iain watson, bbc news.le has made one of the longest and most unusual migrations ever recorded. photographs taken by whale—watchers have revealed an astonishing journey from colombia to zanibar — a distance of more than eight thousand miles. our environment correspondent helen briggs has the story. the wandering whale was first seen in the pacific ocean off colombia, popping up several years later in the indian ocean near zanzibar, an astonishing journey that has left scientists baffled. what normally happens is humpbacks learn their migration route from their mother by following her in the early years of their life, and then stick to that migration route for their whole life. and so we don't know whether this is an animal that's somehow been motivated to go on a longerjourney, or has simply made a mistake, orfailed to learn the migration route adequately to be able to do it itself. humpback whales are known for their long migrations, feeding near the poles and breeding in warmer waters, but this male�*s jo

our political correspondent iain watson reports.s bond. well, like 007, the prime minister certainly knows about targets. he was at pinewood film studios where dense, lengthy novels are turned into something altogether more eye—catching. in that spirit, the five sprawling missions for government, which labour set out in opposition, have been condensed into six targets, or milestones, to underline what the government is for. the purpose of this government is to make our public services and our economy work for working people. the job of these milestones is to take our country forward, drive reform through the public sector. it is not about making the government look good. so, yes, they are risky for us. country first, party second. by focusing on living standards, the health service, policing, housing and early years education, labour insiders say they're prioritising policies which people will be able to feel in their pockets and see in their local communities. but the prime minister also emphasised the government would not let exis

our political correspondent, iain watson.e world and across the u.k., this is bbc news. ♪ lewis: this is bbc news. we will continue with the latest on syria, specifically a bashar al-assad, syria's dispose leader. the kremlin refused to say where he was, adng there were no plans for a meeting between him and president putin. yesterday, russian state media reported he was in moscow and was granted asylum. i'm a russian editor stephen rosenberg has the story. >> at the syrian embassy in moscow, it was all change. up went the flag of the syrian rebels to mark the ousting of bashar al-assad. ironically, syria's leader had fled to russia, although his exact whereabouts are unknown. the man who has reportedly given assad asylum was giving out medals to russian soldiers who fought in ukraine. from vlamir putin, no mention of syria. events there are a huge blow to the kremlin. that is because, for nearly a decade, president putin had poured resources into keeping assad in power. he became moscow's man in the middle east. shored up by

let's speak to our political correspondent iain watson. of commons and the last couple of hours or so, tell us a bit about what he said on the status of these rebel groups. i said on the status of these rebel groups.— rebel groups. i think it's interesting _ rebel groups. i think it's interesting because the| rebel groups. i think it's - interesting because the gist of what he said wasn't exactly the same as another senior cabinet member suggested earlier. it's fast—moving, the situation is. the attempts to get all of the allies, uk's allies on the same page because what david lammy said and indeed with the prime ministersaid, he is said and indeed with the prime minister said, he is now in saudi arabia, are much the same thing which is you have to be cautious when it comes to hts. there is nothing pending taking them off this proscribed list of terrorist organisations, and it will bejudged of terrorist organisations, and it will be judged by their actions. however, pat mcfadden, the cabinet office ministers suggested earlier in the day th

first, though, let's speak to our political correspondent, iain watson.onomy, growth will be matters they are talking about, obviously because since we heard inflation is going up, interest rates being held at 4.75%. what rates being held at 4.75%. what can exoect? _ rates being held at 4.75%. what can exoect? it _ rates being held at 4.75%. what can expect? it will _ rates being held at 4.75%. what can expect? it will be _ rates being held at 4.75%. what can expect? it will be 90 - can expect? it will be 90 minutes of an apparent grilling, though it may turn out to be just a basting grilling, though it may turn out to bejust a basting he gets because he will be well prepared on the topics under discussion. you mentioned economic growth will be discussed as well as public services and international security. there are difficult questions at all of these areas, and obviously growth, our economy is not growing. to some extent, it is receding a little bit, so that is a difficult question. the effect on business confidence of putting up national insurance on

staff, sue grey and former shadow minister thangham let's speak to our political correspondent, iain watsones.— sue gray is likely to dominate the headlines. yes, because of that headlines _ the headlines. yes, because of that headlines around - the headlines. yes, because of that headlines around her - that headlines around her departure. the party gate... then went to work as chief of staff. did not last as long as chief of staff in downing street, an power struggle, and left in october. nonetheless, she was allegedly going to be given anotherjob, envoy to nations and regions, she never took thatjob up and really since then has been on the cards that she would get some kind of reward for effectively being at keir starmer�*s side in opposition and briefly in government and get elevated to the house of the lords, and thatis the house of the lords, and that is exactly what has happened. some of these other labour names are interesting as well. a whole smattering of mps that stood down at the last minute before the general election to allow a new generation of a misty loyalist to take their s

let's talk to our political correspondent, iain watson. 0ne prominent name — sue gray.hief of staff, and the head of the partygate inquiry. in the 13 new labour lords who have been appointed i think will all be very loyal to the labour leadership. they include keir starmer�*s director of strategy when he was in opposition, a smattering of mps who have been critical ofjeremy corbyn as well. but i think what is very interesting is just to but i think what is very interesting isjust to remember, with but i think what is very interesting is just to remember, with all these new appointments, labour is still formally committed to completely replacing the unelected house of lords. but a labour source said to me, the conservatives have been stuffing this place with their supporters for years, so it would seem that labour are not opposed to doing some pre—christmas stuffing of their own. i think that tells us that they are going to keep their manifesto promise to axe hereditary peers, but i think it also signals that any wider reform of that place over there, and is still some w

our political correspondent iain watson has more. overworked! underpaid!e labour government awarding a substantial pay increase to junior doctors, you might have thought scenes like these wouldn't be repeated. but think again. the government is proposing pay increases for many public—service workers which are barely above inflation. and the unions are very vocally expressing their discontent this winter. including some which help fund the labour party. nhs staff are facing a huge challenge going into this winter, with the quad—demic on the horizon, and the huge challenge to try and bring down those unacceptable waiting lists. pay is really key to that. the biggest worry at the moment is this news will drive more people to leave, and that will make the situation even worse. for many public—sector workers, ministers are recommending a pay rise of 2.8% for next year. that's just above inflation, which is expected to rise to 2.6%. the government has already upset farmers over inheritance tax, and some pensioners over cuts in winter fuel payments. and now they

the conservatives have called it a desperate attempted relaunch. 0ur political correspondent, iain watsonoming back here, i could be the nextjames bond. like if i keep coming back here, i could be the next james bond. like 007, the prime minister _ be the next james bond. like 007, the prime minister certainly - be the next james bond. like 007, the prime minister certainly knows| the prime minister certainly knows about targets. he was at pinewood film studios were dense novels are turned into something more eye—catching. five sprawling missions for government have been condensed into six targets, milestones, to underline what the government is for. the milestones, to underline what the government is for.— milestones, to underline what the government is for. the purpose of this government _ government is for. the purpose of this government is _ government is for. the purpose of this government is to _ government is for. the purpose of this government is to make - government is for. the purpose of this government is to make our i this government is to make our public services and our econ