, keeping its very unsettled. showers and longer spells of rain moving northwards across england and wales into scotland and northern ireland. southern parts of englund and wheels turning a giant with more sunshine during the afternoon. that'll give temperatures afternoon. that'll give temperatures a bit of a boost, but only seven or eight celsius with the calls north—easterly wind in scotland. these are the upper level winds, this is the jet stream pattern. these are the upper level winds, this is thejet stream pattern. this is going to be maintained over the next few days. jet stream picking out areas of low pressure and then bringing a map from the south—west, bringing a map from the south—west, bringing spells of rain. wet weather to begin with on thursday in northern scotland, another band of rain moves northwards, followed by some showers, then we see some further long spells of rain and southern parts of england and wheels in the afternoon. temperatures are the same. cold and that winds, milder in england and wheels.

live from london. this is bbc news. after two weeks of heavy bombardment, the israeli army says it's completed its operation at gaza's largest hospital — leaving the site in ruins. shock results for president erdogan in turkey's local elections — the main opposition party

claims its largest victory in almost half a century. scotland's new hate crime law comes into force — but could it harm free speech, as its critics claim? and germany partially legalises cannabis to tackle the black market trade — coming up we have a special report. hello, welcome to bbc news now, three hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction. sarah campbell. israel's military says it has completed its operation at gaza's biggest hospital, al—shifa, and has withdrawn its troops from the area. the hospital had been under siege for two weeks. the hamas—run health ministry and palestinian witnesses had earlier reported tanks pulling back from the heavily bombarded hospital—complex in gaza city. the hospital and its surrounds have been left in ruins

following the two—week operation.