this is bbc news. i'm lewis vaughanjones and these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world... world powers condemn the self—styled referendums being held in parts of ukraine on whether tojoin russia. britain's chancellor defends his tax cuts aimed at boosting economic growth, saying they're �*fair for all�* — we'll have reaction to the mini budget. stock markets around the world have fallen — amid growing fears of a global recession. the search for survivors is continuing after a boat carrying migrants sank off the syrian coast killing at least 86 people. close encounter, nasa plans to fly a

subtly international divert its path and save every life on earth. there's been international condemnation of the self—styled referendums being held in parts of ukraine onjoining russia. the g7 — the group of seven wealthiest nations — have called the votes a sham, as reports emerged of russian forces intimidating people into voting. these are the four areas where voting is being held. they include occupied parts of luhansk and donetsk in the east, and zaporizhzhia and kherson, in the south — and cover around 15 percent of ukraine's territory.

voting is expected to run until tuesday, and the results seem almost certain to go in moscow's favour. these pictures, filmed in russian—occupied donetsk, show representatives taking polling cards to people in their own homes. our correspondent hugo bachega is following developments from kyiv. ukraine has dismissed this so—called referendum as a farce and says it has no legitimacy and western countries have dismissed the vote as a propaganda exercise and they say the result has already been decided by moscow and it is going to be used by moscow as an excuse to annex parts of ukraine. now russia says it is giving an opportunity for people living in occupied areas to express their vote. and on russian television and by russian officials, this is being described as a free and fair process. but residents in those occupied areas have said soldiers are going door to door,

forcing people to vote and ukrainian officials say that people in some areas have been banned from leaving until tuesday. president biden said if the russians go ahead with any annexation of territory, this would be a flagrant violation of international law and he said western countries were ready to impose more sanctions on russia as a reaction to this possible annexation of territory. the fear here is that the russians may use the result of this vote to save these areas are now part of russia and any attack on those —— to say these areas are now part of russia and any attack on those regions will be seen as an attack on russian territory. an independent think tank in britain says the uk government's "mini budget" is likely to leave the vast majority of taxpayers worse off.

the chancellor kwasi kwarteng's package of measures include scrapping the top rate of income tax for the highest earners and reducing the basic rate by a penny. the institute for fiscal studies says that only those with incomes of more than 155—thousand pounds will be net beneficiaries over the current parliament. ben king reports. here in reading and around the uk, people feel like they could do with a boost. bills are going up and interest rates are rising. across the country as a whole, the economy has been growing too slowly. and the chancellor has come up with a very bold solution — tax cuts worth billions of pounds. he plans to cut the basic rate of income tax to 19p and the pound in england, wales and northern ireland next april and abolish the 45p top rate of tack for people earning over £150,000. he will reverse the 1.25% increase in national insurance in november and cancel a planned rise in corporation tax paid on company profits that was

due to go up to 25%. he has cut stamp duty, there will be none to pay on the first £250,000 of a house purchase or $105,000 forfirst time buyers. to fund this, the government will need to borrow £231; billion this year. potentially more than 100 billion a year in coming years, an astronomical sum and the government hasn't said how much. it sounds a bit silly because you cannotjust magic money out of thin air. it is bad, appalling. why is that? it seems to be targeted at people with loads of money, scrapping the top rate of tax, a lot of the people who are struggling at the moment don't even pay tax. it's a gamble, there is no denying that but at the end of the day, . if you grow the economy, more money will come i in through other taxes so therefore you are paying it off. _ yeah, it's a gamble but i think it is one we have got to do. i the government hopes these tax cuts will boost economic growth, making everyone more prosperous and providing extra money for public services.

but critics fear that won't happen and we will be left with higher interest rates, higher inflation and a bigger national debt that will be a burden for decades to come. this is a gamble. if very fast growth turns up because of the government policies or other reasons, that will be a good thing. but if it doesn't it will involve public service cuts and tax rises in future. the verdict from the markets was brutal. the pound fell more than 3% against the dollar, shares fell and government borrowing costs rose. labour says it's a budget that rewards the already wealthy. when you are lifting bankers�* bonuses at the same time as saying postal workers and rail workers can't have a decent pay rise, people can see that and see that it is grossly unfair and it looks like the conservatives are looking after people at the top and are not really channelling that long—term investment, which is our proposal is around long—term investment and around

skills for the future. but the government still believes that the dash for growth is the �*right strategy.�* i don't think it is a gamble at all. what was a gamble, in my view, is sticking to the course we were on... we had a tax system and taxes at a 70 year high, since the late '405 and that was unsustainable. what we had to do was have a reboot, rethink and what we are doing is pushing growth, incentivising investment and actually, critically, helping people on low incomes keep more of the money. they call it a mini budget. but this is actually an enormous and unconventional plan to get the economy moving again. and the big question is, will it work? ben king, bbc news, reading. stock markets around the world fell yesterday amid growing fears of a global recession. oil prices slumped on friday, and wall street's dowjones index fell to its lowest level

since november 2020. this has everything to do with inflation, resulting in large part from russia's invasion of ukraine, pushing up energy prices and the effects the economies of europe. resulting from that, rises in consumer goods, in the shops, and that's worrying a lot of the chairman of the federal central banks around the world, including the federal reserve, whose chairman this week announced another rise in interest rates in an attempt to cool down the economy and bring down prices. the fear, though, is that in killing down the economy it could be pushed into recession, —— cooling down. it is fears of a global recession that this book in global markets. down 1.6% today, the lowest

this year. as far as the prospects of a global recession are concerned, analysts said one of the main american banks goldman sachs are focusing today a recession is not only inevitable, the question they said it'sjust only inevitable, the question they said it's just the timing, the magnitude or the length of such a global recession. a search for survivors is continuing after a boat carrying migrants sank off the syrian coast. latest reports from syria say 86 people have died, many of them children. the boat set off from tripoli in northern lebanon on tuesday with more than a hundred people on board. the migrants are believed to have been lebanese, syrians, and palestinians heading for europe. 0ur middle east correspondent lina sinjab sent this report. another boat sinking, another catastrophe, another failed attempt

to change destiny. desperate migrants left lebanon earlier in the week, only to drown in the mediterranean in less than 2a hours. rescue operation is ongoing on the syrian coast. some survivors made it safe, many more and j?" " syrian coast. some survivors made it safe, marfamily and j?" " syrian coast. some survivors made it safe, marfamily four ft?" " syrian coast. some survivors made it sa�* members. |ily four ft?" " syrian coast. some survivors made it sa�* members. their four ft?" " syrian coast. some survivors made it sa�* members. theirson four ft?" " syrian coast. some survivors made it sa�* members. their son and ur ft?" " syrian coast. some survivors made it sa�* members. their son and his ft?" " its members. their son and his three children were among the the children were among the dead. the wife is still in critical condition in hospital in syria. 35 years old mustafa worked as a taxi driver and dreamt of a better life for his family in europe. his mother is devastated. translation: g ,., devastated. translation: g ., translation: my son tried to escape the hunuer translation: my son tried to escape the hunger and _ translation: my son tried to escape the hunger and poverty, _ translation: my son tried to escape the hunger and poverty, no _ translation: my son tried to escape the hunger and poverty, no water, - translation: my son tried to escape the hunger and poverty, no water, no| the hunger and poverty, no water, no electricity, nothing. he ran away for a better life but they sent him

to the grey. for a better life but they sent him to the grey-— for a better life but they sent him totheure. ~ , , to the grey. mustapha's cousin tells me there is — to the grey. mustapha's cousin tells me there is no _ to the grey. mustapha's cousin tells me there is no hope _ to the grey. mustapha's cousin tells me there is no hope left _ to the grey. mustapha's cousin tells me there is no hope left in - to the grey. mustapha's cousin tells me there is no hope left in the - me there is no hope left in the country. did he talk to his daughters before? did they want to go? they knew about going on boat? his eldest daughter, she did not want to and cried inside i don't want to and cried inside i don't want to and cried inside i don't want to go because i don't want to die, but... unfortunately... the economy— die, but... unfortunately... the economy has — die, but... unfortunately... the economy has gone _ die, but... unfortunately... the economy has gone from bad to worse to catastrophic, leaving many unable to catastrophic, leaving many unable to even secure the basics. lebanese, syrian and palestinian nationals are all believed to have been on board the boat. this was one of several temps of people trying to reach europe over the past weeks. we are at the border crossing between syria and lebanon. a few metres away from the mediterranean water that people are trying to cross to reach europe. families have gathered here anxiously waiting for news about

their beloved ones. some are fortunate and will be waiting for survivors, but many others are just waiting for bodies to barre. the crowd is calling crowd is still calling to migrate. �* of looks and anger of reality looks stronger and back... we anger of reality looks stronger and back... ~ , ~ , ., anger of reality looks stronger and back... , ~ ., , back... we believe mustapha is better off because _ back... we believe mustapha is better off because we - back... we believe mustapha is better off because we are - back... we believe mustapha is better off because we are all i back... we believe mustapha is i better off because we are all dead here anyway. we are hopeless. all of these people would risk the seed to here anyway. we are hopeless. all of these people wol of risk the seed to here anyway. we are hopeless. all of these people wol of risk th those to here anyway. we are hopeless. all of these people wol of risk ' an hose to here anyway. we are hopeless. all of these people wol ( now ' an hose to here anyway. we are hopeless. all of these people wol ( now ' an h the o to there are grave. inspired future are now taking the journey to their grave.

certainly it is a dangerous moment. the russian army has been pushed into a corner, and no infusing reaction... threatening using nuclear arms. we mackie said it is not above. it isn't? it is notable. when people say it is not above, you have to take it seriously. if when people say it is not above, you have to take it seriously.— have to take it seriously. if this is a new phase _ have to take it seriously. if this is a new phase in _ have to take it seriously. if this is a new phase in the _ have to take it seriously. if this is a new phase in the war - have to take it seriously. if this is a new phase in the war for i is a new phase in the war for russia, should also be a new phase for europe's reaction to the war? it

is also for us. we are not escalating. people tell me what are you going to do? the only answer i haveis you going to do? the only answer i have is more of the same. the logical thing. have is more of the same. the logicalthing. military support, logical thing. military support, economic logicalthing. military support, economic sanctions and personal sanctions and diplomatic activity, which by the way, he worked as a front line in ukraine and differently all over the world because there is a fighting narrative. people at home in my country to me look at the pressures of the gas, we cannot continue working. we cannot continue making my business running. this micro narrative of the individual citizens affected by the electricity bill, it is at the macro level, the same story that african and latin american and southeast asian people, rulers, leaders tell me. i cannot

bear the consequences of this war. when you hear all that, especially from european citizens, does not put pressure on you as the top diplomat to find a way out? it is pressure on you as the top diplomat to find a way out?— to find a way out? it is certainly m “ob, to find a way out? it is certainly my job. the _ to find a way out? it is certainly myjob. the job _ to find a way out? it is certainly myjob. the job of— to find a way out? it is certainly my job, the job of the - to find a way out? it is certainly my job, the job of the leaders l to find a way out? it is certainly| my job, the job of the leaders of myjob, the job of the leaders of the european union, and we do whatever we can in order to finish the war but the war has to be finished in a way that preserves the integrity of ukraine otherwise we can finish the war but we will not have peace. and we will have another war. ., ., , ., have peace. and we will have another war. ., ., g, have peace. and we will have another war. ., . ., , war. you have said there will now be discussion of— war. you have said there will now be discussion of more _ war. you have said there will now be discussion of more sanctions - war. you have said there will now be discussion of more sanctions againstj discussion of more sanctions against russia. there have already been six rounds of sanctions since the invasion in february. they are putting pressure, but not on president putin. the war is getting worse. while we have more sanctions? element we have exhausted the amount of sanctions that can be put on an

economy. of sanctions that can be put on an econom . , .., of sanctions that can be put on an econom . , , ~ ., economy. yes, we can shrink and decrease the _ economy. yes, we can shrink and decrease the number— economy. yes, we can shrink and decrease the number of - economy. yes, we can shrink and i decrease the number of transactions of different economic sectors but we have done a lot. we have done a lot. even from the number of people that can be sanctioned, we have sanctions thousands of people. but we have to continue. ., �* ., ,, ., continue. you've talked about the need to send _ continue. you've talked about the need to send more _ continue. you've talked about the need to send more weapons - continue. you've talked about the need to send more weapons to i need to send more weapons to ukraine, but earlier this month you said the stocks of weapons are depleted. we are the weapon is going to come from and quickly? then;r depleted. we are the weapon is going to come from and quickly?— to come from and quickly? they are not completely _ to come from and quickly? they are not completely depleted. _ to come from and quickly? they are not completely depleted. you - to come from and quickly? they are not completely depleted. you said i not completely depleted. you said that. well, — not completely depleted. you said that. well, depleted _ not completely depleted. you said that. well, depleted means... - not completely depleted. you said l that. well, depleted means... many countries using _ that. well, depleted means... many countries using the _ that. well, depleted means... many countries using the expression - countries using the expression cupboards are bare. the element we were not prepared for war. we did not have a big stock of arms because we have peace in our minds. ahshd not have a big stock of arms because we have peace in our minds. and that

has decreased — we have peace in our minds. and that has decreased and _ we have peace in our minds. and that has decreased and refurbished, - we have peace in our minds. and that has decreased and refurbished, our. has decreased and refurbished, our factories will be able to produce more. we will continue providing arms to ukraine. but more. we will continue providing arms to ukraine.— more. we will continue providing arms to ukraine. but it must keep ou u- at arms to ukraine. but it must keep you no at night. — arms to ukraine. but it must keep you up at night, running _ arms to ukraine. but it must keep you up at night, running out - arms to ukraine. but it must keep you up at night, running out of. you up at night, running out of options to end the war? itide you up at night, running out of options to end the war? we need to look for a diplomatic _ options to end the war? we need to look for a diplomatic solution, - options to end the war? we need to look for a diplomatic solution, that l look for a diplomatic solution, that is certainly true, but in order to then stand, you need to and everybody who has gone to the kremlin and talked with pitching, they came back with the same answer, i have military objectives, and if i do not get those i will continue with the fight. it has been impossible. this is certainly a war of some direction, but we have to continue supporting ukraine. increased numbers of russians are trying to leave the country since

president putin announced immobilisation of at least 300,000 extra troops. a queue about ten kilometres long at the border at georgia. water traffic between finland and russia has also increased. satu sikanen is regional mayor of south karelia in finland, on the border with russia. thank you for coming on the programme. what the situation? the situation here in south—east finland is stable and peaceful. even if the traffic has increased at the border crossing points. iwould if the traffic has increased at the border crossing points. i would say the number of border crossers from russia has doubled in the past days, compared to the week before, and one reason might be the immobilisation of trips in russia. —— mobilisation

of trips in russia. —— mobilisation of troops. the number of border crossers is not so high as other countries. crossers is not so high as other countries-— countries. that is an important oint. countries. that is an important point- the _ countries. that is an important point. the numbers _ countries. that is an important point. the numbers doubling l countries. that is an important l point. the numbers doubling are significant. do you have enough resources and does the country have enough to deal with the extra numbers coming in right now? element right now, yes. it is the threat of security. but of course we have to take the situation seriously and actually yesterday it

was decided to propose to finish government that it would set significant restrictions under issuing the recess. restrictions on russians and russian visas. what about the argument some say close the border entirely. ? . it about the argument some say close the border entirely. ?_ the border entirely. ? . it seems to be we can't — the border entirely. ? . it seems to be we can't be _ the border entirely. ? . it seems to be we can't be proud _ the border entirely. ? . it seems to be we can't be proud of _ the border entirely. ? . it seems to be we can't be proud of the - be we can't be proud of the situation that finland... thing that has already made some restrictions and the number of issuing the visas have already decrease. we are also

waiting dumb and we have the opinion we need more fast. more waiting dumb and we have the opinion we need more fast.— we need more fast. more restrictions rather than fully _ we need more fast. more restrictions rather than fully closing _ we need more fast. more restrictions rather than fully closing the - rather than fully closing the border? if numbers continue going up, if immobilisation is announced in russia of all fighting age men, rather than the slightly more restricted numbers now? you would be forced to take more drastic action? this is a serious situation. of course for our region, but i want to underline that we have a strong defence and finland isjoining nato, and i have understood that finland has a joint call to have those restrictions on the amount of border

crossings will be limited in the near future, crossings will be limited in the nearfuture, they crossings will be limited in the near future, they near days crossings will be limited in the nearfuture, they near days i assume. near future, they near days i assume-— near future, they near days i assume. . ., ., assume. thank you for coming on the programme — we did not have a big stock of arms because stock markets around the world fell yesterday amid growing fears of a global recession. oil prices slumped on friday, and wall street's dowjones index fell to its lowest level since november 2020. this has everything to do with inflation, resulting in large part from russia's invasion of ukraine, pushing up energy prices and the effects the economies of europe. resulting from that, rises in consumer goods, in the shops, and that's worrying a lot of the chairman of the federal central banks around the world, including the federal reserve, whose chairman this week announced another rise

in interest rates in an attempt to cool down the economy and bring down we are seeing the global economy is still growing. whilst people are talking about being in recession, it might be. it grows by four or 5% a year. we'll probably have to live at the moment but may well be getting weaker. the signs we can see your certainly in china, beware of some of the data, some is not reliable. in japan you of the data, some is not reliable. injapan you have seen honda reduce their capacity of manufacturing cars in some parts by a0%, because they can't get the supplies too. that problem we had before are still lurking there.— lurking there. that is the big icture, lurking there. that is the big picture. let's _ lurking there. that is the big picture, let's come - lurking there. that is the big picture, let's come to - lurking there. that is the big picture, let's come to the i lurking there. that is the big | picture, let's come to the uk, lurking there. that is the big i picture, let's come to the uk, the pound falling so sharply. taylor a very dramatic fall. before brexit we were about one 50th are now down to 1.08. very much smaller indeed. anything we buy in is more expensive, have the food comes from overseas, that's inflationary. the good news is our exports are therefore far better value but the global economy is slowing, there will be less the —— demand. the government with the economy to keep going and what they're trying to do

is trying to get some growth coming through. potentially working opposite to each other? that's sort of what it looks _ opposite to each other? that's sort of what it looks like. _ opposite to each other? that's sort of what it looks like. it's _ of what it looks like. it's difficult to work your way through all of this. will it be successful? we don't know.— all of this. will it be successful? we don't know. one of the reasons the ound we don't know. one of the reasons the pound specifically, _ we don't know. one of the reasons the pound specifically, everything i the pound specifically, everything falls against the dollar in tough times because the dollar is seen as the home of the safe haven, this is a story of strength, but why the british pound doing so badly. i smack british pound doing so badly. i smacr , british pound doing so badly. i smac , ., british pound doing so badly. i smac , . . ., british pound doing so badly. i smac . ., ,, smack there is a particular issue because of— smack there is a particular issue because of the _ smack there is a particular issue because of the amount - smack there is a particular issue because of the amount of i smack there is a particular issue because of the amount of debt l smack there is a particular issue i because of the amount of debt we are taking on. britain is seen as good faith, we never defaulted, people trust us, but the amount of debt been built up and potentially a lot more in terms of dealing with the energy crisis, that could be another 100 billion or a 150 billion. people throw numbers around. the event we are paying on our debt at the moment an interest last year was about 50 billion, about the same size as our

defence budget. this year it could be 100 billion, twice the size of the size of the entire education budget. people are looking at britain's thing we trust you with the cost of your debt is going to go up. our the cost of your debt is going to go up. 0urten year the cost of your debt is going to go up. our ten year bond was about 1% a few months ago and is now 4%. a big rise. ibig few months ago and is now 496. a big rise. �* . ., , , few months ago and is now 496. a big rise. �* . . , , , few months ago and is now 496. a big rise. �* . , , ., few months ago and is now 496. a big rise. . , ,., ,, rise. big increases, trust an issue. how surprised _ rise. big increases, trust an issue. how surprised where _ rise. big increases, trust an issue. how surprised where you - rise. big increases, trust an issue. how surprised where you are i rise. big increases, trust an issue. how surprised where you are what| rise. big increases, trust an issue. i how surprised where you are what was your reaction to the chancellor yesterday? element astonishing, if this is a mini bridge i dread to think what a large anoxic. a huge amount in here to unpack. what they are trying to do is kick—start the economy. the trouble is, trying to do that is quite difficult to achieve. basically what they are saying is the previous policy wasn't working, and they're using a firm kicks, we want to invest in the future, but the key issue here is going to be the smaller businesses, the major employer in this country,

and those smaller businesses are terrified because they are covered —— uncovered by cap. we really appreciate it and you are watching bbc news. we have to pause there for some housekeeping as we say goodbye to our international peers watching —— viewers. eastern canada's bracing for what could become one of the most severe storms in the country's history, as hurricane fiona moves towards nova scotia. people in the province and surrounding areas have been told to prepare for high winds, storm surges and heavy rainfall.

they say this could be a next doric extreme event. —— historic. it is the first was the first major hurricane of the season but things are getting very active now. it is absolutely pummelling parts of eastern canada. you can see the path there, strengthening into image as it moved out of porto rico and the dominican republic where it cause catastrophic flooding. hurricane force winds in excess of... coastal search, storm surge, 10—12 metre high waves, battering the coast now. into the atlantic side of canada. it will move north first pick could bring as much a 6-10 north first pick could bring as much a 6—10 inches of rain. it is pumping an awful lot of warm air headed into greenland. could continue to see

milton going on there. you can see the forecast there, for the service running behind, relate life—threatening rip currents along the east coast of the usa. we are starting to get concerned, this will give severe impacts but we have another psalm forming in the caribbean sea which may well affect jamaica, cuba and run into parts of the south—east usa into next week. a very active at the moment. it's unusual in this part of the world. a similar sized storm back in 63 and one and 2003, but does not happen everyday. every couple of decades and it is very unusual for that part of the world. it will big impacts. let's get the weather in this part of the world now. sunshine and showers, the best way to describe saturday's weather. showers should be fairly isolated and the best of the dry brighter weather perhaps

this afternoon further north and west you are. top temperature is likely to peak between 12 and 18 celsius. any showers through the evening will tends to fade away and we will have clear skies across england and wales, temperatures will follow shortly. more cloud to the far north—west, temperatures likely to hold into double figures, it will be a chilly start to sunday morning and hopefully it will be a sparkling one as well. lots of sunshine around first thing on sunday. the cloud will continue to bring a few showers into north—west scotland and eventually a weather front or heavy and persistent rain as we go through the day. top temperatures to sunday afternoon, 13—18. that weatherfront is going to introduce much colder and windier conditions on monday and as you can see, a notable difference to the feel the weather.

hello, this is bbc news. the headlines... world powers condemn the self—styled referendum is being held in parts of ukraine on whether to join russia. britain's chancellor defends his tax cuts aimed at boosting economic growth, saying they are fair for all. we will have a reaction to the mini budget. stock markets around the world have fallen at the jirkal growing fears of a recession. the search for survivors after a boat sank killing at least 86 people. and a close encounter, nasa plans to fly a spacecraft into an asteroid to try and divert its past. —— path.

now on bbc news, dateline london.