this is bbc news broadcasting in the uk and around the globe. our top stories... a new bill aims to crackdown on migrants who travel to the uk illegally — especialy those crossing the english channel in small boats. the home secretary admits its pushing the boudaries of international law. china's leader xijinping makes an unusually direct rebuke of the united states — blaming it for trying to "contain, encircle and suppress" his country. live pictures from marseille, where another day of strikes bring widespread disruption across france — as unions battle against planned pension reforms. tributes are paid to three people found dead in a crashed car in cardiff, two days

after they went missing. and, the wait is almost over — super—fans are poised online — as tickets for eurovision go on sale later. hello and welcome to bbc news. welcome to viewers here in the uk and around the world. britain's home secretary, suella braverman, has accepted the government is pushing the boundaries of international law with new legislation aimed at stopping asylum seekers crossing the english channel in small boats. it's thought the measures, being introduced in parliament today, and which put a legal duty on ministers to remove anyone who enters the uk illegally — would face legal challenges. here's our political

correspondent, iain watson: five years ago, fewer than 300 migrants attempted to cross the channel in a small boat. last year, more than 16,000 undertook the hazardous journey. and as the numbers grew, so too did the political pressure on the government. so injanuary this year, the prime minister made this pledge. we will pass new laws to stop small boats, making sure that if you come to this country illegally, you are detained and swiftly removed. and the government will begin the process of passing a new law today. it would place a duty on the home secretary to remove anyone who comes here by an illegal route and it would prevent them from claiming asylum in the uk. those who are removed won't be permitted to return or to seek british citizenship. the prime minister and home secretary have written in conservative supporting newspapers this morning. in the sun, rishi sunak has said, "this new law will send a clear

signal that if you come to this country illegally, you'll be swiftly removed." and in the telegraph, suella braverman declared there would be "no more sticking plasters or shying away from difficult decisions. we've pushed the boundaries of international law to solve this crisis." dover's mp says this is part of wider measures and she wants to see more action to stop small boats setting sail. what i'm hoping to see from this package of measures is that we see more action taken to stop those boats leaving france in the first place, more is done in terms of managing the english channel between the two countries, and that there's strengthening of the returns. and that's what we're expecting in the bill this week. anyone arriving by an illegal route from today onwards could be subject to the new law. but some experts say there are potential practical problems with the government's proposals. where are we going to send tens of thousands of individuals

who arrive via small boat? to do that, we need bilateral agreements with countries or an agreement with the eu. and there's precious little evidence so far that we have made much progress in hammering out agreements of that kind _ of course, we do have one policy like that, that's with rwanda, but we haven't sent anyone there yet. critics, too, are questioning whether the government has the capacity to detain large numbers of people prior to their removal from the uk. the labour leader, sir keir starmer, has called the government's plan unworkable and is calling on the government to do more to tackle the criminal gangs who are responsible for ferrying asylum seekers across the channel. but the prime minister believes if he doesn't try to introduce a new law to stop small boats, he could pay a high political price. iain watson, bbc news. our correspondent, lucy williamson sent this from calais. as news of the government's new policy trickles through camps in northern france here, there is a sense that it is not in and of itself going to slow the flow across the channel. policy announcements by themselves have not tended

to change many minds here. if you think back to the rwanda policy, when that was announced, there was a few days when many migrants here were considering whether it was worth it, there was a little bit of anxiety, but it passed pretty quickly, particularly when there were no concrete measures taken. i think this raises the question of how the government is going to implement this new policy, particularly when it comes to removing people from the uk when they land on those shorts. the rwanda policy is still mired in the courts in france is so far been adamant it won't take back migrants return from the uk, at least not without a wider eu policy. so the sense here in northern france this morning is that this policy in and of itself is not

going to change many minds or deter people from trying to cross the channel. it is just going to be added to the list of risks that they have been through, the list of risks they prefer not to think about, and migrant associations say rather than slow the flow of small boats, it is simply going to criminalise people who are seeking refuge under international law. simonjones is in dover, simon tell us more about these proposals. give us a sense of what the movement has been like of the small boats of the past few days. the has been like of the small boats of the past few days.— the past few days. the crossings have continued _ the past few days. the crossings have continued yesterday, - the past few days. the crossings have continued yesterday, we i the past few days. the crossings i have continued yesterday, we saw three boatloads of people being brought in, possibly 100, three boatloads of people being brought in, possibly100, may three boatloads of people being brought in, possibly 100, may be as high as 200 people making the crossing. even though it has been bitterly cold here, this is very much dependent on the wind speed, so it can be very cold, but if the sea is calm like it was yesterday, the crossings will happen, and so for the sheer, more than 3000 people have made the journey over from northern france on small boats. that is almost double the figure we saw for this time last year, so it gives

you a sense of the numbers and why the government here in the uk is so concerned about it. last year 115,000 people making the crossing, privately officials at the home office are preparing for up to 80,000 people to make the journey, and of course, this can be a very perilous crossing, people have lost their lives, because out there in their lives, because out there in the channel it is the world's busy shipping lane, what has been clear as the boats have been getting bigger and bigger, overloaded with more and more people. and the very real risks that come with that. we know people smugglers won't stop trying to do what they do, but does anyone think of this new law stopping people get onto these small boats actually wanting to make that journey? the boats actually wanting to make that “ourne ? �* , ,., ., journey? the british government are sa in: the journey? the british government are saying they h°pe _ journey? the british government are saying they hope their— journey? the british government are saying they hope their new _ journey? the british government are saying they hope their new law- journey? the british government are saying they hope their new law is - saying they hope their new law is going to act as a deterrent, and they are also saying that even though it is being introduced in parliament today, and will take several months to become law, it

will be applied retrospectively, so the message is, anyone attempting the message is, anyone attempting the crossing from today could potentially in the coming months we told you won't be allowed to stay in the uk, won't be allowed to claim asylum here, you will be banned from the country forever, you will be sent to rwanda or another safe third country. but i think the reality overin country. but i think the reality over in northern france is the desire of many simply to get to the uk, potentially because they have family members already here, potentially because of the language a lot of peoples speak english rather than french, and the perception rightly or wrongly that people once they arrive in the uk get treated better by the british government than they are treated overin government than they are treated over in northern france. many of them sleeping rough over there. but many of them not wanting to stay in france, wanting to come to the uk. perhaps the idea that a change in policy is necessarily going to affect a change in view over in france, that may be taking it a bit far, but what the government he had

a bit far, but what the government here are saying ultimately is if you come across by illegal means you will not be allowed to stay there, determine to get the message across. rishi sunak singh this morning britain has a proud record of welcoming those who are in need but pointing out very clearly that anyone making the crossing over by a small bowl, their life over in northern france is not directly endanger and they are not directly fleeing a war—torn country. he says that's simply not fair and the government wants to concentrate on what they see as safe and legal routes to get across the channel, but the reality is, critics say those roots, there are not many of them, they are very limited to countries, so it means many people feel the only opportunity is to try and arrive across the channel and a small—bore or hidden in a lorry, and that, they say, is to continue. —— a small boat. jean—paul mulot is regional councillor for hauts—de—france, oversees international relations. he's also a former permanent envoy

to the uk for the region. you've looked, obviously, at various laws which have been produced to try to deal with this issue. do you see anything significantly different about these latest proposals from the uk government?— about these latest proposals from the uk government? yes, i think what is ositive the uk government? yes, i think what is positive is — the uk government? yes, i think what is positive is that _ the uk government? yes, i think what is positive is that we _ the uk government? yes, i think what is positive is that we are _ the uk government? yes, i think what is positive is that we are talking - is positive is that we are talking to each other and between the uk and france and the last couple of years have been incredibly difficult because the connection in the authorities on both sides of the channel were absolutely dead. so that's good news, but over the last years we've seen so many laws in france and uk about immigration would not a great result, and does we just explained, would not a great result, and does wejust explained, it would not a great result, and does we just explained, it has been actually worse over the last couple of years, especially the last two years. so we need to coordination, action and ambition. we need a new

treaty, notjust a regulation, a new regulation in the uk or in france, we need to work together. and that has been the failure, especially over the last 2a months, because whatever is decided on one side has an implication on the other side. we've been calling for years for a joint border force, a border force in uk and france can workjointly, really jointly. in uk and france can workjointly, reallyjointly. we have an expedition caught for military purpose and the treaty is between the uk and france and that makes it possible for defence. why is it we cannot do that together over the channel? it cannot do that together over the channel? ,., , ., , ., cannot do that together over the channel? ,., , .,, ., i. channel? it sounds as though you think the communication - channel? it sounds as though you think the communication has - channel? it sounds as though you think the communication has not| channel? it sounds as though you - think the communication has not been effective between the uk and france in the past, are as effective as it could be. , ~ ,

could be. yes, i think the truth is after brexit. _ could be. yes, i think the truth is after brexit, there _ could be. yes, i think the truth is after brexit, there has _ could be. yes, i think the truth is after brexit, there has been - could be. yes, i think the truth is after brexit, there has been a - could be. yes, i think the truth is i after brexit, there has been a gap, the old dublin system was actually applying in the uk and suddenly there was a whole and so the system was not consistent any more and today the british pm and emmanuel macron will today take the measure of the problem with signing a new treaty, a bilateral treaty to rule that everything that is happening on the channel on ourjoint border. we cannot keep going with a local regulation that cannot really work. it might help, but it will not solve the problem. if i it might help, but it will not solve the problem-— it might help, but it will not solve the problem. ifi can interrupt you there, on that _ the problem. ifi can interrupt you there, on that point, _ the problem. ifi can interrupt you there, on that point, you - the problem. ifi can interrupt you there, on that point, you have - there, on that point, you have called in the past four european centres for the prescreening of

migrants far from france and obviously far from the uk. what has happened on that front and what more can be done to actually tackle the people smugglers, the people trying to make money out of these migrant? the first target, you are right, or the traffickers. there is a lot of money involved, it is as big as the drug business, and sometimes we know actually the traffickers are also smuggling lots of other things, so it is a very big criminal organisation, and through that, cooperation between europe all and the british police is not what it used to be in the past, so lots of old organisations like euro paul and the french police and british police have got to work on eu basis, otherwise they will be a system that

has got to be put into place in the uk, but what is that can be connected with other migrants and other places? it is true we need reform also within the eu. we've been talking about the issue, the doubling system over the last 5—10 years now, with not a real new system coming up. it's true that if you look at the number of applications for asylum, lots of them are going back to italy, because obviously lots of people to enter europe from the shores of italy. there was a situation on an island in sicily, the camps down there, and the people going up to cross the border in the alps and then arriving on the shores of calais. and taking so many risks,

putting so many lives in danger because the system is not clear where you can apply, and the traffickers also using the fact that the system is not clear, and there is no joint action the system is not clear, and there is nojoint action in between our countries. we is no joint action in between our countries-— is no joint action in between our countries. ~ , ., countries. we must leave it there but thank you _ countries. we must leave it there but thank you very _ countries. we must leave it there but thank you very much - countries. we must leave it there but thank you very much for - countries. we must leave it there but thank you very much for your| but thank you very much for your thoughts on that story today. stay with us on bbc world news. today's headlines: another day of strikes and widespread disruption in france — as unions battle against planned pension reforms. ukraine's president zelensky says he has instructed his military commanders to find the forces to boost the defence of the eastern city of bakhmut. russian troops — have so far failed to drive out the ukrainian forces. and, the wait is almost over — super—fans are poised online — as tickets for eurovision go on sale later. the chinese leader, xijinping, has made an unusually direct

criticism of washington — saying that the balloon incident is just one of a series of american actions which show that the us is trying to encircle and contain his country. it appears to be part of a concerted effort by the chinese leadership, which is gathered in beijing for the national people's congress. 0ur china correspondent, stephen mcdonell explains how the chinese foreign minister says the west encircling china is proving to be a serious threat. this has been a very high profile, two pronged attack on the us from the chinese government, not only involving the foreign minister but also the supreme leader, xijinping, no less. he made a speech in which he said that the west, as led by the us, was encircling and containing china and that this represented a serious threat for this country. now we don't know a lot more about what he said

because that was a speech behind closed doors to these business delegates at a political advisory body. but foreign minister qin gang held a press conference on the sidelines of the national people's congress. he said that unless washington hits the brakes soon instead of ramping up tensions, that there was a real risk of conflict between the us and china. he went through these various points of tensions, for example, the balloon incident. now he said that was basically an accident, but the us hyped it up, leading to a diplomatic crisis. he said that the biden administration, when it speaks about competition with china, really means trying to control china, trying to constrain it. and in terms of the ukraine war, he said that china had put forward a peace plan for ukraine, but that the proposals for peace were being stifled by this invisible actor,

this invisible hand. it's pretty obvious he's talking about the us there. but the accusation of this invisible hand wanted the conflict to continue in ukraine for its own geopolitical ends. so this is a very serious allegation being levelled at the us that it wants the war there to keep going. you know, in recent times we've had a lot of tension between washington and beijing and it does seem to continue to deteriorate. it seems it was not that long ago that there was to be this visit by the us secretary of state to beijing to try to repair relations. and yet now we have this tension increasing and even more dire warnings coming from the chinese side as to what this tension could lead to. 0ur asia pacific editor, celia hatton is here.

what celia hatton is here. are your thoughts on the language what are your thoughts on the language being used by china here? shocking language, really, when it is coming directly from the mouth of xijinping. the most powerful man in china. it was so surprising to read those words coming out of his mouth that i had to double—check that it really was his name attributed to these quotes. in my career of watching china, 20 years now, i have never seen him use such, are any chinese leader use such direct language to release single out the united states play so much blame on the united states for what was going wrong inside china. very shocking language from xijinping wrong inside china. very shocking language from xi jinping today. mitt; language from xi jinping today. why then what language from xi jinping today. why then what will the impact be? i will display out?— display out? wide? i think really the language _ display out? wide? i think really the language was _ display out? wide? i think really the language was meant - display out? wide? i think really the language was meant to - display out? wide? i think really| the language was meant to show display out? wide? i think really i the language was meant to show xi jinping's frustration and gives a green card to people across the chinese government to use similar language. they take their cues from him, and so far in the past he has

withheld using such language, blaming the united states by name so directly. now we will see more and more of this as we saw with the foreign minister today. some were focusing an end to what is known as wolf warrior diplomacy, the use of really bombastic language coming from some chinese diplomats. we thought we had seen an end to that in november, october, novemberwhen we were seeing some more conciliatory language coming from beijing. i think we are seeing an end to that. how will it play out? i think really china is trying to show it does not want to take its cues from the united states, trying to show frustration, however, perhaps behind the scenes dating is thinking of doing some things that the united states has called for, perhaps they will not give weapons to russia, perhaps they will step away from putting so much pressure on taiwan. if they are thinking about doing those things, they will also want to save face and may be want to use quite strong language, even if their

actions might not be following them. there's huge disruption in france where hundreds of thousands of workers are striking again over the government's plans to increase the retirement age. most rail services have been stopped, many schools closed, and fuel depots blockaded. unions hope tuesday will be the biggest strike day yet, with up to 1.4 million people expected at demonstrations in paris and elsewhere. hugh schofield is our paris correspondent. hello to you. remainder of all why the strike is happening in a bit more detail. the element well, it is a campaign more than a straight, been going on for nearly two months. it is linked with president emmanuel macron's plans to increase the pension age from 62—64. he says it's necessary in order to balance the books, to make sure the french system, a generous system of

pensions, survives as people live longer and the ratio between pensioners and workers changes. but it's not popular, a majority of the country quite clearly does not want the reform and the strikers, who are now on their sixth day of action, no the people in general are behind them and are involved and therefore to keep going. lastly; them and are involved and therefore to keep going-— them and are involved and therefore to keep going. why does this change, or opposition — to keep going. why does this change, or opposition to _ to keep going. why does this change, or opposition to this _ to keep going. why does this change, or opposition to this change _ to keep going. why does this change, or opposition to this change means i or opposition to this change means so much to the french? why has president macron's argument, his rationale for making this change is, why is that failed to the french? why has president macron's argument, his rationale for making this changes, why is that filter land with them? it changes, why is that filter land with them?— with them? it is a very good question _ with them? it is a very good question and _ with them? it is a very good question and one _ with them? it is a very good question and one is - with them? it is a very good question and one is asked . with them? it is a very good i question and one is asked that consulate from people outside of france who observed from denmark or england or wherever else in europe that in general the french retire at an earlier age than most european countries, and bringing the pension age up to 64 would merely bring it closer in line with its neighbours. i think the reasons lie partly in history, partly in politics. this is a country which in generalfeels

history, partly in politics. this is a country which in general feels an instinctive kind of support for practically every strike movement or protest movement against central government. it is a heritage of the revolution, i imagine people feel there is a constant fight to be had in order to keep and maintain and improve social rights. so that is part of it. another part is president macron, who as we've seen over the last few years, someone who has the backing of may be a good third of the country, but is viscerally hated, more than his predecessors were, by a good majority of the country, may be. aside from large part of it, with a feeling which is really quite the event. these were the yellow vessel came out, if you remember three or four years ago, the left, the far right, people that feel he represents a kind of globalising money based interpretation of society which they don't share. this brings them out in force, he says brightly at the election last year he promised to bring in this reform,

so he feels he has the democracy binding, a majority, probably a majority in parliament to get this through, but the people in the street saying there is another legitimacy in france, and the legitimacy in france, and the legitimacy of popular protest, we will not stop. let's turn to the war in ukraine now — and the ongoing fighting in the eastern city of bakhmut. the city, close to the areas occupied by russia in ukraine's eastern donbas region, has effectively been under siege for months. russian forces have been advancing on it — but ukraine's military leadership has promised to keep fighting for the city. that came after it seemed preparations were being made for a withdrawal. but that has now been ruled out by president zelensky. and the head of the wagner mercenary group, which is spearheading the russian attack, has called for more ammunition and reinforcements, if they are to win the battle. the uk's ministry of defence has also touched on bakhmut in its daily intelligence bulletin on ukraine. it says the ukrainian defence

of the city continues to degrade forces on both side. but it adds that over the weekend, the defenders likely stabilised their defensive perimeter, following previous russian advances into the north of the town. however — it notes that because russia has destroyed bridges to bakhmut, ukraine's resupply efforts are being hampered by the need to use unpaved tracks. the european commission together with poland are set to launch a new initiative aimed at tracing ukrainian children abducted and taken to russia during the invasion of ukraine. in a report published last month, yale university researchers identified at least 43 camps and other facilities where ukrainian children are held. i spoke to arseniy yatsenyuk, prime minister of ukraine from 2014—2016, who said the figure of ukrainian children in russia is still unknown.

we don't know the exact number, the attorney general and special ukrainian envoy for human rights, they disclosed the number of around 17,000 kids. it started in 2014 — at that time as prime minister i instructed my foreign minister and department ofjustice to reach out both to the foreign minister of russia, lavrov, to make an urgent call to the european court of human rights. the day after russian mercenaries kidnapped a bus of 25 kids. in the end, in a few days we managed to take these kids back from the russian territory back to ukraine. this is a new kind of war crime, crimes against humanity that russia has started to commit. as of now, the situation is much more complicated and very difficult. going back to the number, we don't know yet the exact number. we need to de—occupy the territory and figure out how many ukrainian

kids have been stolen, actually, by the russian regime. as far as we can see from the research, some of these are children who have been taken from theirfamilies, some are children who have been orphaned and taken away to russia, some were in the care of the ukrainian state before the invasion, so it's really difficult to piece together exactly who the russians have. absolutely. had you seen the video after putin's address to the russian people, there was a kid from mariupol, if i'm not mistaken her name is daria, and russian propaganda put this kid

on the scene to show that they had been rescued by some kind of war russian criminal but they called him a saviour of ukrainian people, so what russians are doing is using ukrainian kids in russian propaganda. this is the first point. and that they forcefully adapt these kids. also they re—educate and indoctrinate these children. who is the ringleader? definitely vladimir putin. who is the henchmen and henchwomen is a special russian representative, she is not a representative for children's rights, a representative for children abduction.

uk scientists have produced a detailed "future flood map" of britain — simulating the impacts of flooding as climate change takes its toll. the study showed that every part of mainland britain will be affected differently — with some areas much more vulnerable than others to flood damage. here's our science correspondent victoria gill. as water trickles through this woodland in calderdale, a team of local volunteers are getting to work. what we're trying to do is just divert this into woodland. katie's nearby home has been flooded in the past because in this steep sided valley, heavy rain can swell the river very quickly. how bad does flooding get in this area? it's catastrophic. it's incredibly fast. it's a wave of destruction. it's physically and mentally hard for people here. there've been repeated devastating floods here in recent years. and when the water subsides,

it can take months to repair the damage to homes and businesses. across the uk, destruction from flooding costs an estimated £700 million per year. here at the fathom labs in bristol, they're simulating all of the causes of flooding, creating maps that will help people to plan and prepare. we'd call this a flood hazard map. so what we've done is we've simulated the probability and intensity of flooding on every river in the uk. scientists used layers of information about what causes flooding. they mapped the terrain of mainland britain and combined that with data on rainfall patterns, how water's moved through our rivers and around our coastal area. they've combined all this information with details from the met office about how exactly climate change will affect flood risk. even if we can keep global

temperatures to a 1.8 degree increase, there are areas where flood risk will increase significantly, including the southeast and northwest of england and south wales. but there will be little change across northeast and central england as well as eastern and northern scotland. there are many places where risk is growing and being able to understand the communities and the regions where this is likely to happen allows us to make sensible investment decisions about making interventions such as engineering structures or natural flood management, or indeed moving people out of harm's way. a warmer climate means more extremes, including more heavy rainfall. but this new research shows that every town and village will be affected differently by climate change. and the scientists say that governments need betterforecasting to protect communities and make informed decisions about where to build. being able to forecast is ideal. anything, any early warnings that we can have here i would say are so important, just because of the speed of things here. the best helper ever! it's information that will be crucial for katie and calder valley's next generation. victoria gill, bbc news, in calderdale.

i am nowjoined by dr micha werner, associate professor in drought and flood management at ihe delft institute for water education. thank you forjoining us. you are based in the netherlands, a famously low lying country. what can the uk and other countries learn from how you manage flood risk there? thank ou, aood you manage flood risk there? thank you, good morning. _ you manage flood risk there? thank you, good morning. indeed, - you manage flood risk there? thank you, good morning. indeed, as- you manage flood risk there? t�*ua�*ua; you, good morning. indeed, as you mentioned, so the netherlands here where i am now is indeed famous for managing floods over the centuries and as you may know, about a third of the country is below sea level. i think managing floods and flood risk has been very high on the agenda in this country. but i think also what's interesting, traditionally we have had a very strong focus here on building flood defences, such as

bikes and trying to keep the water out. but you see we are changing our paradigms to that, thinking how do we learn to live with floods? at times giving space back to rivers, i think that's been quite a famous programme in the flood community, providing room for the rivers, which is quite difficult in this country because we are a very densely populated country. it is balancing where we provide space for the rivers to flood the but also space terror that we choose to protect, where we try to reduce flooding. just as in the report, i think very essential to our approach is this provision of flood forecasting and warning, just in case flood defences do get breached, that we can have an adequate response. 50 do get breached, that we can have an adequate response.— adequate response. so how possible is it to live in — adequate response. so how possible is it to live in a _ adequate response. so how possible is it to live in a flood _ adequate response. so how possible is it to live in a flood risk— adequate response. so how possible is it to live in a flood risk area? i is it to live in a flood risk area? it was interesting to hear what you

are saying, space if possible is to be given back to rivers to allow them to expand, to extend. is it possible to live in a flood risk area? because obviously there is a lot of focus on architecture, on how you build flood houses suitable for flood plains and so forth? yes. you build flood houses suitable for flood plains and so forth?- flood plains and so forth? yes, i suppose--- _ flood plains and so forth? yes, i suppose- -- lt's _ flood plains and so forth? yes, i suppose... it's interesting. i flood plains and so forth? yes, i. suppose... it's interesting. where i am sitting on my my house is at —2 metres below sea level, but i'm on the first floor so nothing to worry about. in a sense, you would think i am in a flood risk area. but, of course, i live in this area because i think that we have managed to floods to an acceptable level, the floods to an acceptable level, the flood risk to an acceptable level. i think that is an important dimension, the question of what is acceptable? in some places, many communities we live in are in flood risk areas. could be at risk to

different types of flooding, brothers or even mountainous areas. —— rivers or mountainous areas. i think it's about understanding floods and the work that the university of bristol does and is doing is essential to have that understanding. but then also a societal debate of how can we adapt to flooding? can we live with flooding? as you mentioned, building houses in a way we can deal better with flood risk in the netherlands. we also had some examples of floating houses in areas that flood more. so yes, they can live with floods and you can also see across the world areas such as the american delta, where houses are regularly flood but are built on poles so they adjust to that situation. i think that's an important of learning to live in this changing climate with climate variability, increasingly we have to accept the climate is

variable and increasingly will become so. so adapting to that, not just on the flood side but on the drought side, i think that's also interesting in the netherlands. that we've understood that traditionally we've understood that traditionally we are trying to get rid of the water but now some of the hot and dry summers we are having means we have to keep hold of that water. we have to keep hold of that water. we have to keep hold of that water. we have to balance the risk on one side of the spectrum with the risks on the other side of the spectrum. go ahead. �* . , the other side of the spectrum. go ahead. �* ., , ., ,. ., . ahead. are really fascinating. we are out of time, _ ahead. are really fascinating. we are out of time, unfortunately. . ahead. are really fascinating. we are out of time, unfortunately. i | are out of time, unfortunately. i could spend much longer talking to you about that. a really fascinating discussion. dr micha werner from the netherlands. police are investigating the events that led up to a car crash that killed three young people who lay undiscovered in the wreckage for almost 48 hours. darcy ross and eve smith, both 21, and 24—year—old rafeljeanne, were found dead in a car which had come off a major road in cardiff. two others are in hospital in a critical condition.

0ur wales correspondent tomos morgan is in cardiff and gave us this update. not much more about the events that took place in the early hours of saturday morning. though we have heard that sophie russon, who was one of the two in a critical condition in hospital, her mother has spoken to the daily mail. she is another one that's been hugely critical of the police in the way they dealt with this investigation. she said she called them a number of times over the weekend. the impression she was given — that it wasn't a priority for them. she was told at one stage to stop calling and at one stage, she actually came to cardiff herself from newport to knock on doors here, to try and find some information about what had happened to her daughter. let me just run through the timeline that we know of so far. three young women, they were out on a night out on friday in newport. they met up with shane and rafel also in newport.

they then got in a car and drove all the way to porthcawl, which is about an hour away, 36 miles or so. they then drove back to cardiff. a few miles away from where the crash took place and that is where they were last seen, around 2am on saturday morning. shortly after that, it's understood they came down this dual carriageway, this slip road here, and it looks like they went off into the clearing here, down by there. but where this crash took place, it's very difficult to see anything from the main road and because it's so busy, hundreds, possibly a thousand or so cars would have passed this point over the course of the weekend before the car was found. easy to see why nothing was spotted by any of the passers—by because it isn't a footpath, it's not a causeway for anyone to walk by either. so it's very difficult to see anything from where the car was originally found. nevertheless, friends and family, like ms russon's mother, have been critical of the time it took for the police to begin their investigation.

a local mp has urged caution. there are rumours, she says, flying around on social media and she's urged caution to those speaking out about it, saying the proper processes have to take place there will the facts can be found. both forces involved in this have referred this case on to the iopc, the independent office of police conduct, so they can form an independent opinion of how this case has been handled. tomos, what is the latest of the two survivors of this dreadful crash? we're hoping to hear an update later this morning on those two. we understand that ms russon underwent an operation last night and we are waiting to hear how it went. no more detail on shane loughlin, the 32—year—old, other than he was taken in a critical condition. the families of both of those will be hoping for the best news considering what has happened. tomos morgan with that update. back now to our main story this hour.

britain's home secretary, suella braverman, has accepted the government is pushing the boundaries of international law with new legislation aimed at stopping asylum seekers crossing the english channel in small boats. it's thought the measures, being introduced in parliament today, and which put a legal duty on ministers to remove anyone who enters the uk illegally, would face legal challenges. 0ur chief political correspondent nick eardley gave us the perspective from westminster. this is a pretty radical plan. it does seem, if you take it at face value from the briefings we have had so far, to be more radical than what has come before. particularly that idea that the duty to remove asylum seekers would take precedence over asylum rights and human rights cases asylum rights and human rights cases as well. so that does seem pretty radical. but the government is going to face some challenges here. one is legal. there are bound to be legal challenges to its interpretation of how far it can go in pushing

international law. there are some practical challenges. 0ne international law. there are some practical challenges. one is the fact that if you have tens of thousands of people crossing the channel on small boats who you are pledging to detain, you have to find somewhere to detain them. if you're going to deport them, you have to find a way of doing that. although the government is planning to buy up some property to do that, remember the rwanda plan to send asylum seekers to rwanda hasn't happened yet because it's been caught up in the courts. so there are those practicalities, too. but the politics is always key here, isn't it? i was quite struck that both the prime minister and the home secretary have gone for their politics in pieces they have written for the newspapers this morning. the prime minister talking about labour not wanting to solve the smaller boats problem. the home secretary suggesting that labour was betraying the british people by not backing the british people by not backing the government's plan. i think it is pretty clear that the government

think this is going to be a big issue at the next election. they want to make it a wedge issue and they think they can win support on it. labourfortheir they think they can win support on it. labourfor their part they think they can win support on it. labour for their part say this is all nonsense, it's all gimmicks and the government would be far better spending its time focusing on returns agreements that allow you to send failed asylum seekers back to a safe country and on breaking up the gangs that send people from the north of france over the channel. nick eardley. a new bbc documentary examines the legacy of the japanese music executivejohnny kitagawa. he founded a male—only talent agency which has produced many of japan's biggest boybands. however, multiple allegations of sexual abuse have been made by boys and men who once worked with kitagawa and aspired to make t in the japanese pop market. mobeen azhar reports... japan has the biggest music market in the world after the us and one

companyjoining in associates has dominated thej—pop orjapanese pop market since being established in the 1960s. its founder, johnny kitagawa, has had rumours surrounding him for decades that he sexually abused boys in his male only talent agency throughout his 50 year career. few photos of him are known to exist, so we've drawn a picture of him to show you instead. claims of abuse were upheld in a 2003 libel case, but despite this, he continued to work until his death in 2019, and he's still revered injapan. i spoke to a fan on the streets of tokyo. he is god, is god, he is god. why is he god? quite a big statement. some of the abuse happened while boys were staying at kitagawa was home. i spoke to a victim for the bbc�*s this world programme who shared his story for the first time.

translation: johnny told me, go and have a bath. _ johnny filled up the bath. i thought, isn't he kind? but then he reached for my trousers. i said, "i'll take them off myself". but he replied with silence, and that terrified me. later, several boys told me, "you have to put up with it or you won't succeed." we tried several times to get answers from johnny and associates about the allegations and struggled to speak to anyone. eventually, i went to their offices and i was met by one of the marketing team. we already replied to them. please let any further communications be handled to the person who responded to you. i hear what you're saying, but that's not happening. i'm not getting a response at the moment. they've replied to you already. they've replied to say that they don't want to respond to the allegations. that's all they've said. i'm very sorry. any further conversation should go through them. so i want to speak

to someone senior. i want to work out how we can make that happen. to be frank, i don't think, given the seriousness of the allegations, the fact that this relates to dozens of cases of young men... we were asked to stop filming. the ceo of the company, who is also the niece ofjohnny kitagawa, later applied and say they are working to establish... in reporting this story we contacted the police, entertainment producers, newspapers, tv networks and even the public broadcaster. though none of them would speak to us. an iron curtain is drawn when you mention the namejohnny, and so to this day he is protected injapan, even after his death. and mobeen azhar is here with me now.

so, tell us a little bit more about how this agency work, the structures of the agency, if you like?— of the agency, if you like? johnny & associates has _ of the agency, if you like? johnny & associates has been _ of the agency, if you like? johnny & associates has been growing i of the agency, if you like? johnny & associates has been growing and i of the agency, if you like? johnny & i associates has been growing and been very successful for decades now. associates has been growing and been very successfulfor decades now. it was established by a man called johnny kitagawa that he had a career spanning six decades and within that time, he made the guinness book of records multiple times. he was linked to producing the highest number of boy bands, various hit singles, producing the highest number of shows. so the agency works like a boy band factory and it is notjust like a boy band factory and it is not just the success of the acts like a boy band factory and it is notjust the success of the acts in terms of pop culture and pop music. these acts were also going on to get sponsorship deals. anyone in the major cities injapan will see these boy band figures advertising everything from coffee to contact lenses, to real estate. so the

company and johnny kitagawa in particular, really was the architect is what we know as j—pop particular, really was the architect is what we know asj—pop or particular, really was the architect is what we know as j—pop orjapanese p0p is what we know as j—pop orjapanese pop culture. you is what we know as j-pop orjapanese pop culture-— pop culture. you alluded to it right at the end of— pop culture. you alluded to it right at the end of your _ pop culture. you alluded to it right at the end of your report _ pop culture. you alluded to it right at the end of your report but i pop culture. you alluded to it right at the end of your report but none| at the end of your report but none of this has had much coverage in japan, has it? tell us more about why not. it japan, has it? tell us more about wh not. . , japan, has it? tell us more about wh not. ., , �* ., , why not. it really hasn't and this was the most — why not. it really hasn't and this was the most surprising - why not. it really hasn't and this| was the most surprising element why not. it really hasn't and this i was the most surprising element of the story for me. there will be people watching this thinking there are comparisons with our kelly or harvey weinstein or any historic cases we know about. i think this is distinctly different because this case got a little bit of coverage about 20 years ago and in fact some of these claims were upheld as part of these claims were upheld as part of a libel case 20 years ago. now the majority of the japanese press made a decision not to cover it. there's many reasons for that. i've been told one of the main reasons is johnny & associates as a company essentially holds a monopoly. so if you report something and say something bad about any of their

acts or individuals thatjohnny kitagawa, it can have repercussions. those repercussions can include not having access to these boy bands and that can mean audiences will turn away from your outlet. taste that can mean audiences will turn away from your outlet.— away from your outlet. we saw in our away from your outlet. we saw in your report _ away from your outlet. we saw in your report your— away from your outlet. we saw in your report your efforts _ away from your outlet. we saw in your report your efforts to - away from your outlet. we saw in | your report your efforts to actually get some information, to get a response, right of reply if you like from the company. so there was a brief statement issued. since then, have you had any further communications from the? i have you had any further communications from the? i have had no communications _ communications from the? i have had no communications from _ communications from the? i have had no communications from the - communications from the? i have had | no communications from the company. what i'm hoping for and are optimistic about is this story has been getting traction withinjapan over recent days. i think that will only continue. so i hope it does contribute to a national discussion and getting some justice for the survivors. and getting some 'ustice for the survivors. . ~ and getting some 'ustice for the survivors. ., ,, , ., , . survivors. 0k, thank you very much for talkin: survivors. 0k, thank you very much for talking to _ survivors. 0k, thank you very much for talking to us _ survivors. 0k, thank you very much for talking to us about _ survivors. 0k, thank you very much for talking to us about that. - and if you are in the uk, you can see mobeen's documentary: predator: the secret scandal

ofj pop at 9:00pm gmt. eurovision fans are preparing for the rush to get hold of coveted tickets for this year's song contest. there is expected to be high demand when tickets for the nine public shows being staged in liverpool in may go on sale at midday. and superfans across europe have been counting down the minutes — our reporterjayne mccubbin has been getting a flavour of that excitement. hello everybody, iceland calling. spain calling. this hello everybody, iceland calling. spain calling-— spain calling. this is germany callinu. spain calling. this is germany calling. hello! _ spain calling. this is germany calling. hello! i— spain calling. this is germany calling. hello! i had— spain calling. this is germany| calling. hello! i had deadwood spain calling. this is germany i calling. hello! i had deadwood sign. it is the eurovision _ calling. hello! i had deadwood sign. it is the eurovision logo. _ calling- i had deadwood sign. it is the eurovision logo. they- calling- i had deadwood sign. it is the eurovision logo. they werel it is the eurovision logo. they were so lovely _ it is the eurovision logo. they were so lovely i— it is the eurovision logo. they were so lovel . ., ., ,, it is the eurovision logo. they were so lovely-_ no i so lovely. i am from sweden. no den in: i so lovely. i am from sweden. no denying i am _ so lovely. i am from sweden. no denying i am rooting _ so lovely. i am from sweden. no denying i am rooting for - so lovely. i am from sweden. no denying i am rooting for italy i so lovely. i am from sweden. no | denying i am rooting for italy right now _ denying i am rooting for italy right how i— denying i am rooting for italy right now. , ., denying i am rooting for italy right now._ crumpled i denying i am rooting for italy right now._ crumpled up| now. i 'ust ironed it. crumpled up fhas. now. ijust ironed it. crumpled up flags- white _ now. ijust ironed it. crumpled up flags. white mat _ now. ijust ironed it. crumpled up flags. white mat that _ now. ijust ironed it. crumpled up flags. white mat that just - now. ijust ironed it. crumpled up| flags. white mat that just wouldn't do. eurovision fans from all over

the world — do. eurovision fans from all over the worl: . , do. eurovision fans from all over the worl ., , , , the world are bracing themselves. yes, for the world are bracing themselves. yes. for sure- _ and joining us now from liverpool is eurovision fan adamjowett, who is poised and ready and try and get those tickets when they are relesed in just over an hour's time. have you set any alarms, not that you are going to forget what time it is, i'm sure? hat you are going to forget what time it is. m sure?— is, i'm sure? not setting the alarm is, i'm sure? not setting the alarm is that kind — is, i'm sure? not setting the alarm is that kind of — is, i'm sure? not setting the alarm is that kind of counting _ is, i'm sure? not setting the alarm is that kind of counting down i is, i'm sure? not setting the alarm is that kind of counting down the l is that kind of counting down the clock. i know when it is. just looking at the clock very closely. so what is your plan to try and get your hands on some of these tickets? is it to work across multiple devices at the same time? that was m kind of devices at the same time? that was my kind of approach _ devices at the same time? that was my kind of approach originally. i i my kind of approach originally. i think i am not going to try that any more. i think i will try at 12pm like everyone else and hope for the best. i appreciate it will be super competitive. everyone wants something. so i am just going to try my luck and fingers crossed for the best outcome. 50 my luck and fingers crossed for the best outcome.— my luck and fingers crossed for the best outcome. so we know there are the six rehearsal _ best outcome. so we know there are the six rehearsal shows, _ best outcome. so we know there are the six rehearsal shows, there i best outcome. so we know there are the six rehearsal shows, there are i the six rehearsal shows, there are the six rehearsal shows, there are the big televised shows, including

of course the semis and the grand final. which one are you hoping to get tickets for? i’m final. which one are you hoping to get tickets for?— get tickets for? i'm actually lookin: get tickets for? i'm actually looking to _ get tickets for? i'm actually looking to get _ get tickets for? i'm actually looking to get one, - get tickets for? i'm actually looking to get one, get i get tickets for? i'm actually looking to get one, get a i get tickets for? i'm actually i looking to get one, get a ticket for one of the rehearsal shows. so what was previously the jury show, they called it, for one of the semifinals. i would quite like to attend one of those ideally because it is effectively the same as the real live show but obviously not with the same voting sequence and things like that. if i can get a ticket for one of the live shows, that would be great, but anything, really. i think it would just be such an experience to be in that arena and see it first—hand. find arena and see it first-hand. and because you _ arena and see it first-hand. and because you are _ arena and see it first-hand. and because you are in _ arena and see it first—hand. and because you are in liverpool to actually get inside the arena, as you say, would be amazing. given that there will be so much going on around the in the run up to eurovision.— around the in the run up to eurovision. ~ , , , eurovision. absolutely. there is such excitement _ eurovision. absolutely. there is such excitement already. i eurovision. absolutely. there is such excitement already. yes, | eurovision. absolutely. there is- such excitement already. yes, there is a real buzz, you can feel it

absolutely. we are starting to see slowly eurovision starting to feed into the city. in st george's hall, they have the logo outside. 0utside they have the logo outside. outside they have the logo outside. outside the arena the other day i saw an advert for your revision. so it is all coming together.— all coming together. we're 'ust showina all coming together. we're 'ust showing _ all coming together. we're 'ust showing our viewers i all coming together. we're 'ust showing our viewers the i all coming together. we're just. showing our viewers the website where people will be getting ready to try to get their hands on some those tickets. i guess once you try to do this you won't have to wait very long because it is expected that those tickets are going to go really quickly. that those tickets are going to go really quickly-— that those tickets are going to go really quickly. absolutely, yeah. i know so many _ really quickly. absolutely, yeah. i know so many people _ really quickly. absolutely, yeah. i know so many people who - really quickly. absolutely, yeah. i know so many people who are - really quickly. absolutely, yeah. i i know so many people who are trying for tickets and... every year, there is always a demand. it's notjust this year in liverpool. every year, every city regardless of the country, there is such a demand for tickets. but especially this year, with it being the first time in the uk for 25 years. there are so many people that for the first time they are able to get to eurovision by a

train or busjourney. are able to get to eurovision by a train or bus journey. so the demand this year is on an even bigger scale. �* . this year is on an even bigger scale. ~ ., , ., ., this year is on an even bigger scale. ~ ., ,, ., ., scale. 0k, adam, if you are on twitter let _ scale. 0k, adam, if you are on twitter let me _ scale. 0k, adam, if you are on twitter let me know _ scale. 0k, adam, if you are on twitter let me know if - scale. 0k, adam, if you are on twitter let me know if you - scale. 0k, adam, if you are on twitter let me know if you got| scale. 0k, adam, if you are on i twitter let me know if you got the tickets. i really want to find out now. adam, good luck. thank you very much. ., ~ now. adam, good luck. thank you very much. . ~ ,., the movie elvis goes into sunday's oscar's race with 8 nominations. the film's star austin butler could win best actor for his portrayal of the king. sophie long has been talking to the cast and crew about the emotional rollercoaster during filming. we had fire, we had flood, then a pandemic. we lost the movie. then the movie came back. then the movie is made, then the movie flourishes. and then austin wins the golden globe for best actor. and then we have the sadness and the shock of losing lisa marie. it's been such an incredible

emotional roller coaster, an up and down. it's an incredibly difficult time and tumultuous time, you know, and... but i think back to when she first saw the film and when priscilla saw the film and how... their reaction to it, and especially because they felt the way that they did about it. no review will ever mean more to me than what what they said after, you know. # going to a party at the countyjail. tomorrow, all of america will be talking about elvis presley. - all your films have such energy. like, i remember the first time i watched moulin rouge. it kind of slaps you in the face. it's different to anything else. how do you do that? well, my energy might be, you know, slightly dribbling away as the years go on. but they're designed like that. they're engagement films. they're meant to say, "come with us on the ride."

they're meant to challenge you in the beginning. they're not keyhole psychological dramas. they are participatory cinematic works. and i think the energy of the movies comes from baz's energy— and his infectious storytelling - and the fact that as a collaborator, you feel so privileged to be part of the journey. - and he takes such care - to include me, but everybody from mandy to, you know, the grip, the dolly grip, i . whoever it is, we all feel part . of an energised, bigger company. the directive that baz gave me really super early the directive on when we were talking about script is that the camera has to dance with elvis, and it has to fly when he flies. and then when the drama gets heavy and emotional, that we would be

elegant and observational. i need to get back to who i really am. how does it feel? it feels like a dream. you know, i'm trying to... i'm trying to take snapshots in my mind and really remember these moments. the newness of all this will never happen again. so i really want to remember it. there's so much buzz around this whole, this part of the industry. and i'm used tojust being the guy who's, you know, you can sort of hide behind a character. so there's a lot of talking about yourself. cheering and of course the oscars coming up this weekend. you can get in touch with me about any of our stories at twitter. you are watching bbc news.

hello again. some of us have seen some snow already this morning and there's more snow to come as we go through this week. today, we've got this weather front continuing to move away with its wintry mix of rain, sleet and snow. we've got that northerly wind coming straight down from the arctic and windward coasts will see further wintry showers through the course of the day, across northern scotland, northern ireland and northeast england. now, this weather front eventually does clear, but behind it, there'll be a fair bit of cloud, some wintry flurries developing inland through the day, but equally a lot of dry weather, a fair bit of sunshine and it's going to feel cold for most. temperatures widely between 1—4 degrees. in the southwest and the channel islands, temperatures a little bit higher. as we go through the evening and overnight, this weatherfront starts to swing into the mild air in the southwest. so initially we'll see some rain, but as it bumps into the cold air, you can see how that readily turns to snow across southern counties and also the south midlands. under clear skies further north, it's going to be cold. there'll be a widespread frost, the risk of ice on untreated surfaces and temperatures

in sheltered glens in scotland could fall as low as —13, possibly —15. so tomorrow, we still have the arctic air firmly in place. the atlantic air trying to push into southern areas. and for the rush hour, there will be some snow likely across parts of southern england before that moves away. but later in the day, we'll see more rain preceded by snow coming in across the southwest. move north of that for scotland, northern england, northern ireland and much of east anglia, it should be dry. but, once again, it is going to be a cold day away from the southwest. then it turns a little bit more disruptive on thursday into friday. disruptive snow, heavy snowfalls across the north pennines, northern ireland and the scottish hills. so this could affect you if you live in these areas with disruption to travel, for example, as this deep area of low pressure comes in with its weather fronts. now in the south, in the mild air, we're going to have rain and windy conditions. it's also going to be windy where we've got the falling snow. so that snow will be drifting and blowing.

north of that in scotland, something drier and brighter, but still cold in the north, milder in the southwest, which is why we're seeing rain here and not snow. but worth pointing out the areas that the met office has the warnings out for the heavy snow, this could lead to some disruption.

this is bbc news — welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. i'm lukwesa burak. our top stories — the home secretary admits a new bill aiming to crackdown on channel migrants who travel to the uk illegally pushes the boudaries of international law. iam hoping i am hoping to see from this package of measures is that we see more action taken to stop those buds leaving france in the first place, more is done in terms of managing the english channel between the two countries. we'll have the latest from both sides of the english channel, and talk live to a former uk chief immigration officer. also ahead — china's leader xijinping makes an unusually direct rebuke of the united states —

blaming it for trying to "contain, encircle and "suppress" his country. today marks the sixth day this year of strikes and widespread disruption in france, as unions battle against planned pension reforms. and the countdown is under way. super—fans are poised online as tickets for eurovision go on sale later today. good morning. in the next few hours, the uk government will outline its plan to change the law, to stop migrants crossing the english channel from france in small boats. many claim asylum when they arrive, but the new legislation would force ministers to remove anyone who enters the uk illegally.

the measures are likely to face challenges, and the home secretary, suella braverman, has accepted the government is pushing the boundaries of international law. we'll bring you all sides of the arguments in the next few minutes. we start with our correspondent simonjones in dover. today is certainly a big day in the british government's attempts to bring a halt to the small boat crossings. the prime minister, rishi sunak, has said that ultimately people crossing the channel in small boats are not facing a direct threat to their life over in northern france, they are not directly fleeing persecution in northern france, and therefore it's simply not fair. so the big idea of the british government is saying to people that from today, anyone arriving in future may be detained, deported and ultimately denied the right to apply for asylum in the uk. now, although legislation is being introduced in parliament today, it will take several months

to become law, assuming it all goes through as planned. but we are being told that law will apply retrospectively, so people arriving from today could be told in future they cannot ever return to the uk once they've been removed. now, it sounds rather drastic. the home secretary, suella braverman, is saying enough of sticking plasters, they need to do something drastic. but i think the government here accepts it is potentially but i think the government here accepts it is potentially going to face some pretty strong legal challenges and some pretty strong scrutiny. the government here saying they have to act, given the numbers who have been making this crossing. we know that yesterday there were a number of boats being brought to shore, even though it was bitterly cold. the weather out in the channel was calm. so far this year, more than 3,000 people have made the crossing. officials at the home office planning for potentially 80,000 people to make the journey.

but critics say what you actually need is to open more safe and legal routes to allow people to apply for asylum, potentially from abroad, with the idea of allowing them to come to the uk. now, the british government has hinted that if their new plans go according to plan and if they start to reduce the number of people arriving illegally as they see it, they will look at opening more safe and legal routes. but they are saying they need to get a grip on the small boat crossings first. as well as what we're seeing here, i think there's going to be a lot of focus on friday as well when the british prime minister's going to meet his french counterpart, the french president, emanuel macron. i think what's going to be interesting is whether the french are likely to make any concessions in terms of the idea of taking any of the people making the crossing back. i think at the moment it's looking like the french are not keen

on that idea at all. simonjones there, simon jones there, speaking simonjones there, speaking to us earlier. the plans will be outlined in parliament at around 12.30pm local time here in the uk, so let's talk live to our political correspondent jonathan blake. hello, jonathan. what kind of reception is suella braverman likely to receive later? i reception is suella braverman likely to receive later?— to receive later? i think from her own benches _ to receive later? i think from her own benches on _ to receive later? i think from her own benches on the _ to receive later? i think from heri own benches on the conservative side, she will get quite unenthusiastic reception. this is something a lot of conservative mps see as a priority, something they hear a lot from their constituents about, and it is something that the prime minister has made some of his top five political parties to it, as he put it, announcing those back in january, passed he put it, announcing those back in january, passed new he put it, announcing those back in january, passed new laws to stop small boats. this legislation, which we are going to hear more about from the home secretary in the commons, as you say, a bit later on, as the government's way of doing that. as we were hearing from simon thatjust now, the way they propose it working

is to place a legal duty on the home secretary to detain and remove anyone coming to the uk illegally, thatis anyone coming to the uk illegally, that is under laws which are themselves subject to various legal challenges at the moment, but currently stopping and making it illegal for people to arrive in the uk without a visa or under one of the specified schemes for people coming from certain countries, including ukraine and hong kong. those people would then be banned from returning and from clinics of citizenship or asylum in the uk in the future. —— claiming citizenship or asylum. we are told there will be exemptions for those under 18 and with serious medical conditions, but the government accepted will have a bit of a fight on its hands here, and that as we have had, they are pushing the boundaries, as ministers have put it, in terms of the uk's obligations under international law and how it can seek to perhaps

circumvent that with domestic law that they are hoping to pass here in the uk. , ., ., ., ~ ., ~ ., ~ that they are hoping to pass here in the uk. , ., ., ., ~ ., ~ ., ,, e the uk. jonathan blake, thank you ve much the uk. jonathan blake, thank you very much indeed. _ kevin saunders is a former chief immigration officer from the uk's borderforce. thank you forjoining us. what do you make of what we are likely to hear and what we have heard so far of this new bill? is it workable? yes, i think it is workable. the idea of detaining people and then removing them, we have done that before, so we know that that actually works. the problem is with all of this, and i, like everybody else, want to know what the home secretary is going to say, about removals, where we are going to be

removing to, because at the moment we are very limited on where we can remove people to, so this is the big issue. everything else is fine, if we can remove people. just remind us, what we can remove people. just remind us. what is — we can remove people. just remind us. what is the _ we can remove people. just remind us, what is the current _ we can remove people. just remind us, what is the current situation? l us, what is the current situation? people are picked up either in the waters or when they [and on the beach, where are they then taken to? what happens if the land in kent, they are taken to dover to start with, and then bus stopped at manston, which is about half an hour away —— bussed up to manston. all of the admin procedures are done there and then they are moved off to a hotel. but the key thing here is that these people are arriving undocumented. they are told to throw their documents away. i should think their documents away. i should think the bottom of the channel is full up with passports, id cards, etc, because that is what they are told

to do, because if you have not got a document, it is incredibly difficult to remove somebody, because how do you know when they ask them for their name, where they have come from, the date of birth, that they are giving you the right information?— are giving you the right information? .. ., ,~ are giving you the right information? ., ., information? kevin, can i ask a question? _ information? kevin, can i ask a question? of— information? kevin, can i ask a question? of the _ information? kevin, can i ask a question? of the senior - information? kevin, can i ask a question? of the senior tories | information? kevin, can i ask a - question? of the senior tories who are pushing back on this new legislation are saying that what needs to happen is that we need to extend or expand the current safe and legal roots. what are those? where are they?— and legal roots. what are those? where are they? well, basically they are the ltms — where are they? well, basically they are the bms from _ where are they? well, basically they are the bms from hong _ where are they? well, basically they are the bms from hong kong, - where are they? well, basically they are the bms from hong kong, the i are the bms from hong kong, the afghan scheme, which is scaling down, and ukraine. realistically, thatis down, and ukraine. realistically, that is about all there is at the moment. what the prime minister and the home secretary have said as they will look at reopening safe routes once we have got the asylum

situation with illegal migrants sorted out. so i do wonder if we are going to do some sort of deal with france on friday whereby we will return people but i accept people as well. in return people but i accept people as well. , ., , . , ., return people but i accept people as well. y., , . y., , well. in your experience, you see the papers _ well. in your experience, you see the papers are — well. in your experience, you see the papers are got _ well. in your experience, you see the papers are got rid _ well. in your experience, you see the papers are got rid of- well. in your experience, you see the papers are got rid of us i well. in your experience, you see the papers are got rid of us as i well. in your experience, you see l the papers are got rid of us as soon as possible so that people arrive on document, who is a legitimate asylum seeker? who is on board that but, all those books? —— boat. i seeker? who is on board that but, all those books? -- boat.- seeker? who is on board that but, all those books? -- boat. i can only seak all those books? -- boat. i can only speak from — all those books? -- boat. i can only speak from my _ all those books? -- boat. i can only speak from my own _ all those books? -- boat. i can only speak from my own experience, i all those books? -- boat. i can only. speak from my own experience, please do notjump down my throat. when i was in calais taking people out of the backs of lorries, the vast majority of these young men we were taking out were not asylum seekers, they were economic migrants. and they were economic migrants. and they told us they were. they said,

we want to come to the uk because we want to get a job, we want to work. it is easy to work in the uk because your regulations are so lax. so i am afraid the majority of people, in my experience, are not asylum seekers. kevin saunders, former chief immigration officerfrom kevin saunders, former chief immigration officer from the kevin saunders, former chief immigration officerfrom the uk's border force, thank you very much for your experience and thoughts on the new uk bill that we will be hearing about from the house of commons, from the home secretary suella braverman. we will be broadcast on that here on bbc news. i'm joined now by sunder katwala, director of british future, a think tanks which says it tries to find consensus for reforms to controversial issues like immigration. thank you forjoining us, mr katwala. can you find a middle

ground on this subject?- katwala. can you find a middle ground on this subject? ground on this sub'ect? there is a middle ground — ground on this sub'ect? there is a middle ground on i ground on this subject? there is a middle ground on how _ ground on this subject? there is a middle ground on how to - ground on this subject? there is a middle ground on how to deal- ground on this subject? there is a | middle ground on how to deal with ground on this subject? there is a i middle ground on how to deal with a we have a debate that is very polarised between people who want to be tough about controls and people who want to be humane and compassionate, but what we actually need is we need a system that is orderly, promises that are workable, and a system that is humane at the same time, and a lot of noise about politics and headline grabbing, about how governments will cooperate to manage the channel to have safe ways for people with asylum claims to claim them in britain and deals with other countries about what to do with people whose claims are not valid. we could find a middle ground, but this kind of politics makes it harder. 5h ground, but this kind of politics makes it harder.— ground, but this kind of politics makes it harder. sir keir starmer has said this _ makes it harder. sir keir starmer has said this is _ makes it harder. sir keir starmer has said this isjust _ has said this is just electioneering. is that what you're referring to when you say noise, or are you more specific? i referring to when you say noise, or are you more specific?— are you more specific? i feel like i am in the — are you more specific? i feel like i am in the film _ are you more specific? i feel like i am in the film groundhog - am in the film groundhog day,

because the government is passing a bill saying anyone arriving across the channel will be deported, that is exactly what priti patel said two years ago. if passing a bill could stop the boats, last year's bill would have done it. this can do some things where the government thinks it can deport people, but it is making a promise that cannot keep. it says it will detain and deport everybody, nobody will claim asylum, but when the covenant has no option to send people somewhere, you cannot send people to afghanistan, you do not have a deal with france, and your rwanda scheme doesn't exist yet and will not exist before christmas, that means the government will have to admit to the uk asylum system the people it says it will declare inadmissible. it has had these on a miss or brexit day, it does not see what it is possible to do, it is giving the home secretary a legal

duty to deport people when she can, but she cannot in the case of afghanistan, syria, and eritrea, so we need to create a proper asylum system in britain which takes our fair share of system in britain which takes our fairshare of claims system in britain which takes our fair share of claims and to negotiate with other governance about how to manage the channel better. ~ , , ., ., , better. why should other governments take our problems, _ better. why should other governments take our problems, if _ better. why should other governments take our problems, if i _ better. why should other governments take our problems, if i can _ better. why should other governments take our problems, if i can use - better. why should other governments take our problems, if i can use that i take our problems, if i can use that term? it take our problems, if i can use that term? , ., ., take our problems, if i can use that term? ,., .,, ., , term? it is about a serious negotiation _ term? it is about a serious negotiation with _ term? it is about a serious negotiation with france. i term? it is about a serious i negotiation with france. rishi term? it is about a serious - negotiation with france. rishi sunak has shown he can do better than people thought by having serious negotiation. if we said to france, you're taking 100,000 asylum claims and we do not want any, shall take everybody back, that would not work. let's had a conversation about who britain should take, who has got a link to britain, maybe, who has got good language skills or connection spear, and if we are taking ourfair share, could you take people back or do not fit within that system. that will be a serious negotiation. i can't guarantee it will get a result, but it should break the deadlock. it will mean people are

not risking their lives taking dangerous journeys. not risking their lives taking dangerousjourneys. you have to have a give and take to make that deal, but that could make a difference in a way that impossible promises will just upset people when they realise they are not doing what it promised will work. ,, ., ., ., they are not doing what it promised will work. ,, . ., ., ., ~ will work. sunder katwala, thank ou. will work. sunder katwala, thank you- thank _ will work. sunder katwala, thank you. thank you. _ the chinese leader, xijinping, has made an unusually direct criticism of washington, saying that the balloon incident is just one of a series of american actions which show that the us is trying to "encircle" and "contain" his country. it appears to be part of a concerted effort by the chinese leadership, which is gathered in beijing for the national people's congress. china's foreign minister ching gang has also voiced criticisms. he said that the us knew china's balloon posed no threat, but over—reacted and created a diplomatic crisis. washington has claimed the balloon was part of a sprawling chinese

intelligence collection programme. let's put all of this into context now with our china correspondent steve mcdonell. this has been a very high profile, two—pronged attack on the us from the chinese government, not only involving the foreign minister but also the supreme leader, xijinping, no less. he made a speech in which he said that the west, as led by the us, was encircling and containing china and that this represented a serious threat for this country. now, we don't know a lot more about what he said because that was a speech behind closed doors to these business delegates at a political advisory body. but foreign minister oin gang held a press conference on the sidelines of the national people's congress.

he said that unless washington hits the brakes soon instead of ramping up tensions, that there was a real risk of conflict between the us and china. he went through these various points of tensions, for example, the balloon incident. now he said that was basically an accident, but the us hyped it up, leading to a diplomatic crisis. he said that the biden administration, when it speaks about competition with china, really means trying to control china, trying to constrain it. and in terms of the ukraine war, he said that china had put forward a peace plan for ukraine, but that the proposals for peace were being stifled by this invisible actor, this invisible hand. it's pretty obvious he's talking about the us there. but the accusation is this

invisible hand wanted the conflict to continue in ukraine for its own geopolitical ends. so this is a very serious allegation being levelled at the us that it wants the war there to keep going. you know, in recent times we've had a lot of tension between washington and beijing and it does seem to continue to deteriorate. it seems it was not that long ago that there was to be this visit by the us secretary of state to beijing to try to repair relations. and yet now we have this tension increasing and even more dire warnings coming from the chinese side as to what this tension could lead to. france is in the grip of another nationwide strike as protests against plans to reform pensions continue. many of the country's biggest unions are taking part in the stoppage, affecting transport, schools, and many public services. the dispute is over government plans

to raise the age at which workers can claim state pensions from 62 to 64. as well as the stoppages at transport depots, there have also been blockades set up on some major roads. this was the scene in rennes in the north—western brittany region — you can see barricades set on fire. the french government says that if the reforms are not introduced, france will run up around $160 billion of deficit to pay the pensions. we can speak to randja kanouni, an elected official in the cgt union — the governing body dedicated to managerial staff. she joins us from paris. thank you forjoining us. how do you think the stoppages are going so far

today? it think the stoppages are going so far toda ? , ., ., ., ., today? it is going well, a lot of eo - le today? it is going well, a lot of people are _ today? it is going well, a lot of people are really _ today? it is going well, a lot of people are really committed i today? it is going well, a lot of people are really committed to stopping the reforms, so it is a great farce. it means that we are a number of people that is meaningful and that does not want this reform to pass, so it is good. truth? and that does not want this reform to pass, so it is good.— to pass, so it is good. why do you not wanted _ to pass, so it is good. why do you not wanted a _ to pass, so it is good. why do you not wanted a form _ to pass, so it is good. why do you not wanted a form to _ to pass, so it is good. why do you not wanted a form to pass? i to pass, so it is good. why do you not wanted a form to pass? every| not wanted a form to pass? every exert not wanted a form to pass? every expert say — not wanted a form to pass? every expert say there _ not wanted a form to pass? every expert say there is _ not wanted a form to pass? every expert say there is no _ not wanted a form to pass? every expert say there is no emergency| expert say there is no emergency department, this reform goes on the wrong direction, it wants to make us work more when everyone is saying the more we will be produced, the more we use resources, and for the sake of climate change, we need to use less and less resources, so we need more time to live to enjoy and not to work, not to produce more. in the meantime, it looks as if this bill is proceeding through parliament. these stoppages do not look as if they are going to be successful. what are you going to do next? to successful. what are you going to do next? ., , ., , ,

successful. what are you going to do next? ., , . , , ., next? to be that they will listen to us, it is next? to be that they will listen to us. it is not _ next? to be that they will listen to us, it is not clear _ next? to be that they will listen to us, it is not clear that _ next? to be that they will listen to us, it is not clear that they - next? to be that they will listen to us, it is not clear that they will i us, it is not clear that they will have a majority to pass it through parliament, they might but it is not necessarily true. but also, we count on companies to start seeing the price to pay for the spill that no one wants is to height, you need to listen, the government and the president have to listen. do you feel that you — president have to listen. do you feel that you have _ president have to listen. do you feel that you have the _ president have to listen. do you feel that you have the public i president have to listen. do you | feel that you have the public with you on this, this is the sixth day of public life is being disrupted. yes, public life is being disrupted, but there is a very good popular support for this movement, a lot of people who are not used to being on strike are being on strike for the first time at this time. the polls say that 93% of people of working age in france are against this reform, so so far it is all good on the public, we are all united against this reform.-

the public, we are all united against this reform. this system, the retirement _ against this reform. this system, the retirement system _ against this reform. this system, the retirement system in - against this reform. this system, the retirement system in france, | against this reform. this system, i the retirement system in france, it is one of the most generous in europe. two years, i wonder if you could explain to ask why the opposition to this? the opposition is to say that _ opposition to this? the opposition is to say that above _ opposition to this? the opposition is to say that above 60 _ opposition to this? the opposition is to say that above 60 in - opposition to this? the opposition is to say that above 60 in france, | is to say that above 60 in france, one third of the people are already not working and they are just waiting to be able to retire, and they have two years of precariousness. if you add two more years, they willjust have two more years, they willjust have two more years of precariousness, rather than two more years of working. and you cannot allow that to be the prospect of people, that is not fair. and also there is no emergency to do this reform, the government wants to balance this budget, but do not balance this budget, but do not balance this budget on putting more people onto cavity. it had on raising contributions, we can contribute more on our salary, some

taxes that the government has withdrawn, you can have more money on the system, but do not ask people who are precarious to be precarious for two more years.— who are precarious to be precarious for two more years. rand'a kanouni s-deakin for two more years. rand'a kanouni speaking to — for two more years. rand'a kanouni speaking to us * for two more years. rand'a kanouni speaking to us from i for two more years. rand'a kanouni speaking to us from just i for two more years. randja kanouni speaking to us from just outside i speaking to us from just outside paris, thank you very much for your time. . .. paris, thank you very much for your time. . ~' ,. you are watching bbc news. eurovision fans are preparing for the rush to get hold of coveted tickets for this year's song contest. there is expected to be high demand when tickets for the nine public shows being staged in liverpool in may go on sale at midday. i'm joined now by eurovision fan will o'regan who will be hoping to buy tickets when they go on sale in the next hour. how are you feeling? do you think you will get your hands on some? i

think it is in the lap of the gods now. i have been on ticketmaster throughout the morning, waiting to see when they were going to put those listings there, and now all of the show is that are going on sale today are listed, and people can go on their through their ticketmaster account, on a web browser only, not on their phone app, and they can await the sill, which starts at midday local time.— await the sill, which starts at midday local time. what is it about univision? why _ midday local time. what is it about univision? why do _ midday local time. what is it about univision? why do you _ midday local time. what is it about univision? why do you love - midday local time. what is it about univision? why do you love it i midday local time. what is it about univision? why do you love it so i univision? why do you love it so much? sell it to us. —— what is it about eurovision? i much? sell it to us. -- what is it about eurovision?— much? sell it to us. -- what is it about eurovision? i think anything that brinis about eurovision? i think anything that brings people _ about eurovision? i think anything that brings people together, i that brings people together, especially after the years we have had recently, is a good thing. i fell in love with univision when i was just ten years old when the irish entry was the winning entry for year after year, and since then

i always kind of felt i was drawn to the contest, the fact it is a competition, the fact it brings country together, the fact there's new music and fantastic bizarre creations, the togetherness of your visions —— of eurovision, and the fact that it is the north—west and and it is going to be in liverpool, albeit because of circumstances but we certainly do not want to see... i am going tojump in, because i know you have a strategy, and i'm gritter allow you to go back to your pc to get your ticket, but thank you very much indeed, and good luck. thank ou. some breaking news — uefa is to refund liverpool fans who had tickets for the 2022 champions league final in paris. it follows a recent independent report that found uefa bears "primary responsibility" for the chaotic scenes before the game against real madrid.

fans were penned in and sprayed with tear gas outside paris' stade de france as kick—off was delayed by 36 minutes. i'm back with more in just a few minutes. more snow to come as we go through this week. today, that is where the fun continues to move away with a wintry mix of rain, sleet and snow, we have a northerly wind coming straight down from the arctic, and coastal sea further wintry showers to the course of the day across northern scotland, northern ireland and north—east england. this is fundamentally does clear, but behind it will be a fair bit of cloud, some wonder if that is developing in line through the day, but equally a lot of dry weather, and it will feel cold for most, temperatures widely between one and four celsius in the south—west and the channel islands a bit higher. through the evening and

overnight, this weather from to swing into the mild air, initially we will see some rain, but as it bumps into the cold air, you can see how that readily tends to snow, under clear skies for the north it will be cold, the risk of ice and untreated surfaces. tomorrow we still have the arctic air firmly in place, the atlantic are trying to push into some areas, and for the rush hour, some snow likely before that moves away. more rain preceded liy that moves away. more rain preceded by snow coming in across the south—west. scotland, north of england, northern ireland and much of east anglia should be dry, but winds again it will be a cold day away from the south—west. then it turns a little bit more disruptive, on thursday into friday. disruptive snow, heavy snowfalls across the

north, pennines, northern ireland, and the scottish hills, so this could affect you if you live in these areas, with disruption to travel for example, is this area of low pressure comes in with this weather front. low pressure comes in with this weatherfront. in the low pressure comes in with this weather front. in the south and the mild air, we will have rain and windy conditions, it will also be windy conditions, it will also be windy where we have the falling snow, so that snow will be drifting and blowing. most of that in scotland, something drier and brighter, but still cold on the north, mild in the south—west, which is why we are seeing rain here and not snow. worth pointing out areas that the met office has warnings out for the heavy snow. this could lead to some disruption.

france at a standstill — as hundreds of thousands of workers strike over the government's pension reforms. and as the world's biggest tourism fair returns in person — i'll be speaking to the ceo of getyourguide. welcome to world business report, i'm ben thompson. let's start in france where hundreds of thousands of workers are striking again over the government's plans to increase the retirement age. most rail services have been stopped, many schools closed, and fuel depots blockaded. unions hope today will be the biggest strike day yet,