in cuba the hurricane knocked out the electricity grid. leaving the entire country without power. now on bbc news...panorama. record numbers are risking their lives on the channel to get to britain. i have been on the south coast as asylum seekers arrive. i the south coast as asylum seekers arrive.— the south coast as asylum seekers arrive. i have counted more than _ seekers arrive. i have counted more than 100 _ seekers arrive. i have counted more than 100 people - seekers arrive. i have counted more than 100 people coming i seekers arrive. i have counted i more than 100 people coming off the boat and still they are arriving. the boat and still they are arrivinu. , the boat and still they are arriving-— the boat and still they are arrivinu. , ., arriving. de leede migrant cam -s arriving. de leede migrant camps of _ arriving. de leede migrant camps of northern - arriving. de leede migrant camps of northern france. | arriving. de leede migrant - camps of northern france. you aet camps of northern france. you net to camps of northern france. you get to the _ camps of northern france. you get to the uk. _ camps of northern france. you get to the uk, and _ camps of northern france. you get to the uk, and this - camps of northern france. 7m. get to the uk, and this phone number will help you. find

get to the uk, and this phone number will help you.- number will help you. and to turkey to _ number will help you. and to turkey to investigate - number will help you. and to turkey to investigate the - turkey to investigate the criminals are smuggling people to our shores. trip criminals are smuggling people to our shores.— to our shores. trip to britain will cost _ to our shores. trip to britain will cost $17,000 _ to our shores. trip to britain will cost $17,000 in - to our shores. trip to britain will cost $17,000 in total. i to our shores. trip to britain i will cost $17,000 in total. the government _ will cost $17,000 in total. the government wants _ will cost $17,000 in total. tie: government wants to will cost $17,000 in total. tue: government wants to send some asylum seekers to rwanda. earlier these young men have money in their pocket and new mobile phones and people struggle to see that these are genuine refugees. but will its plan to stop the people smugglers work? iamon i am on board the matter one with fishermen matt. he has seen how the english channel has changed. each year his radar picks up more and more

bouts. whether this is a shipping lane here. that is another borderforce shipping lane here. that is another border force about. so, there is obviously another one right out here. it has been a long, hot summer. perfect conditions for migrants to cross the channel. and for the people smugglers charging thousands to bring them to the uk. , i: i: ., uk. there will be 110-50 on the same uk. there will be 40-50 on the same bouts. — uk. there will be 40-50 on the same bouts, all— uk. there will be 40-50 on the same bouts, all the _ uk. there will be 40-50 on the same bouts, all the same - uk. there will be 40-50 on the | same bouts, all the same boats now these big, long, black detainees, so they normally have about 110—50 on board. easily a couple of hundred, and you have got one, two, three altea so there is another 150. you will probably be up to 600-700 you will probably be up to 600—700 before midday today. almost 90% of those arriving this year are men. more than

20,000 people have risked their lives crossing the channel to get to britain in the past six months. and nothing the government does seems to put them off. crossing one of the world's busiest shipping lanes in a dinghy would be terrifying. the near misses happen almost every day. the overcrowded boats quickly take on water. they are often just drifting without a proper motor. last november, 27 people and an unborn baby drowned when their dinghy sank.

mustapha was rescued in the channel when his boat almost went under, in march. he is now in britain but does not want us to show his face. translation: , ., ., , translation: everyone was sa in: translation: everyone was saying that — translation: everyone was saying that the _ translation: everyone was saying that the boat - translation: everyone was saying that the boat had - translation: everyone was saying that the boat had a i saying that the boat had a problem _ saying that the boat had a problem but _ saying that the boat had a problem but the - saying that the boat had a j problem but the smuggler insisted _ problem but the smuggler insisted that _ problem but the smuggler insisted that we _ problem but the smuggler insisted that we get - problem but the smuggler insisted that we get in. i problem but the smuggler. insisted that we get in. who said — insisted that we get in. who said if— insisted that we get in. who said if you _ insisted that we get in. who said if you don't _ insisted that we get in. who said if you don't make - insisted that we get in. who said if you don't make the l said if you don't make the crossing. _ said if you don't make the crossing. no _ said if you don't make the crossing, no one - said if you don't make the crossing, no one survives| said if you don't make the - crossing, no one survives and your— crossing, no one survives and your family— crossing, no one survives and your family will— crossing, no one survives and your family will have - crossing, no one survives and l your family will have problems, so we _ your family will have problems, so we got — your family will have problems, so we got on _ your family will have problems, so we got on. and _ your family will have problems, so we got on. and we _ your family will have problems, so we got on. and we were - so we got on. and we were really— so we got on. and we were really drowning. _ so we got on. and we were really drowning. i- so we got on. and we were really drowning. i will - so we got on. and we werei really drowning. i will never forget — really drowning. i will never forget that _ really drowning. i will never forget that day. _ really drowning. i will never forget that day. the - really drowning. i will never forget that day.— forget that day. the people smugglers _ forget that day. the people smugglers do _ forget that day. the people smugglers do not - forget that day. the people smugglers do not care - forget that day. the people smugglers do not care less about their cargo. the people they are smuggling up your meat with money in their pocket but beyond that, we have to look a bit more carefully at who is coming over. i don't think our

immigration and asylum system was meant to be rewarding those that have money in their pocket at the expense of those without at the expense of those without a real and genuine need to come and seek sanctuary somewhere. many of the big smuggling gangs are based here in turkey. thousands of people arrange theirjourneys thousands of people arrange their journeys to the thousands of people arrange theirjourneys to the uk from istanbul. it is the centre of a global refugee crisis. no one really knows how many refugees there are in turkey. official figures put it at around 5 million, but unofficially, it could be as high as 10 million. and that makes turkey the country with the most refugees in the world. istanbul is a gathering point for refugees

and economic migrants from africa, asia and the middle east. and the black market trade people smuggling is booming. trade people smuggling is booming-— trade people smuggling is boomin.. , ., , ., ,, trade people smuggling is boominu. , ., ,, ., booming. this town is a kind of a connection — booming. this town is a kind of a connection point, _ booming. this town is a kind of a connection point, a _ booming. this town is a kind of a connection point, a bridge, . a connection point, a bridge, and also an important place for the migrants they get in touch with smugglers, and as the security increases from the resident part, thejourney becomes more dramatically dangerous for many of them. ramid fled his home in afghanistan two years ago and now lives and works in this bakery. translation: ~ ., _, translation: we did not come here for no _ translation: we did not come here for no reason, _ translation: we did not come here for no reason, we - translation: we did not come here for no reason, we came - translation: we did not come here for no reason, we came to| here for no reason, we came to turkey— here for no reason, we came to turkey to — here for no reason, we came to turkey to earn _ here for no reason, we came to turkey to earn a _ here for no reason, we came to turkey to earn a living. - here for no reason, we came to turkey to earn a living. to - turkey to earn a living. to support _ turkey to earn a living. to support our— turkey to earn a living. to support our families - turkey to earn a living. to support our families left l support our families left behind _ support our families left behind in _ support our families left

behind in hunger. - support our families left behind in hunger. ramid does not leave _ behind in hunger. ramid does not leave the _ behind in hunger. ramid does not leave the bakery, - behind in hunger. ramid does not leave the bakery, he - behind in hunger. ramid does not leave the bakery, he does not leave the bakery, he does not have permission to stay, and he is afraid of being sent home. , ., ., ., .,, home. they do not want as refugees — home. they do not want as refugees here. _ home. they do not want as refugees here. they - home. they do not want as refugees here. they take i home. they do not want as | refugees here. they take us home. they do not want as - refugees here. they take us off the streets _ refugees here. they take us off the streets and _ refugees here. they take us off the streets and send _ refugees here. they take us off the streets and send us - refugees here. they take us off the streets and send us back. refugees here. they take us off the streets and send us back to where — the streets and send us back to where we — the streets and send us back to where we have _ the streets and send us back to where we have so _ the streets and send us back to where we have so many- the streets and send us back to . where we have so many problems, even _ where we have so many problems, even more — where we have so many problems, even more that _ where we have so many problems, even more. that is _ where we have so many problems, even more. that is why— where we have so many problems, even more. that is why we - where we have so many problems, even more. that is why we are - even more. that is why we are here — even more. that is why we are here -- — even more. that is why we are here -- even— even more. that is why we are here. —— even war. _ even more. that is why we are here. —— even war. in- even more. that is why we are here. -- even war.— here. -- even war. in their homeland _ here. -- even war. in their homeland in _ here. -- even war. in their homeland in the _ here. -- even war. in their homeland in the countries| here. -- even war. in their i homeland in the countries of origin, this is the reason that they are arriving on a global level. it is kind of a desperate journey, level. it is kind of a desperatejourney, they level. it is kind of a desperate journey, they dream of a new life, a better life, somewhere else. it is this desperation that is exploited by the people

smugglers. i am exploited by the people smugglers. iam heading exploited by the people smugglers. i am heading to a safe house to meet a kingpin in the smuggling trade. it has taken months to arrange, working through a trusted intermediary. the smuggler has agreed to talk, on the condition that we don't identify him. he's sent hundreds of people the uk. the british government says that what you are doing is illegal. translation: i what you are doing is illegal. translation:— translation: i know it is illeual translation: i know it is illegal but i _ translation: i know it is illegal but i choose - translation: i know it is illegal but i choose to - translation: i know it is| illegal but i choose to help these _ illegal but i choose to help these people _ illegal but i choose to help these people. we - illegal but i choose to help these people. we treat- illegal but i choose to help . these people. we treat them well — these people. we treat them well we _ these people. we treat them well. we respect— these people. we treat them well. we respect women. - these people. we treat them| well. we respect women. we these people. we treat them . well. we respect women. we do not disrespect _ well. we respect women. we do not disrespect anyone. - well. we respect women. we do not disrespect anyone. but- not disrespect anyone. but there have _ not disrespect anyone. but there have been _ not disrespect anyone.- there have been allegations that a migrant died on one of his boots. he denies it. he says he gets customers to sign this disclaimer, acknowledging the risks of death, capture and

being lost at sea. it says, sign, if you accept these terms. it sign, if you accept these terms. ., , �* ., terms. it doesn't matter if it is a family — terms. it doesn't matter if it is a family or _ terms. it doesn't matter if it is a family or an _ terms. it doesn't matter if it is a family or an individual, l is a family or an individual, each — is a family or an individual, each person— is a family or an individual, each person pays - is a family or an individual, each person pays the - is a family or an individual, i each person pays the same, is a family or an individual, - each person pays the same, the trip to— each person pays the same, the trip to britain— each person pays the same, the trip to britain will— each person pays the same, the trip to britain will cost _ trip to britain will cost $17.000 _ trip to britain will cost $17,000 in _ trip to britain will cost $17,000 in total. - trip to britain will cost $17,000 in total.- trip to britain will cost $17,000 in total. you are makin: $17,000 in total. you are making money _ $17,000 in total. you are making money from - $17,000 in total. you are i making money from putting peoples lives at risk. accidents can happen. but we explain — accidents can happen. but we explain how— accidents can happen. but we explain how dangerous - accidents can happen. but we explain how dangerous the i explain how dangerous the journey— explain how dangerous the journey is, _ explain how dangerous the journey is, and _ explain how dangerous the journey is, and we - explain how dangerous the journey is, and we have . explain how dangerous the . journey is, and we have them sign — journey is, and we have them sign a — journey is, and we have them sign a consent— journey is, and we have them sign a consent form. - journey is, and we have them sign a consent form. you - journey is, and we have them. sign a consent form. you could die, _ sign a consent form. you could die i_ sign a consent form. you could die itell— sign a consent form. you could die, i tell them. _ sign a consent form. you could die, itellthem._ die, i tell them. these are some of— die, i tell them. these are some of the _ die, i tell them. these are some of the passports - die, i tell them. these are some of the passports the | some of the passports the smuggler says he has taken from migrants. it is so officials cannot check their details when they arrive in britain. why do people want to come to the uk?

there are more opportunities foriohs — there are more opportunities foriohs in _ there are more opportunities forjobs in britain _ there are more opportunities forjobs in britain and - there are more opportunities forjobs in britain and they. forjobs in britain and they have — forjobs in britain and they have respect— forjobs in britain and they have respect for— forjobs in britain and they have respect for human i forjobs in britain and they- have respect for human rights. people — have respect for human rights. people smuggling _ have respect for human rights. people smuggling is— have respect for human rights. people smuggling is a - people smuggling is a competitive business, with services openly advertised online. this one is a post offering to take people to the uk, but no children under eight years old. they say they can provide a 17 years old. they say they can provide a17 metre boat which can take up to 60 people. the cost, $11,500. there are also fake british driving licence and passports for sale, and sample questions, to prepare migrants for a grilling by home office officials. for migrants for a grilling by home office officials.— office officials. for smugglers it is our business _

office officials. for smugglers it is our business model - office officials. for smugglers it is our business model and i it is our business model and they use social media like facebook, they are making their advertisements really easily. the problem that you can trust, like, trust here is the key word i believe and that is why some of the smugglers have got experience and certain reputation in the field, makes it easier to find new clients.— new clients. the people smugglers _ new clients. the people smugglers rely - new clients. the people smugglers rely on - new clients. the people smugglers rely on a - new clients. the people - smugglers rely on a network of safe houses and apartments here in istanbul. there is one that we nowjust round the corner here. —— one that we know of. these pictures were filmed inside one of the smugglers' safe houses. people are held here for weeks in cramped conditions. they are nearly all single young men.

translation: ~ , ., translation: we put them in an a artment translation: we put them in an apartment while _ translation: we put them in an apartment while we _ translation: we put them in an apartment while we wait - translation: we put them in an apartment while we wait until - apartment while we wait until it is safe _ apartment while we wait until it is safe to— apartment while we wait until it is safe to go. _ apartment while we wait until it is safe to go. the _ apartment while we wait until it is safe to go. the families. it is safe to go. the families -et it is safe to go. the families get their— it is safe to go. the families get their food _ it is safe to go. the families get their food and _ it is safe to go. the families get their food and suppliesl get their food and supplies together— get their food and supplies together and _ get their food and supplies together and when- get their food and supplies together and when they i get their food and suppliesl together and when they are ready— together and when they are ready way _ together and when they are ready way take _ together and when they are ready way take their- together and when they are ready way take their phone | together and when they are . ready way take their phone so that the — ready way take their phone so that the cops _ ready way take their phone so that the cops cannot - ready way take their phone so that the cops cannot find - ready way take their phone so that the cops cannot find out. that the cops cannot find out about — that the cops cannot find out about us _ that the cops cannot find out about us— that the cops cannot find out about us. . , ., , about us. once the smuggler has cathered about us. once the smuggler has gathered enough _ about us. once the smuggler has gathered enough people - about us. once the smuggler has gathered enough people here - about us. once the smuggler has gathered enough people here in. gathered enough people here in istanbul, they will begin the most dangerous part of their journey so far, to get across the mediterranean sea and into europe. this is footage of his customers heading to the boats. we put them in a van and we drive— we put them in a van and we drive them— we put them in a van and we drive them to _ we put them in a van and we drive them to the _ we put them in a van and we drive them to the mountains| drive them to the mountains near— drive them to the mountains near where _ drive them to the mountains near where we _ drive them to the mountains near where we keep- drive them to the mountains near where we keep the - drive them to the mountains . near where we keep the boats, and now. — near where we keep the boats, and now. they— near where we keep the boats, and now, they walked - near where we keep the boats, and now, they walked towardsi and now, they walked towards the sea — and now, they walked towards the sea. then _ and now, they walked towards the sea. then everyone - and now, they walked towards the sea. then everyone gets i and now, they walked towards i the sea. then everyone gets in, and that— the sea. then everyone gets in, and that the _ the sea. then everyone gets in,

and that the journey— the sea. then everyone gets in, and that the journey begins. - the sea. then everyone gets in, j and that the journey begins. we and that the “ourney begins. we have and that the journey begins. have seen several videos of migrants on the smugglers' boats. thanking him for getting them to western europe. the videos are filmed, to prove that the migrants have safely made the crossing. the money for the trip is held by a middleman and not paid to the smuggler until they arrive in italy or greece. the smuggler says that he even runs a luxury vip service for wealthy clients. but crossing the med is farfrom plain

sailing. nearly 2000 people died making thejourney sailing. nearly 2000 people died making the journey last year. died making the “ourney last ear. �* , year. the un refugee agency fully supports _ year. the un refugee agency fully supports ending - year. the un refugee agency fully supports ending the - fully supports ending the horror, the criminality that we all see of these boats arriving, young women with babies, people drowning, bodies being picked up at sea, some people are attempting to find a solution. �* ., ., _ solution. britain would say that many _ solution. britain would say that many of _ solution. britain would say that many of these - solution. britain would say that many of these people j they are economic not refugees, they are economic migrants, why should britain accept them? the migrants, why should britain accept them?— migrants, why should britain accept them? the probability is that about _ accept them? the probability is that about 8096 _ accept them? the probability is that about 8096 of _ accept them? the probability is that about 8096 of them - accept them? the probability is that about 8096 of them are . that about 80% of them are almost certainly refugees, may be about 20% would not fall within the legal category. be about 2096 would not fall within the legal category. many are heading _ within the legal category. many are heading to _ within the legal category. many are heading to the _ within the legal category. many are heading to the uk. - within the legal category. many are heading to the uk. the - are heading to the uk. the government here says that it wants to smash the people

smugglers. it has brought in tougher prison sentences and made it illegal for people to arrive by dinghy. but the most controversial plan was to send some asylum seekers like these single men to africa, to have their claims processed. the government signed a £120 million deal with rwanda in april. despite warnings from its own advisers about human rights abuses in rwanda, an international concern about the deal�*s legality. the deal's legality. the legislation - deal's legality. the legislation is - deal's legality. the - legislation is inhumane, unethical, it fails to achieve the very objective of our role which is protection of people displaced. it is in breach of international law, so obviously there are concerns but our immediate concern as the un refugee agency, concerned the

lack of safeguards in the asylum system. we have been working with the rwandan government to strengthen that system, but it is one that does not have the safeguards that would protect the lives of those people were they to be forcibly transferred. it is not safe for me to go to reminder to investigate. i was threatened after making a film that challenged the official account of the country's genocide 28 years ago. the government says that rimando has changed. government says that rimando has changed-— has changed. there is nothing wronu has changed. there is nothing wrong with — has changed. there is nothing wrong with the _ has changed. there is nothing wrong with the rwandan - has changed. there is nothing i wrong with the rwandan human rights record no matter what these external agencies say, we have record of how safe reminder is and have made tremendous progress in the last 28 years. the remands trust their government, we have

people who come to live here, of their own, we are a country of their own, we are a country of inward migration. at so far, not a single asylum seeker has been sent to rwanda. the first flight this summer was grounded by the european court of human rights. j was grounded by the european court of human rights.- court of human rights. i think we should _ court of human rights. i think we should have _ court of human rights. i think we should have grasped - court of human rights. i think we should have grasped the i we should have grasped the nettle and let the plane take off. we felt powerless, and i'm sure the government feels pretty powerless, because whichever way it tries to turn, to actually do things that the population want done properly, taking back control, taking control of your borders, we seem to be thwarted by external forces seemingly outside of our control. ., _ , control. vahid says he fled iran to britain _ control. vahid says he fled iran to britain because - control. vahid says he fled iran to britain because hel control. vahid says he fled i iran to britain because he was persecuted for being a

christian. the home office has told him they intend to reject his asylum application, which means he could be sent to rwanda. translation: ., , , ., translation: the hopes i have had about living _ translation: the hopes i have had about living in _ translation: the hopes i have had about living in a _ translation: the hopes i have had about living in a safe - had about living in a safe country all vanished. if i knew that i would go through so much, i would that i would go through so much, iwould never that i would go through so much, i would never have left. vahid says he was forced to work for the people smugglers. translation:— work for the people smugglers. translation: they took us to a lace, translation: they took us to a place. like _ translation: they took us to a place. like a _ translation: they took us to a place, like a warehouse. - translation: they took us to a place, like a warehouse. we - place, like a warehouse. we were around 35—40 people. they said, you mustjust follow our orders. said, you must 'ust follow our orders. ~ , ., ~ orders. were they violent? were ou orders. were they violent? were you abused? _ you abused ? translation: you abused? translation: , , ., translation: yes, they did all of that. translation: yes, they did all of that- they — translation: yes, they did all of that. they harassed - translation: yes, they did all of that. they harassed us, -

of that. they harassed us, tortured us, we suffered everything. he is a genuine christian. he was persecuted because of his religious beliefs. he was persecuted by even the human traffickers. so he needs help. we are putting a vulnerable person as a matter of experiment to a third country like rwanda where we know, you know, the government knows, has a track record where there are a lot of human right breaches. it's bizarre. ok, watch your hands. watch... children first. no _ there will be genuine cases where what people tell - you is absolutely true. but because of the seeming ease by which you can just _ pay for your passage, it has devalued - the whole thing. it's young men, well. dressed, good haircuts, new mobile phones, and money in their pocket, and people - struggle to see that these are genuine refugees. - it's here in northern

france that refugees and economic migrants face theirfinal hurdle. the channel. one last dangerous journey to reach the uk. there's no shortage of customers for the people smugglers. where are you aiming to go? will you stay in france? where do you want to go? really, i want to go to england. and do you have family in england? yeah, i have my brother. he's in england. and do you know that the british government is saying that it will send people to rwanda if they're not accepted? i know that, but what can i do? just, i want to stay in england. the opposition to the government's rwanda plan starts here.

careltcalais is one of a number of groups challenging the legality of the policy in the british courts. if you get to the uk, then you use this leaflet. these phone numbers will help you, and we will get you a lawyer to stop rwanda. ok. and you tell your friends, as well, ok? it's very, very important. government would see this as thwarting the will of the government and of public opinion in stopping asylum seekers claiming asylum wrongly. the lawyers couldn't help them if they didn't have the rights there to help them. we have the rights and we help them stand by it. it is brutal and cruel and wrong because the united kingdom is not supposed to abuse people's human rights. we are not...that is not who we are. and if we say yes to this, then that is what we are doing.

but some refugees say they are having second thoughts. the plan to send asylum seekers to rwanda, will it stop you? so will you stop trying to go to the uk because of rwanda, or will you still try? there's a network of criminal gangs that get people across the channel. and the smuggler we met in turkey is part of it. we buy a dinghy and install a motor for. about $10,000, $20,000.

one of the passengers goes for free in return| for navigating the boat. theyjust go straight across the channel. i when they reach the uk, | theyjust turn themselves over to the police. for now, the people smugglers are winning. there are scenes like this most days in dover. exhausted asylum seekers setting foot on british soil. well, i've counted more than

100 people coming off the boat and still they're arriving. and we know there are at least two other border force vessels out there in the channel right now, still picking up migrants. the day we filmed was the busiest for crossings since records began. 1,295 made the trip in one day. many are men from albania, where people smugglers are offering cut—price rates. everyone arriving needs food, clothing and health care. the government says it's now spending around £5 million a dayjust on hotels. my email inbox is full of people with accommodation problems, so when they then hear that there is another big, large number of people,

no matter which route they come in, these numbers become alarming to people cos they know that many of our services that we all want are not exactly working perfectly now, and this will simply add to the pressure. the government told us its "world—leading partnership with rwanda" is a key part of "plans to fix the broken asylum system". it still wants to "break the business model" of people smugglers and "prevent further loss of life". it says rwanda is a "safe and secure country" with a "strong track record of supporting asylum seekers". earlier this month, the government returned to the courts to argue that its rwanda plan is safe and legal. a ruling on whether it can start removing asylum seekers is expected later this autumn.

even if the uk government wins the court case, it's only likely to send a couple of hundred people to rwanda. that's all the government there says it has the capacity to hold. that's unlikely to stop the people smugglers, who are bringing thousands to britain. the numbers are going up. the people who are taking these journeys are well aware that they are at risk of being transferred to rwanda. it's not stopping them. what is being achieved here? almost nothing. it's hugely expensive, and the very high probability is that those that do come to rwanda will leave very, very quickly and we're right back where we started again. this month, the number of arrivals by boat reached a new record.

over 30,000 so far this year. that's already more than the whole of last year. what do local people think about all this? i think they're getting a little bit tired of it now, really, myself included. do you think the numbers will carry on? we're now in early autumn, but is there any sign of the numbers stopping? no, no, not at all. i mean, it gets... itjust seems to get busier. the last time i saw the people smuggler in istanbul, he was buying this new boat. his business is growing. the british government has announced a plan to send asylum seekers to rwanda. will this make a difference? even if they sent a thousand people a day to rwanda, - they won't stop. people won't change their mind.

they aren't afraid of dying, and if they're not afraid - of death, they won't be afraid of going to rwanda. - the government says it's determined to break the people smugglers' business model. but there's no sign of it yet. the numbers arriving in the uk are still rising. hello there.

ultimately it's another day of sunny spells and scattered showers, but fewer showers in comparison to tuesday and lighter winds. still from a cool source, though — from the north — that's going to be driving in some showers across aberdeenshire and down through the irish sea, just clipping west facing coasts of wales and southwest england. during the latter stages of the afternoon, we will see a rash of sharp showers through northeast england. some of these could be heavy and thundry. top temperatures once again around 13—16 celsius, a little bit below par for the time of year. and we will need to keep an eye on those showers across the north east. they will gradually sink their way steadily southwards as we go through the night. so perhaps lingering first thing in the morning on thursday south of the m11 corridor, chilly start further north under some clearer skies. we will have single figures here. but on the whole, a ridge of high pressure will build on thursday. so largely fine and dry before we see yet more wet and windy weather arriving for all of us during friday.

hello. this is bbc news. i'm david eades. our top stories: damage to russia's nordstream pipelines — the president of the european commission says it was sabotage. international condemnation as occupied regions of ukraine claim overwhelming victory in their self—styled referendums on joining russia. we will not, indeed we will never, recognise the annexation of ukrainian territory by russia. florida braces itself for the arrival of hurricane ian — after the storm system devastates cuba leaving the entire island without power. and the international monetary fund warns that the uk government's planned tax cuts could increase inequality across the country.