i want to start at the beginning, because it's important to establish what we're talking about. can you explain the difference between legal and illegal migration? legal migration the government has a lot of power and influence or affect, doesn't it?— doesn't it? legal migration is essentially— doesn't it? legal migration is essentially government - doesn't it? legal migration is| essentially government knows doesn't it? legal migration is - essentially government knows that that person is in the country, either because they have it with valid visa, or because of some agreement with that country, for example when the uk was in the eu, people from the eu could come to the uk without a visa, this is different to illegal migration where the government doesn't know that that person is in the country, but an important decision to be made is thatjust because somebody enters a country illegally, like crossing the channel on a small boat, it does not mean they are and illegal migrants if they say are going to claim asylum, because the government knows that person is there.— that person is there. interestingly, the fi . ure that person is there. interestingly, the figure that _ that person is there. interestingly, the figure that we _ that person is there. interestingly, the figure that we had _ that person is there. interestingly, the figure that we had today - that person is there. interestingly, the figure that we had today from | the figure that we had today from year to date june the figure that we had today from year to datejune 2023, we have been a record because it's not, because the figures before had actually been raised, explain what happened there? when the ons initially released the figures, when they released the 2022 figures, when they released the 2022 figures back in may, he doesn't have the complete data much so it makes assumptions regarding how many people stayed beyond their initial visa, some how many people leave before their visa expires, and what appears to happen is behaviours have changed slightly for students, it appears more of them are staying beyond the end of their studies, which hasn't been the case in previous years, which is led to the figures being revised up. the key question is whether that stress in the short—term or, for instance, students stay for a few years, or whether it would be a longer—term. looking at this report, it gives us a sense of why people are come to the uk, doesn't it, that's of its student migration and summit work emma and particularly work in the house and care sector, and we know it that is a sector that has struggled to recruit staff, particularly after brexit, which raises the debate about what migration people may want and what they may not want. that is the political issue, how do you make sure people come in here can contribute and be economically active. �* , . , active. it's an interesting pattern that emerges — active. it's an interesting pattern that emerges when _ active. it's an interesting pattern that emerges when we _ active. it's an interesting pattern that emerges when we look - active. it's an interesting pattern that emerges when we look at i active. it's an interesting pattern - that emerges when we look at opinion service. if people are asked if they would like net migration to be lower, that statement has quite some support, but if you ask about specific groups, so you ask about specific groups, so you ask about specific incomes or forjobs or students for example, these specific types actually gain support, so the tricky thing for the government and policymakers is to reduce net migration but also simultaneously not reduce these categories that people believe that we need in the uk. n, ., people believe that we need in the uk. ., ., people believe that we need in the uk. good to have you with us,. thank ou. let's return to our top story this hour — it's been a day of significant developments in the israel—gaza conflict, with new details of a pause in fighting, and the planned release of some israeli hostages held by hamas in gaza, in return for the release of some palestinian prisoners in israeli jails. a pause in fighting was due to start earlier today, but an israeli government source told the bbc that hamas had made extra demands. for more on the latest details, i spoke earlier to our correspondent tom bateman — he's following the story from jerusalem. we had a very detailed explanation of the mechanics of what has been agreed which came from the qatari foreign ministry spokesperson during a lengthy briefing. what we know is the agreement is the four date cease—fire should begin at 7am local time tomorrow morning and then at 4pm in the afternoon in gaza will be the release of the first batch of 13 hostages held by hamas, all women and children, handed over to the custody of the red cross where there will be taken to the egyptians and therefore transferred to and is really liaison point. within two hours of that, the agreement states that israel should release three times the number of palestinian prisoners a month so 39 palestinians that it holds in its custody, the list it had released yesterday are largely of teenage boys, some 18 or 19—year—old teenagers and women that israel holds in its custody. i made all of that, pretty much straightaway, there was a serious and that you would get a boost of aid convoys going into gaza. and it was hoped that would happen from early tomorrow morning as well, though we had throughout this and aid agencies describing it still as aid agencies describing it still as a sticking plaster and that they need much more. the sense from the cut saris was that they hope this truth will lead to something that creates confidence and the two in effect a more permanent agreement. that may be seen as wishful thinking by many, both the israelis and hamas have made it clear they intend to continue fighting after this round to allow the release of hostages and prisoners is over. tam to allow the release of hostages and prisoners is over.— prisoners is over. tom bateman explaining _ prisoners is over. tom bateman explaining fighting _ prisoners is over. tom bateman explaining fighting is _ prisoners is over. tom bateman explaining fighting is expected i prisoners is over. tom bateman. explaining fighting is expected to resume after the pause that is to begin at 7am local time tomorrow morning about but we are getting use tonight that hamas said people have been killed in a israeli strike on at school located in the jabalia refugee camp but the few details on that. hamas reporting people were killed in a strike on a joint school, but some bateman explaining though it the positive fight and is expected to go in tomorrow morning, it seems some of the strikes continue and israel make it clear there will resume after that pause, using that word pause again rather than cease—fire, a pause in the fighting so i neither received —— release of hostages from gaza. it was supposed to happen earlier today now been delayed until tomorrow. we understand it is because hamas issued additional demands, we don't know what they are, but nonetheless it seems right now the fighting continues i have that pause in the conflict tomorrow. as the intensity of shelling along the border between israel and lebanon increases, tens of thousands of people on either side have left their homes. israel has been accused of "wilfully targeting" fleeing lebanese civilians, including a family who were hit in an air strike earlier this month. israel says it s' investigating the incident. from southern lebanon, wyre davies reports. doing theirjob along one of the most dangerous frontiers in the world, almost every day since the border conflict between hezbollah and israel began, staff and volunteers from lebanese civil defence group have sped towards the aftermath of air and list missile tanks. this is a plain strike on a family home which happened about 1k months ago, what we know is that there was a and several children and members of the family have been taken to hospital. this is that lebanese from the in a house just across the border from lebanese from the in a house just across the borderfrom israel. we later learned an elderly woman was killed in the attack on a young girl with serious abdominal wounds among the injured, the local civil defence she says civilians have increasingly become victims of the war. for us, the biggest — become victims of the war. for us, the biggest concern _ become victims of the war. for us, the biggest concern is _ become victims of the war. for us, the biggest concern is about - become victims of the war. for us, the biggest concern is about the i the biggest concern is about the civilians was not we have to save them every time. but civilians was not we have to save them every time.— civilians was not we have to save them every time. but it's dangerous. yes it is dangerous _ them every time. but it's dangerous. yes it is dangerous but _ them every time. but it's dangerous. yes it is dangerous but living - yes it is dangerous but living in lebanon is dangerous to. $5 yes it is dangerous but living in lebanon is dangerous to. as we found, lebanon is dangerous to. as we found. and _ lebanon is dangerous to. as we found. and is— lebanon is dangerous to. as we found, and is really _ lebanon is dangerous to. as we found, and is really drone - lebanon is dangerous to. as we | found, and is really drone cruise the skies above over lebanese terrorists where the powerful islamist hezbollah is dominant and fires gets into israel. the drones are used by israel to strike what it says are hezbollah positions. the united nations, which patrols the fragile between israel and lebanon, says that over several weeks the conflict here has escalated almost daily. conflict here has escalated almost dail . , , . conflict here has escalated almost dail . , ' . ., conflict here has escalated almost dail. , , daily. difficult to say because the shellin: daily. difficult to say because the shelling has _ daily. difficult to say because the shelling has been _ daily. difficult to say because the shelling has been intense, - daily. difficult to say because the - shelling has been intense, thousands of rockets and exchanges of fire on a regular basis so when you haven't such an intensity of conflict in a very localised area where people are leaving, of course the risk of hitting and killing civilians is higher. hitting and killing civilians is hiaher. , ., , hitting and killing civilians is hiaher. , _ hitting and killing civilians is hiuher. , ,, ,,, , higher. this family, buying supplies for the journey _ higher. this family, buying supplies for the journey to _ higher. this family, buying supplies for the journey to beirut _ higher. this family, buying supplies for the journey to beirut this - for the journey to beirut this weekend knew it was dangerous to remain near the border. minutes later, there car was hit by a strike from an and is three little girls killed in the back, grandmother in the front, also killed, and somehow the front, also killed, and somehow the mother sitting in the driving seat was able to be dragged to safety by her uncle. the organisation, human rights watch says that what happens here could amount to a war crime. the family's uncle rejects israel's explanation that it's struck a suspicious vehicle containing several terrorist. israel says it is investigating claims that it may have involved civilians in a car. translate or i will always remember her screams and cries. she translate or i will always remember her screams and cries.— her screams and cries. she was tellin: her screams and cries. she was telling me _ her screams and cries. she was telling me get _ her screams and cries. she was telling me get my _ her screams and cries. she was telling me get my consider - her screams and cries. she was - telling me get my consider michael get my kids out of the car. she repeated this over and over till i dragged her out. 1&1 repeated this over and over till i dragged her out.— repeated this over and over till i dragged her out. 14 euros remus, cefine dragged her out. 14 euros remus, celine was — dragged her out. 14 euros remus, celine was 12. _ dragged her out. 14 euros remus, celine was 12, and _ dragged her out. 14 euros remus, celine was 12, and their _ dragged her out. 14 euros remus, celine was 12, and their sister - dragged her out. 14 euros remus, | celine was 12, and their sister only came back to the border to pick up their schoolbooks said their uncle, school years they will never complete, weary davis, bbc news. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news this is chrysler's small cause, here since the 1850s, it has been one family for more a century no granted graded to listed status. the staff of 19 q and the chrysler creepers, some can still submit the fish by hand, a delicate skill. you some can still submit the fish by hand, a delicate skill.— some can still submit the fish by hand, a delicate skill. you have to have the feeling _ hand, a delicate skill. you have to have the feeling in _ hand, a delicate skill. you have to have the feeling in years - hand, a delicate skill. you have to | have the feeling in years spenders, you run the blade along the backbone. d0 you run the blade along the backbone-— you run the blade along the backbone._ i l you run the blade along the - backbone._ i thought backbone. do i en'oy it? i thought ou miaht backbone. do i en'oy it? i thought you might laugh. — backbone. do i enjoy it? i thought you might laugh. it's _ backbone. do i enjoy it? i thought you might laugh. it's all— backbone. do i enjoy it? i thought you might laugh. it's all right. - backbone. do i enjoy it? i thought you might laugh. it's all right. wej you might laugh. it's all right. we have a bit of— you might laugh. it's all right. we have a bit of a _ you might laugh. it's all right. we have a bit of a banter _ you might laugh. it's all right. we have a bit of a banter and laugh, l have a bit of a banter and laugh, it's cold and smelly.— it's cold and smelly. there were houses like _ it's cold and smelly. there were houses like this _ it's cold and smelly. there were houses like this throughout - it's cold and smelly. there were| houses like this throughout rural areas but many have gone out. that they are customers far and wide. indie they are customers far and wide. we come they are customers far and wide. - come every year for kipper. they are customers far and wide. we come every year for kipper. you - come every year for kipper. you think that _ come every year for kipper. you think that good? _ come every year for kipper. you think that good? they _ come every year for kipper. you think that good? they are - come every year for kipper. you i think that good? they are brilliant. and with this _ think that good? they are brilliant. and with this house _ think that good? they are brilliant. and with this house now— think that good? they are brilliant. and with this house now would - and with this house now would status, they should continue for years to come. finland is condemning moscow's systematic and organised action regarding their undocumented migrants, pushing them at the border between the two countries. helsinki say that the border authorities are faced with what they call an �*influx' of undocumented migrant. finland and russia share a 1300 km long border with russia, and the relationship between the two countries soured after the invasion of ukraine — prompting helsinki to accede to the nato alliance back in april. live now to helsinki we can speak to doctor iro sarkka, senior research fellow at the finnish institute of international affairs. and maybe start at the beginning here i'm a explain what is going on right now on that border and how significant that border is. it is the longest — significant that border is. it is the longest land _ significant that border is. it 3 the longest land border that the eu and nato has for a country here in europe and it's important for finland not only to protect a national boarding but the border of the european union and the transatlantic union. we have seen hundreds of immigrants arriving to finland, approximately 600 altogether in november, but it's not just a number that's the issue, it's over the fact that russia is basically webinars and or migration into finland to try and insert and exert turbulence in the finnish society amongst the populations of the migrants. it is one of ways we can see how finland is being influence in a hybrid menu in this situation. �* ., influence in a hybrid menu in this situation. �* . ., , , ., situation. i'm a right that russia no considers _ situation. i'm a right that russia no considers finland _ situation. i'm a right that russia no considers finland to - situation. i'm a right that russia no considers finland to be - situation. i'm a right that russia no considers finland to be a - situation. i'm a right that russia i no considers finland to be a hostile nation since itjoined nato earlier this year? nation since it “oined nato earlier this ear? , , ., nation since it “oined nato earlier this ear? ,, ., , , ., this year? russia considers finland as an unfriendly _ this year? russia considers finland as an unfriendly state _ this year? russia considers finland as an unfriendly state that - this year? russia considers finland as an unfriendly state that this - as an unfriendly state that this state, they never wanted finland to join nato monday wanted to stop that happening. since we havejoined the alliance, their next up is try and do evil things, hostile things to our nation and also the alliance. to try and test how we will react, the finnish authorities on the one hand, but also as the alliance as a whole, how the other needs of an eu countries will react in this situation.— countries will react in this situation. ~ ., ., , countries will react in this situation. ~' ., . , situation. do we know anything about the migrants — situation. do we know anything about the migrants who _ situation. do we know anything about the migrants who are _ situation. do we know anything about the migrants who are making - situation. do we know anything about the migrants who are making the - the migrants who are making the crossing across that border? are there details about who they are, where they're from, and why they ended up on that border? thea;r where they're from, and why they ended up on that border? they are ve sto ended up on that border? they are very story is. _ ended up on that border? they are very story is. they _ ended up on that border? they are very story is, they are _ ended up on that border? they are very story is, they are real- very story is, they are real asylum—seekers but also people who are trying to migrate the finland a month so they are also positively infiltrators, that's what the government authority seat. also, people seeking jobs in finland. people coming from various different countries, countries in the middle east, iraq, yemen, for instance, syria, some african nations as well make somalia and kenya, but the interesting fact is these people have even been transported from the petterson border on the way up to finland, which is the length of some 2000 killing monstersjourney to take. you need someone to help you out with that, so they're both criminals and human traffickers but also the russian authorities help in assisting people to cross the border amma and even pushing them across the border. find amma and even pushing them across the border. �* ,, ., amma and even pushing them across the border. �* , , ., ., , amma and even pushing them across the border. �* ,, ., .,, , ., , the border. and russia has previous form of manoeuvres _ the border. and russia has previous form of manoeuvres like _ the border. and russia has previous form of manoeuvres like it, - the border. and russia has previous form of manoeuvres like it, doesn't| form of manoeuvres like it, doesn't it? they use may be scope small scale things like this is so division, maybe stir up unrest and tension, how is this being seen in finland? i5 tension, how is this being seen in finland? , , . finland? is something we expected, is not news — finland? is something we expected, is not news for _ finland? is something we expected, is not news for us, _ finland? is something we expected, is not news for us, we _ finland? is something we expected, is not news for us, we were - is not news for us, we were expecting the hostile activities that would take place. obviously, the time and place and went on what would happen, that we can never know, so we just have to be ready, but i must rest now. the finnish society is very resilient, raised on it concept of total defence, which means all across the different sectors of society as well as civilians will contribute to our collective defence within the nation as well, so we are ready to tackle this challenge, and we must stay firm as a nation and as the alliance. firm as a nation and as the alliance-— firm as a nation and as the alliance. ., ., i. , alliance. good to have you with us to exend alliance. good to have you with us to exoend all _ alliance. good to have you with us to expend all of _ alliance. good to have you with us to expend all of that _ alliance. good to have you with us to expend all of that for _ alliance. good to have you with us to expend all of that for the - to expend all of that for the finnish institute of international affairs, thank you. in india — rescue efforts to retrieve 41 workers trapped in a collapsed road tunnel have stopped for the evening. the workers have spent 12 days underground. engineers have managed to reach them, delivering food, water, air and electricity. late on wednesday, the operation slowed after a drilling machine encountered a steel structure it could not cut through. the men appear to be in good health. ambulances and specially—fitted stretchers are on standby in preparation for their rescue. our south asia correspondent samira hussain is at the scene with the latest. in the last 24 hours, rescue workers here have made it very little progress. just behind me, you can see the mouth of the tunnel. that is where all the rescue operations are taking place, and what they are trying to do is drill a hole through the rubble and debris where the men are trapped behind. each time they get close, they hit other rocks and debris and now they are hitting metal, which damages the drilling machine and forces rescue operators to bring new missionary up in this area. the longer the rescue operation takes, the longer it goes forth workers remain. we did see some video of them earlier this week. it was the first video released of the construction workers that have been trapped since last sunday, and he appeared in the video wearing hard hats, some with high visit belts, and they were saying that they are in good health. samir hossain there _ that they are in good health. samir hossain there with _ that they are in good health. samir hossain there with the _ that they are in good health. samir hossain there with the latest - that they are in good health. samir hossain there with the latest on i that they are in good health. samir hossain there with the latest on the minors as that operation pauses for the event but expected to resume tomorrow, they are hoping to get those people out of that tunnel. no a story worth telling you earlier, an incident in dublin where it 5 euros gold and women have been seriously injured due to a knife attack in the city centre of dublin. it happened just after lunchtime today, tonight we are getting images of unrest. the scene in dublin very close to where that attack took place, protesters gathering there in the area, as you can see, vehicles being satellite. we had response, the irish justice being satellite. we had response, the irishjustice minister saying that violence and disorder that has erupted in dublin after the attack on women and children as a school are thuggish and attempting to so division. that is the situation in dublin, your russian bbc news. as we get further information in dublin we will be back there, our correspondent life there. researchers are celebrating, after discovering that blue whales have returned to a part of the indian ocean where they were wiped out by hunting decades ago. underwater recordings have revealed that the world's largest creatures spend months in the tropical waters around the island nation of the seychelles. our science correspondent victoria gill reports. the biggest animals on earth. blue whales have returned to inhabit tropical waters where, just a few decades ago, they were wiped out. on two recent expeditions, researchers and documentary film—makers came to the seychelles in search of the giant marine mammals. this is really cool. i've never seen so many different species, so many of so many different species. we've got hundreds of animals here. it's... it's pretty remarkable. this is now an ecological paradise teeming with life. but back in the 1960s, soviet whaling vessels captured and killed hundreds of blue whales in these waters. all right, here you go. 0k. to find out if the animals had returned scientists listened. underwater microphones are able to pick up the very low frequency sounds that blue whales use to communicate over distances of hundreds of miles through the ocean. but the researchers weren't actually able to hear the blue whales calling directly. it took a year of recording from the sea bed and painstaking analysis of all those months of sound to identify the telltale, very low frequency, deep calls. the signature of these marine giants. we do know that blue whales worldwide were decimated by commercial whaling. we listened for over a year and we heard them in many months of the year. that suggests that the seychelles is really important for blue whales. and so understanding when and where blue whales may have recovered and are coming back, its a really good conservation win. long after the end of commercial whaling here, the seychelles has committed to officially protecting almost a third of its national waters for wildlife. turns out if you stop killing animals on mass scales and you give them a chance to rebound, they can recover. the scientists hope to return to find out more about how the world's largest whales are using this area and if they're breeding here. they'll be looking and listening for more clues about how to protect these waters now that the ocean's largest inhabitants have returned. victoria gill, bbc news. one of the country's biggest selling pop groups, girls aloud, are to reunite after a break of more than a decade. they're going to tour the uk and ireland next year, our music reporter mark savage has been speaking to them. london, thanks so much. they may have been formed on a tv show... but girls aloud revitalised the sound of pop music. now, after a break of ten years, they are back. you are back, how does it feel? do you know what, it actually feels today, amazing. i think the lead up to it, we have been a bit nervous and anticipating the reaction. and then the love that we've actually felt today has been insane. how long did you have to keep it a secret? it felt like forever. it really wasn't even that long, even this morning when people were asking questions we were like, is it ok, can we say? how much are you looking forward to getting out there? in terms of being in the moment, l being able to enjoy the experience because there is not all these different pressures _ from left, right and centre. it can become a lot _ but we have the freedom to fully embrace and enjoy it and each other. but amidst the excitement there is also sadness. the singer, sarah harding, died of breast cancer two years ago. girls aloud say she gave this tour her blessing. when we first started talking - about doing a reunion, whatever we were going to do, sarah was included . in the conversation. then we found out she| was actually too poorly and the diagnosis was dire. she actually said to me in a quiet moment, "i hope you girls do- something when i'm not here". and in that time, at that moment, . it was just such a terrible thing l to be facing, somebody you love who is actively dying, telling - you to make plans without her. ijust couldn't continue the conversation. - so i kind of pushed it away. the band say their live show will honour sarah's life. thousands of fans are expected to celebrate with them when the tour kicks off next may. mark savage, bbc news. that is all for me tonight, christian is up next with the context. hello there. we've seen much more sunshine round today, but it feels very different in different parts of the country. our first weather watcher picture was taken in suffolk, and here it feels mild, temperatures around about 14 degrees in the afternoon. in scotland, we're getting more sunshine today. but here, it's actually getting colder through the afternoon, temperatures around eight degrees in perth. and you can see the temperature contrast that we've got north—south across the uk, generally it is mild across england and wales, with temperatures typically around 13 degrees, but for all of us tomorrow, it is going to be colder, those temperatures are going to be dropping. instead of this westerly wind that most of us are seeing today, we're going to replace it with more of a north or north—westerly wind, and that is going to drag down the colder weather overnight and into tomorrow, the colder air coming in behind that weather front there. and this is where the weather front is this evening. there's not much rain on it at all — that sinks down to the south—west, clear skies follow, and a few showers into scotland, and those will turn wintry even to lower levels. it could be quite stormy in shetland as well. frost—wise, overnight, it's going to be coldest, i think, in scotland and the far north of england, enough cloud elsewhere to keep the temperatures a few degrees above freezing. the cloud that we've got in northern ireland, wales and the south—west could produce one or two light showers, but should break up, sunshine coming through. most places will be dry and quite sunny. we still have some showers, mostly of rain in northern scotland and driving down the north sea coasts where the winds are strongest. so, temperatures—wise, we're looking at generally into single figures, but it's going to feel cold where the winds are stronger, so northern and eastern scotland, and all the way down these eastern—most parts of england we have the strongest of the winds, and so temperatures are going to feel more like one, two or three degrees — quite a shock to the system. as the winds drop overnight, tomorrow night, we're going to get the first widespread frost of the autumn. lowest temperatures will be inland, away from those exposed coasts — numbers could be low as about —5. but for saturday, most places will be dry and sunny. it's not going to be as windy, there won't be as many showers in the northeast and down those north sea coasts. there will be more cloud in northern scotland, mind you. temperatures again sitting around 6—7 degrees. it'll feel cold again on sunday, but there will be more cloud around. hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. the beginning will be seven o'clock on friday and the first batch of civilians to be released will be around four o'clock on the same day. it is dangling before us, the possibility we can have our loved one home — possibility we can have our loved one home and all the other families as well _ one home and all the other families as well. and i think it is cruel. the truce will begin at 7am local time, with 13 israeli hostages to be released by hamas tomorrow afternoon. ahead of that deadline, israel has been bombarding sites across gaza today. some 300 targets have been taken out. this is the live picture tonight — we will get reaction from the families of the hostages, and one of the palestinian negotiators who drew up a blueprint for the release. also tonight — the anti—islam populist, geert wilders is beginning work on forming a coalition government. but will the main parties give him the support he needs to become prime minister? and the blue wales, back in the indian ocean after being hunted almost to extinction.