of nagorno—karabakh. armenian separatist officials say almost 300 people have been admitted to hospitals, with dozens in a critical condition. the blast, the cause of which is not known, came as thousands of ethnic armenians flee the contested enclave after it was seized by azerbaijan last week. armenia says more than 13,000 people, -- 19,000. or about 15% of the territory's population, have crossed the border, fearing persecution and ethnic cleansing. envoys from armenia and azerbaijan are in brussels for eu—backed talks. it's the first such meeting between the countries since azerbaijan seized the enclave. nagorno—karabakh is at the heart of one of the world's longest—running territorial and ethnic conflicts. it's recognised internationally as part of azerbaijan, but has been controlled by ethnic armenians for three decades. the head of the us agency for international development said the us would provide $11.5 million in humanitarian assistance and called for the international community to be given access to nagorno—karabakh. it is absolutely critical that independent monitors as well as humanitarian organisations get access to the people in nagorno—karabakh who still have diet needs. —— diet needs. this we also got analysis. there is very much — this we also got analysis. there is very much humanitarian _ this we also got analysis. there is very much humanitarian crisis - this we also got analysis. there isj very much humanitarian crisis that is unfolding now in southern armenia, we have more than 13,000 people registered as having crossed this morning. that number will grow substantially. i think it is likely that almost all of the population of nagorno—karabakh will move over into armenia and it was a bad track record in the country from the 19905 of receiving and integrating refugees from that earlier conflict, 5o refugees from that earlier conflict, so this is a publishing that is very much traumatised, it has been living under blockade for the last nine months, and subject to repeated cea5efire violations, and the one—day war of last week. we ceasefire violations, and the one-day war of last week. we have been hearing _ one-day war of last week. we have been hearing from _ one-day war of last week. we have been hearing from a _ one-day war of last week. we have been hearing from a politician - one-day war of last week. we have been hearing from a politician in i been hearing from a politician in azerbaijan, a politician earlier on bbc news, talking about the situation saying that people are welcome to leave, saying there is no ethnic cleansing, people talking about ethnic cleansing i5 ethnic cleansing, people talking about ethnic cleansing is just armenian propaganda, and saying that azerbaijan can guarantee their safety. and that they can become 5afety. and that they can become citizen5 5afety. and that they can become citizens of azerbaijan. safety. and that they can become citizens of azerbaijan.— citizens of azerbai'an. yes, there has been citizens of azerbaijan. yes, there has been discussion _ citizens of azerbaijan. yes, there has been discussion about - has been discussion about reintegration of the nagorno—karabakh armenian5, but we need to see that there is a difficult and painful history, there has been a public discussion of this package, and were talking about consolidated authoritarian regime. there are meetings ongoing, to end last week, between representatives and azerbaijan officials. electricity has been restored to the capital of the region, but it is not clear whether there will be any armenians remaining in the territory, who might benefit from socioeconomic offer made to them by the azerbaijani 5tate. socioeconomic offer made to them by the azerbaijani state. what socioeconomic offer made to them by the azerbaijani state.— the azerbai'ani state. what will the azerbai'ani state. what will the be the azerbaijani state. what will they be talking _ the azerbaijani state. what will they be talking about _ the azerbaijani state. what will they be talking about in - the azerbaijani state. what will i they be talking about in brussels? we hear there are talks going on in battle today by representatives of armenia and azerbaijan. what do you think could be achieved there? what think could be achieved there? what is really critical _ think could be achieved there? what is really critical now _ think could be achieved there? what is really critical now is _ think could be achieved there? “wrisgt is really critical now is that think could be achieved there? “lariat is really critical now is that the ongoing negotiations at the intestate level between armenia and inte5tate level between armenia and azerbaijan that have been ongoing for the last three years do continue. the two states are negotiating a normalisation treaty and the envoys are meeting in brussels today. the leaders of the bru55el5 today. the leaders of the two states are going to meet in granada on the 5th of october and what is crucial i5 granada on the 5th of october and what is crucial is that they finally agree on the terms of this treaty, including this very potentially positive aspect of connectivity and opening up the region to different transit route5. but there is controversy, important that the process keeps going. we controversy, important that the process keeps going.— controversy, important that the process keeps going. we have heard that the independent _ process keeps going. we have heard that the independent monitors - process keeps going. we have heard that the independent monitors need | that the independent monitors need to be given access. in terms of the involvement of the british government in their5, do you have any thoughts on that? government in theirs, do you have any thoughts on that?— government in theirs, do you have any thoughts on that? well, the uk is the biggest _ any thoughts on that? well, the uk is the biggest investor _ any thoughts on that? well, the uk is the biggest investor in _ is the biggest investor in azerbaijan. the oil industry in particular. the uk has in the past and still does to some extensible dialogue initiative5 and still does to some extensible dialogue initiatives at least a tighter level and the uk has taken a stronger stance in recent 5tronger stance in recent discussions in the un security council the important thing right now is to keep focused on humanitarian support, helping the5e humanitarian support, helping these people in the armenian state, to receive them and work to meeting their long—term needs as refugees in armenia. we can go live to armenia. we are at the entrance — we can go live to armenia. we are at the entrance to _ we can go live to armenia. we are at the entrance to this _ we can go live to armenia. we are at the entrance to this village, - we can go live to armenia. we are at the entrance to this village, this - the entrance to this village, this is the first place refugees from nagorno—karabakh arrive into armenia. this is their entrance into armenia. this is their entrance into armenia. all day we have been here in the mornings, in the last few hours has been a steady stream of cars coming through, about an hour car5 coming through, about an hour ago it suddenly stopped for some reason that we don't understand. now they have picked up again and they are coming through. full of people, refugees, with their belongings, whatever they could get. they are heading towards centre which is just behind the camera, there are a few tents 5etup by the international committee of the red cross. to register them. there“s committee of the red cross. to register them. there's also another registration registration centre further up in the next town my next village. some people will go there to register. but my own impression is that a lot of these people coming through are not registering, they are driving through. for that reason, i think the numbers that are given by the authorities and the red cross here about the number of cro55 here about the number of refugees coming through, it may be pretty much that real number is a lot higher than that. we heard this morning that there were about 19,000 people so far have arrived here in the last 23 days. but my own impression is that the real number really is higher. we impression is that the real number really is higher.— really is higher. we were hearing earlier from _ really is higher. we were hearing earlier from the _ really is higher. we were hearing earlier from the us _ really is higher. we were hearing earlier from the us aid _ really is higher. we were hearing earlier from the us aid saying - earlier from the us aid saying people are in dire need, what have people are in dire need, what have people been telling you about the situation of where they have been coming from? azerbaijan has been saying they are welcome to stay. ye5, saying they are welcome to stay. yes, but nobody believe5 azerbaijan, they don't believe there are security assurances, they don't want to live under azerbaijani control or even under azerbaijani soldiers“ controlling their towns and cities in nagorno—karabakh. the mountains behind me are the nagorno—karabakh mountains, the refugees are coming from there. it is about 70 kilometres, not very far from here, but the people we talk to say it took them yesterday about 2k hours, 28 hours to get through the 70 kilometres. all of those people we talked to looked dazed, drained, tired, hungry, we stopped by a road cafe and met a few of them over there. they had just the first time were eating. they were telling me they“d were eating. they were telling me they'd be more relaxed, they could talk. they didn't think they will ever go back to nagorno—karabakh, i think they thought it was a chapter in their past. they were heading, those people i talked to, heading for the capital of armenia, but almost all of them didn“t for the capital of armenia, but almost all of them didn't know where they were going to sleep tonight. they had relations there, but they hadn't been in touch with them. telephone connections are not that good. they have lost their friends, some people came in convoys of two or three families and friends. they have been separated and they couldn't connect with each other, so couldn“t connect with each other, so they are looking for each other. anyway, the situation for them is pretty dire. they were very angry about, i talked to one man who said, i said to him, who do you blame for all this? he said, traitors. isaid, who arbitrators? he said, russians. so these people, a lot of them are blaming russia —— who are the traitors? —— blaming russia for looking the other way while azerbaijani forces took over their land. what companies have been ordered to repay customers a total of £140 million after failing to meet key targets. industry regulator said firms are not performing well enough on issues like leaks and reducing pollution. the money will be returned by reductions to household bills. this is the water companies“ end of year report. written by regulator 0fwat, it assesses their performance against a number of indicators such as plugging leaks, the quality of the water supply and whether they have managed to reduce the number of pollution incidents. for most of the 17 companies, it's not pleasant reading. there is no top of the class this year, with none getting the highest score. ten were rated as average, and seven told they are lagging behind. poor performance comes with financial consequences. thames, the uk“5 biggest water company, is firmly bottom of the class. it reported an increase in serious pollution incidents and will have to hand back about £100 million next year. if shared out equally among its customers, well, it is pocket money, a bit more than a fiver, and will be swallowed up by other inflation—linked rises. water and sewage here in wales is a bit different to england. it is run by a not—for—profit company, but its performance still isn't good. it has failed to hit its targets for stopping leaks and has been rated as lagging by 0fwat and told to pay back £24 million to its customers. several water companies have been judged to be doing so well that they can charge customers more next year. severn trent will get an extra 88 million, much to the disbelief of this wild swimmer in shrewsbury. i'm pretty surprised that they are being rewarded, yes, because there is still sewage spilling into the rivers. we are trying to swim in the rivers and clean them up. obviously, it is notjust the sewage and notjust the water companies that cause pollution problems, but to see any water company being rewarded while there are still sewage spilling into the river doesn't seem right at all to me. responding to 0fwat, the water companies“ trade body water uk looked for the positives. there has been important progress in some areas. for leakage, that is down 7% since 2020, come down every year since the start of the decade. next week, the water industry will be producing its plans for massive investment in infrastructure. if that is approved, bills will rise still further. jonah fisher, bbc news, in cardiff. an nhs trust has apologised for pilling to send out letters to patients and their gps because of a computer error. newcastle hospitals said the problem which dates back to 2018 is significant and they health care regulator has asked for assured that no treatment has been delayed as a result. the unsent letters date back to 2018, when a new computer system was introduced. many are discharge summaries, which explain what the care was that the patient received in hospital and what medications the patients need to now take. but there are also a significant number of unsent letters from specialist clinics which may spell out that urgent treatment is needed. all these letters are vital for a patient“s continuing care. it is very important because, one, we will have the results of the investigations, that is very significant. and also, frequently there are tests which have been undertaken, blood tests and scans and so forth. so it's very important that we know the result of that. and also once the patient has been to the outpatients, medication, tablets, what is going to be prescribed in future for the patient? so how has this happened? it appears that when it comes to discharge summaries, at least, one person would draft it and prepare it for a second person to sign the top. that second person had to make sure that on their computer, they changed their status to signing clinician. if they didn't, the discharge summary wouldn't leave the hospital as the consultant expected it to. instead, it went into a separate folder that one consultant told me they didn't know existed. it was hidden. an action plan now sent to the cqc says the trust will immediately deal with a 6000—letter backlog from the last year alone. more than 1200 of those relate to medicine and emergency care. consultants have also been asked to record incidents of patient harm as a result of the backlog. in a statement, newcastle hospitals trust said, "a review is under way. if any concerns are identified, we will inform patients and their gps directly. we are taking this issue seriously and we are working quickly to put things right." the cqc says after receiving concerns from staff, they took immediate action to understand the extent to which people may be at risk, and evidence of the steps being taken to review the impact on patients. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. hundreds stories making news. of schools across scotland are hundreds of schools across scotland are close because of a strike by support staff. members of unison, including teaching assistants, caterers and cleaners, walked out of the pay after last—minute talks failed. the local government negotiator for unison said her members need a serious pay offer. new research suggests workers in the uk are taking more sick days than at any point in the past decade. staff who can average 6.87 sick days up from 5.8 before the pandemic. the chartered institute of personnel and development said the rise was a worry and blames stress, covid and the rising cost of living. 120 campaign groups are calling for a worldwide ban on facial recognition software. they say the technology beaches civil liberties and threatens to turn populations into walking id cards. it is used by police to detect people suspected of about two commit crimes and can scan video recordings to help identify suspects. you are life with bbc news. the uk home secretary — suella braverman — will today call for major changes to international rules on refugees, arguing “simply being gay or a woman“ should not be enough to qualify for protection. in a speech to a right—wing think tank in washington, she is expected to say that the united nations refugee convention — drawn up after the second world war — is no longerfit for the modern age. i asked our chief political correspondent henry zeffman what sort of reaction her speech was likely to draw. the debate that suella braverman wants to have is an international debate, a debate about the un refugee convention. essentially the definition of who does or does not qualify as a refugee, which has been in place since 1951. now, obviously, 1951, that was written in the aftermath of the second world war. initially, it was about displaced people in europe, although now many countries all over the world are signed up to this convention. so there's that international debate that suella braverman and the government are clearly eager to start, but there's also, i think, going to be a ferocious domestic debate. because, of course, the issue of illegal immigration, of asylum seekers, of small boats crossing the channel is a big issue in the uk. you already have the labour party accusing her of grandstanding abroad because you can't fix what they call the chaos at home. and i think that's one direction this debate is going to move in. five people have appeared in a london court accused of spying for russia. all five are bulgarian nationals, two of them living together in london, one not pictured. they were charged with conspiracy to conduct espionage. 0ur correspondent was at westminster magistrates“ court. fine correspondent was at westminster magistrates' court. five defendants, all bulgarian — magistrates' court. five defendants, all bulgarian nationals, _ magistrates' court. five defendants, all bulgarian nationals, three - magistrates' court. five defendants, all bulgarian nationals, three men . all bulgarian nationals, three men and two women aged between 45 and 29, they appeared in court this morning for a brief hearing. they were charged last week with conspiracy to conduct espionage. we had some details about the case against the defendants today in court. it is alleged that they were operating as a spy cell on behalf of russia. so a russian spy cell. 0ne russia. so a russian spy cell. one of the defendants, who had a guesthouse in great yarmouth, is said to have run and managed the operations and that his home was the operating harm of the cell. this cell is alleged to have conducted operations in the uk and in europe and the operators are alleged to have included surveillance on people and places with the apparent aim of assisting russia to conduct potentially hostile action, including potential reductions. the court also heard that another man, someone who is not charged as part of this, is alleged to have been part of the conspiracy and is said to have provided tasking from abroad, being the link to russia. the defendants were remanded in custody, they didn't interpret thes, they are next due to appear in court at the old bailey in london on the 13th of october. a court in moscow is hearing an appeal by russian opposition figure alexei navalny against his 19—yearjail sentence. these are pictures from the courthouse in moscow. last month, his prison term was extended from 9 years, after he was found guilty of inciting and financing extremist activity and creating an extremist group — charges he denied. he was already serving a sentence for fraud and contempt of court, in a case that many see as politically motivated. bbc russian correspondent sergei goryashko told me more about what's expected in court. today the court will decide whether he can appeal his 19 yearjail sentence, and alexei navalny days ago has been placed for another time, 20th time in solitary confinement, he is being held in a solitary cell in this super max facility in russia. alexei navalny“s supporters don“t recognise the charges, they claim that all these cases about him conducting illegal political activities, but in this kennel case that has been not presented as financing and creating and running... flan presented as financing and creating and running---_ and running... can you kill us more about the conditions _ and running... can you kill us more about the conditions in _ and running... can you kill us more about the conditions in which - and running... can you kill us more| about the conditions in which alexei navalny has been held? his supporters have been talking about how he has been in solitary confinement for something like 20 times. , , ., , . confinement for something like 20 times. , , . " times. yes, his “ail sentence 19 ears, it times. yes, his 'ail sentence 19 years. it means— times. yes, his jail sentence 19 years, it means that _ times. yes, his jail sentence 19 years, it means that alexei - times. yes, his jail sentence 19 - years, it means that alexei navalny will be held in harsh conditions, several hours spent outside in the prison yard, most of the time the prisoners spend time on their cell. but alexei navalny has been placed multiple times, 20 times placed in this special unit of confinement for different things. ukraine is seeking to clarify whether a senior russian naval commander actually died in an attack last week. on monday ukraine had said the leader of russia's black sea fleet was killed by a missile strike on their headquarters in crimea. russia said the commander is in fact alive. the ukrainian military source said friday“s attack killed him and 33 other officers and was carried out using storm shadow missiles, supplied by britain and france. questions are now being asked over whether these claims can be verified. the commander appeared by video link in a meeting between russian officials just a day after ukraine claimed he was dead. russian defence ministry says the meeting took place today. he appears several times throughout the eight minute video but does not speak. that“s that's all from me for this half—hour, stay with us. it is time now for world business report. you can get me on social media. thank you for watching, goodbye. hello there. it's a little bit more unsettled today than what we had yesterday. we had some heavy even thundery rain around this morning. most of that is clearing northwards. that's going to leave an afternoon of sunny spells and scattered showers. so some eastern areas actually staying dry altogether. so there they are, a couple of weather fronts which have brought the rain through this morning, continuing to move their way northwards, taking its time to clear, i think from northern scotland. but for the rest of scotland, northern ireland, england and wales, it's an afternoon of sunny spells, blustery showers, most of the showers towards the west, many eastern areas staying dry, feeling quite pleasant as well. pretty decent temperatures for this time in september, up to 23 degrees in the south east, mid to high teens further north and west. the showers rattle on for a while this evening across northern areas, then they fade away. winds turn lighter. clear skies, it could turn quite chilly across some of the scottish glens, but the temperatures will start to rise across the south ahead of storm agnes which starts to throw up stronger winds and cloud from the southwest. so storm agnes then will be plaguing much of the west of the uk on wednesday with rain and gales, and the system looks like it's going to barrel across ireland. so i think here where we see the biggest of the impacts, heavy rain spilling northwards as we go through the day. but the winds could cause some concern around irish sea coasts. parts of the northern and western wales, northwest england, south west scotland could see gusts up to around 60 to 70, maybe 75 miles an hour. but less than that further inland. heavy rain also pushing northwards across many western areas, but actually much of northeast scotland, central and eastern england, escaping all the action and staying largely dry. some sunny spells, quite breezy, though. temperatures up to 22 degrees, closer to the mid—teens further north and west where we have the rain and gales. storm agnes continues to barrel northwards during wednesday night across scotland. could see some gales and heavy rain here. but then we're in between weather systems for thursday. so a quieter day, i think, we should see quite a bit of sunshine around, especially across eastern areas. cloud tending to build out west, though, as the next frontal system pushes into northern ireland, then into western scotland, other parts of western england and wales later in the day. temperatures a little bit lower, up to 20 degrees in the southeast, mid to high teens further north. and it's quite a mixed picture as we head through friday and the weekend. low pressure always fairly close by. looks like most of the rain will be in the north and the west, southern and eastern areas tending to hold on to the dry weather. see you later. sir ed davey is expected to accuse the government of breaking promises on the nhs when he delivers his closing speech at his party conference in bournemouth shortly. it will be his last before a general election, as well. we will have coverage of the speech which is expected to begin in around ten minutes. this is the scene in bournemouth as party delegates wait for ed davey to begin his speech. this was him arriving and it will be the first time he has addressed the main annual conference, previously having been prevented by the covid and also the having been prevented by the covid and also the death having been prevented by the covid and also the death of having been prevented by the covid and also the death of the having been prevented by the covid and also the death of the queen. like to our political correspondent. as well as questioning the credentials of the tories regarding the nhs, what else can we expect to hear?