tonight on bbc news: storm dennis forces mass evacuations as parts of the uk are devastated by flooding. the level of water we are talking about is actually quite humbling, and it is quite phenomenal. 160 acres with four foot of water, it is millions and millions of tons. the government has published details of its proposals for a points —based immigration system in the uk, saying that visas will not be available for low skilled workers. passengers quarantined on a cruise ship over the coronavirus will be allowed to leave. a british couple infected are being taken for treatment. tackling islamist

extremism in malaysia. but human rights groups criticise de—radicalisation programmes. black is beautiful, black is excellent. black is pain, black is joy, excellent. black is pain, black is joy, black is evident. music and politics. the brits get serious at the annual awards. and we will be taking an in—depth look at the papers with david davis and daisy mcandrews. stay with us for that. good evening. there are warnings tonight that the aftermath of storm dennis could still cause widespread damage and endanger life. evacuations are under way in towns along the river severn in shropshire, with parts of south wales, herefordshire and worcestershire also under water. across the country, there are around 160 flood warnings still in place, requiring immediate action, with six of those severe, meaning there is a danger to life. 0ur correspondentjon kay reports

on a day of devastation for communities across the uk. the river wye should flow between those trees, but look at it now. even though this is a flood plain, it has never looked like this before. the far set of trees — you can see a tree line — that's where the river should be. there's 60 acres between us and where the river should be. ally‘s family have farmed in herefordshire for generations, but now their land is under unprecedented amounts of water. it's devastating. commercially, for us, it's absolutely devastating. this field is dying. this field of wheat there is dead. so it's going to cost us a lot to try and sort it out, if we ever

get a chance. i've never known a year where the entire country has been impacted quite so badly. in shropshire, 500 tons of water has been flowing under the bridge every second, and the river severn worked piggy until later tonight. wister, city trying to keep going despite the challenges. and further south in upton upon seven, the flood barriers are holding out for now, but it is still a precarious situation. we are going to sea level is high again, and with it being very saturated and further rainfall, we really do need to keep an eye on the situation. in tewkesbury, where they have suffered so badly before, they are preparing for the worst again tonight, while in hereford, they hope the worst is behind them. all over the shop. pete wondering when he can reopen — beer, wine and spirits destroyed by water. itjust makes you think, well, you know, sometimes, is it worth it?

you know, you live by a river, you accept the fact it is going to flood, or whatever else, but you don't ever believe it's ever going to be as bad as this. 0h... 2a hours after they were rescued by boat, ray and maureen are back to see the damage. oh, my god. nearly 90, they're trying to be strong. i've never seen anything like it. i really haven't, honestly. looks like a jumble sale. don't worry, ray. we'll get it sorted. ray is being treated for cancer. ex—military, he now faces another battle. i was nine, ten—year—old when the war started, and we went all through the war, and now we've got this to put up with now. is that what it feels like — a war? it does feel like a war. but, in the garden, some good news. i think they're all right. 0h!

the koi carp they have reared for 50 years have survived. oh, i was really worried, 'cause we would have been distraught if anything had happened to them. 0ne rare moment ofjoy, on another day of dread. what will tomorrow bring? here in tewkesbury, they know only too well about the damage. nobody here can forget about 2007. so they are understandably nervous tonight with all that water heading south down the river severn. we had a heavy rain storm this evening. some of the roads had to be closed. you could feel the tension in the community here. the police in gloucestershire have warned people not to move those flood warning signs. they say they have been cases of people moving them out of the way and then motorists ploughing into roads like this and then becoming stranded. further up the river severn tonight there are evacuations

under way, in shropshire, severn tonight there are evacuations underway, in shropshire, in bridgnorth and ironbridge. more communities at risk and more bad weather on the way, i'm afraid. yet another winter of flooding has raised questions about britain's defences — how much we spend, and whether it is in the right places. the uk and welsh governments have activated emergency money for areas affected. but what does it take to protect communities? here is our science editor david shukman. the river wye tearing along at a record height in monmouth, in wales. the torrent is so large, it has even overwhelmed the water treatment works. in derbyshire, the river trent has burst its banks, flooding one village after another. stephenjohns, a pub landlord, shows me his cellar, where the food and drink are now ruined. the beer barrels are floating. they said we are going to flood,

but they didn't tell us at the time when we was going to flood. itjust came up from about 8:00am in the morning yesterday, and then by 9:00am, it was underwater. do you think you should get more help? yes, of course. yet again, the country faces the difficult challenge of how to stay safe from flooding, how much public money to invest, and crucially, where to spend it. and all the time, warnings from climate scientists that storms are set to become more intense. as well as homes, it is often key infrastructure that's hit by floods. five years ago, i saw how in carlisle the west coast main line was underwater. so was an electricity substation. experts who have studied the threat say it needs to be taken far more seriously. not only do we have power plants in flood plains, but we then have all of the other things — people's homes, businesses, other infrastructure which connected to that. so this represents a real potential systemic risk, which we need to get a grip on.

at the moment, the government is providing £2.6 billion over a six—year period. for every pound spent, the treasury expects an economic benefit of at least £8, a system which favours cities. but flooding across the uk is estimated to cost £1.1 billion every year. one idea is to try to hold water back in the uplands, rather than resorting to hard concrete, using nature instead. all options are going to be needed as the climate changes. we're getting more moisture held in a warming atmosphere, so there's quite a lot of evidence to suggest that yes, overall, we are experiencing climate change, and we may expect to see more events on a par with these, or potentially even worse, into the future. back beside the river trent, the waters are receding a bit, but more rain is on the way. and with it more pressure on the government to offer more help. david shukman, bbc news, in derbyshire.

and for the latest information on storm dennis, tune into your bbc local radio station, or visit our website, bbc.co.uk/news. the government has published details of its proposals for a points—based immigration system in the uk, saying visas will not be available for low—skilled workers. ministers say they want to move away from a reliance on what they call cheap labour from europe. the new rules will come into come into force in january, if parliament approves. 0ur political correspondent jonathan blake is in westminster. this is an important moment, jonathan. this is an important moment, jonathan. it certainly is. for a long time we have heard from the government that after brexit, when the uk leaves the eu and we will no longer have the freedom of movement for people from eu countries to come and live and work in the uk, it would replace that system with an australian style points based immigration system. that was it,

though, and there was very little detail on how that would work. now we have this policy statement which sets out some of that detail. and this will form the basis of an immigration bill which we expect to go through the houses of parliament in the next few weeks. and months. so it is broadly divided into two parts. that is skilled workers and unskilled workers, and the emphasis is put on skilled workers, who the government says the uk needs to meet the needs of the british people, and that this approach will change european freedom of movement rights, distorting the uk cosmic economy and the immigration system here. so people coming to live and work in the uk will need a job offer from an approved employer. they will need to be coming to a job which earns at least £25,600 a year, and that has been lowered from the previous threshold of £30,000 a year for

skilled migrants from outside the eu, and they will also need to demonstrate that they can speak english. those are three of the things that will earn them points. the threshold is 70 points that people will need to come to the uk, and there are various other factors and there are various other factors and criteria which will earn people points as well. the government has been very clear that there will be no visa for low skilled unskilled migrants coming to live and work in the uk. so people, for example, coming to dojobs like labouring or fruit picking will not be able to apply for a visa and come here specifically to do those jobs. there are, however, exemptions. there is a pilot for seasonal agricultural workers which is being expanded to ta ke workers which is being expanded to take it up to 10,000 people per year, and there are also exemptions for certain otherjobs where there

is an identifiable shortage of workers. so the government has left itself a little bit of wriggle room there. but overall, the focus is very much on providing for sectors of the uk economy which have a shortage of skilled migrant workers coming to work in the uk, which the government hopes that system will provide for. but they do acknowledge and say that employers will need to adapt to better retain workers within their workforce, and rely less on low skilled labour coming from eu countries in the future. and i suppose, jonathan, it is the kind of obvious next question, but some of obvious next question, but some of those employers who have been required to adapt in particular want to. no, that's right, and we have seen some reaction to. no, that's right, and we have seen some reaction already from various sectors of uk industries, for example the food and drink federation, the uk homecare association, and the royal college of nursing, saying that there will

need to be careful implementation of this new system, and that there is a danger that those sectors of the economy could be left exposed and understaffed by it. there's also been criticism, as you'd probably expect, from political opponents, the labour party saying this isn't an australian points —based system, that's a meaningless government sound bite. it's actually a salary threshold system which will need to have so many exemptions that it will be meaningless, and the liberal democrats' home affairs spokesperson christine jardine saying these proposals are based on xenophobia. we will hear more from the home secretary and doubtless more reaction to the government's immigration policy tomorrow. thank you very much for giving us a first d raft you very much for giving us a first draft on it. we will talk to you tomorrow.

a british couple stranded injapan on the cruise ship diamond princess say they've tested positive for the coronavirus. sally and david abel have been talking regularly about their experiences on social media. they're among the 7a british nationals on board the ship. according to the foreign office, they will be evacuated in the next few days. more than 73,000 cases have been confirmed worldwide, and tonight officials in china have said the death toll there has risen above 1,900. rupert wingfield—hayes reports from japan where that cruise ship is moored. 0nboard the diamond princess, they're getting very close to the end. for those out strolling on the sun deck today, there are less than 2a hours to go until the quarantine is supposed to end. but the ambulances parked next to the ship tell a different story. all day, they've been removing more passengers infected with the coronavirus. 88 new cases today alone. this afternoon, the news that britain's david and wendy abel are among them.

in this video posted this morning, they spoke of their growing anxiety. and now, every single time there is a knock on the door, your stomach flips. yeah, and you just don't know whether they are going to come and say ok, let's go. and you're going to be taken off to a medical centre. hours later, that's exactly what happened. their son managed to contact them as they were preparing to leave. i got an e—mailfrom my dad saying both your mum and i have been tested positive. the words are "he's going to a hospital". i facetimed them straightaway. i haven't spoken to my dad or seen my dad. i've only got through to my mum, but i heard my dad in the background, not sounding too great. for the britons still onboard tonight, there is better news. from tomorrow lunchtime the quarantine will officially end

and the 2,000 or more passengers still on board, who have tested negative, will be allowed to start leaving the ship, they can walk out of this gate, hail a cab, get on a bus. but what happens then is much less clear. the british government says it is sending a plane to pick up the british passengers. but it hasn't yet said when, or whether they may face further quarantine when they get back to britain. 0ne japanese expert today told me he thinks they should be, because the quarantine onboard the diamond princess has clearly not worked. almost forgotten in the concern for all the passengers, are the crew. they've continued to work throughout this quarantine and somehow maintain a sense of humour. their future is now very uncertain. rupert wingfield—hayes, bbc news, in yokohama. the headlines on bbc news: storm dennis forces mass evacuations, as parts of the uk, are devastated by flooding. the government has published details of its proposals for a points—based immigration system in the uk, saying visas will not be available for low—skilled workers.

and as we were hearing, passengers quarantined on a cruise ship over the coronavirus will be allowed to leave. a british couple infected are being taken for treatment. the streatham terror attack earlier this month, when a man stabbed two people before being shot dead by police, raised serious questions about the reintegration back into society of islamist prisoners. sudesh amman had only been freed from jail about a week earlier, after serving time for terror offences. well, in south—east asia, malaysia has been battling islamist extremism for many years and its de—radicalisation programme carried out in prisons, has proved successful, with police claiming a 97% success rate. but as our correspondent anna foster reports, the programme is highly controversial.

don't move, don't move! moving in against islamic state. the group is malaise upon smoke biggest threat and these anti—terrorist forces foiled 25 attacks so far, many planned and organised from syria. but now police want to bring members of the failed calliper home to keep people safe —— caliphate. of the failed calliper home to keep people safe -- caliphate. if we bundle them in syria, they will travel to other countries. it's better to bring them back. at least 116 malaysians lived under the caliphate in syria and iraq, living destruction in their wake and terrorising from thousands of miles away. from here, they were freed to wage war, grim new members over social media and plan attacks ——

room new members. lydia was married to two islamic state fighters. now she wants to return from syria with her three children. people in malaysia would worry that if they bring somebody like you back to malaysia, that they would not be safe, that you would attack them, that your boys would grow up and attack them. do you understand that? yeah, yeah, i understand that. this is the consequence that we must accept. there is little public sympathy for malaysians who travelled to syria. those who return home will face detention under laws which human rights groups have criticised as parish. but the government says it has decades of experience in rehabilitating prisoners with extreme ideologies. since 2001, only 3% of those

convicted of tara grimes overtones of violence after the radicalisation. the debate in malaysia is the same in countries around the world, which is the best and safest option? to leave people in sarah aubrey them home and try to combat the violent ideology that sent them there? suleiman channelled funds to syria. he now works as a taxi driver after spending two years on the programme. ifi could taxi driver after spending two years on the programme. if i could turn the time back, i wouldn't do that. because whatever the things that i did last time is purely because of my anger. doctor ahmed works to de- radicalise suleiman while he was imprisoned was that he says continuing to monitor and support former is members after their release is necessary to keep the country release is necessary to keep the cou ntry safe. release is necessary to keep the country safe. in my capacity, the person you have relations with, i

regularly meet with them, try to talk with them, is there anyway i can help us to mark connecting with a certain individual, finding a job, things like this. go, go, go, go! malaise oppose my plan to bring people home is a bold one and not without its critics. —— malaysia's plan. but as police prepared to tackle the dangers that lie ahead, it proves that inaction is not the only option. anna foster, bbc news, kuala lumpur. the eu's chief brexit negotiator has ruled out a uk trade deal similar to the one that europe has with canada. speaking to reporters at the european parliament, michel barnier said britain can't be compared with canada because of its geographical and economic links with the continent. this comes after a call by the uk's chief negotiator for britain to be treated like any other non—eu country.

the judge in the harvey weinstein rape trial has warned the lead defence lawyer not to talk to the media after she wrote an article in a magazine at the weekend. donna rotunno, called onjurors to "do what they know is right". mr weinstein has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting a woman and raping another. average weekly wages in the uk, have reached their highest levels since before the financial crisis in 2008. weekly pay reached £511 in the three months to december. but although wages have gone up, the rise is very small. and against last year's prices, average pay has only risen by 65p per week, in the last 12 years. the biggest names in the music industry have gathered for the 40th brit awards ceremony this evening. lewis ca paldi, stormzy

and billie eilish were among the winners, but the night will be remembered for some political performances, notably by the rapper dave — who won best album. in his song black he paid tribute to the grenfell tower victims, criticised the media's treatment of the duchess of sussex, and called the prime minister a racist. david sillito reports. welcome to the brit awards 2020! # i don't need your lies no more... welcome to the 40th brit awards. the big when tonight? lewis capaldi! lewis capaldi. popular, but his brief speeds lead to a quick pressing of the mute button. but others were here to be heard. much of the mercury prize—winning artist, dave stop in a performance that was impassioned, angry and political. the truth is our prime minister is a real racist. downing street says it won't be commenting. if somebody hasn't said it, it doesn't deserve

credit, now if you don't want to get it, then you're never going to get it, then you're never going to get it, how the news treats kate versus how they treat meghan. tonight, not only was he here is a bit but to make a statement. someone here who i hold close to my heart, i know she is at home pester. thank you theresa may. this 40th anniversary show, something of a contrast with how it all began as a musical tribute for the queen's silverjubilee. the list of winners and at first so in 1977 included the beatles, benjamin britten. these days, the artists are rather more contemporary and increasingly speaking out. ifelt

very hated recently. 18—year—old billie eilish, 5a million followers on instagram, and her welcome here a relief from the online hate. it genuinely made me want to cry and i wa nt to genuinely made me want to cry and i want to grow right now. so thank you. david sillito, bbc news, the brits. georgie rogers is a musicjournalist and presenterfor bbc radio 6 music and others. shejoins me now having been at the awards show this evening. the evening was pretty great. it felt like a classic brits, actually. there were lots of political moments as we heard, but no kind of shocked make drops or stage invasions or anything like that —— mic drops or stage invasions. the people felt very humbled to be winners. it is a

high ticket event. harry styles performed with the grand piano overflowing with water. lizzo brought so much energy and an amazing vocal performance. the first airing of the bond theme was amazing with billie eilish. rod stewart and ronnie wood were in the house but i think stormzy stole the show to notice that he had reams of dances and a full female gospel choir —— stole the show tonight. it was just so stole the show tonight. it was just so euphoric and you had the whole room and he had the whole room in his hands. and he talked about how there weren't enough women in the nominations and gave a huge amount of credit into his own team of female producers. he did. he named

all the women he would not have net. the best album category and is group category had no female nominees. if you break down the winners tonight, three out of nine awards were won by women. so i think the brits have come underfire, women. so i think the brits have come under fire, there women. so i think the brits have come underfire, there is more they can do to make it more equal, equal representation of women. but souls picked up best group and they said hopefully there will be more women in the next category. the brits has come underfire in the next category. the brits has come under fire for a in the next category. the brits has come underfire for a lack in the next category. the brits has come under fire for a lack of diversity at least with this brits this year. you know, you can't fault that. there is so much we could talk about but we really only have time for one my answer. the astonishing moment for lewis capaldi, an astonishing moment for billie eilish. i was surprised by what you set about feeling so much hate on

social media but feeling so much support in the room. yeah, i mean, you'd be surprised with billie eilish. she isjust 18 years old. she scooped a load of grammys lately and has had so much success and has so and has had so much success and has so many fans. it was opposing to hear she is another person who kind of gets trolled and is a victim of theirs. and after the death of caroline flack, that was quite emotional to hear about that —— a victim of this. it was great talking to you, i hope you had a fun evening. yes. thank you. that's get a look at the all—important that's get a look at the all—importa nt weather. where that's get a look at the all—important weather. where is that rain going to fall next? here is darren. hello. even though it's in my showery weather over the last two days or so there are still some rivers that have been reacting to the rain from the weekend from

storm dennis. that has led to some record river levels that we have seen on record river levels that we have seen on parts of the trent, the severin and ey. this was the scene and was there, hiding the racecourse there. the showers we have seen after fading away overnight will be replaced by the next weather system coming in from the atlantic and that will bring more wind and rain. some early sunshine for the ease inside of the uk before it clouds over, we will see some patchy light rain here. but we will get steadier rain arriving in the west but will be heaviest over the hills as well. and those temperatures will be as high as around nine or 10 degrees. but we could get some heavy rain over the hills of wales in the north—west of england overnight and into thursday for a while as well. the next weather front actually been quite active. it will bring some heavy bursts of rain because we have some milderair bursts of rain because we have some milder air behind it. at least that band of rain which will be heavy will sweep its way fairly quickly south—east woods, once that moves through so it will brighten up, the

wind direction will change and we will see some sunshine but also some showers as the air gets colder. turning wintry over the hills. it will feel colder because the winds will feel colder because the winds will strengthen, we may well have some gales around west coast. temperatures back to 5—6d for scotla nd temperatures back to 5—6d for scotland and northern ireland. when one weather front moves out of the way, it remains windy over thursday night and the wind strengthens again on friday as another weather system comes in from the atlantic. this one moving fairly quickly, gales quite widely, maybe severe gales towards western h ills widely, maybe severe gales towards western hills and coasts. that rain, probably wettest across north wales. south, largely drier. temperatures 11- 12 south, largely drier. temperatures 11— 12 degrees. that band of rain sweeps its way southwards during friday night comedy weather front weakening, the rain becoming lighter. so not too much rain for south wales. then we still have some strong winds to come for the first half of the weekend. this time we're getting into cooler hour, back