in 2013, yet the operation was enacted. within a year the problem was eliminated. denmark, between 2015 and 2016, announced a range of measures intended to make their asylum system significantly less asylu m system sig nifica ntly less attractive asylum system significantly less attractive as a destination for illegal migration bill stack the result was a reduction in claims from 21,02015 result was a reduction in claims from 21,020 15 to 602016, and 1500 in 2020. for every one asylum seeker that arrived in denmark in 2021, three arrived in sweden on a per capita basis. unilateraland capita basis. unilateral and bilateral solutions capita basis. unilateraland bilateral solutions and policies of deterrence can and do work. this is the route in the uk has chosen to go down. in 2022 some 12,000 albanians entered the uk illegally via small boats. in response we strengthen how we work with albania, including improved data sharing, close to operational working, new expedited returns arrangements and financial support. these measures have seen the number of albanians small boat arrivals ball by 90% so far doing 2023. we also work closely with france, last year the prime minister signed a historic bilateral agreement to deepen our cooperation in combating illegal migration bill. that included significant investment to increase front line staffing and policing levels in northern france, better real—time intelligence and data sharing, supported by embedded uk officers, and improved data intelligence corporation to increase disruptions, arrests and prosecutions. this sort of cooperation is necessary but not sufficient in terms of results. overall crossings are down more than 20% so far this year, compared with 2022. the system that we are working to deliver through our legal migration act is one that within the limitations of the broader rights —based framework says that the only route into asylum in the uk must be a safe and legal route. anyone who enters the uk illegally will be deemed inadmissible to our asylum system, and following assessment will be detained and swiftly removed to their home country if that is safe, or to a safe third country of not. in 2021 we signed our ground—breaking migration and economic development partnership with rwanda. i did this agreement one that will accept physical and legal response ability for illegal migrants, relocated from the uk. and look after all their needs while they —— claims are considered. we always knew that our partnership would be challenged in court. we remain confident that that the uk supreme court will uphold in the legality of the scheme later this year. enabling us to start putting it into operation. while our political opponents, ngos and others dismissed the partnership, as any moral gimmick when first announced, it is striking how many countries run by governments of varying political hues have now expressed in public and in private conversations support for this model. many are now pursuing variations of their own. the uk will continue to prioritise policies of deterrence and border hardening alongside the maintenance of safe and legal roots. at the same time we will look to build consensus for more fundamental reform of the asylum framework at the international level. the goal for reform must be to embed principles in the global asylum framework. the tearing illegal migration bill be an aim. countries must have a say in what volume of refugees they are capable of resettling each year. support and protection shooed to the fullest extent possible and be rendered in neighbouring safe countries where it is most efficient to deliver and able to reach those that need it most. the only route to resettlement should be by a safe and legal roots. people must be claiming asylum in the first safe country they reach, the definition of who qualifies for protection must be tightened and policies of externalisation such as partnership with rwanda must be recognised as appropriate. i don't accept the full choice between acting unilaterally or even bilaterally to protect one's border and solving this problem through multilateral cooperation. international cooperation is essential if we are to find in doing solutions to the challenges of global migration and deliver an asylum framework fit for the modern age. but nations cannot simply sit on their hands while a reform process plays out. it is right that they act in their national interest. i have in recent weeks been meeting with fellow interior ministers in europe, i will continue doing so in the coming months and hope to bring together partners to a forum where we can begin discussing some of the matters i have touched on today. is the refugee convention in need of reform? would a revised global asylum framework work, and how would it look? how can we better balance national rights and human rights so that the latter do not undermine national sovereignty? could the echr be more transparent and accountable and how it interprets human rights? and give greater power to nation states to make arguments and present evidence? what are the appropriate criteria for being labelled a refugee the days in the 21st—century? how can we stop human rights laws being gamed by smugglers? are we delivering safe and legal roots in an efficient and effective manner? and while we may have different views as to the solutions, i hope we can at least agree on one thing. that we are living in a new world bound by outdated legal models. it is time that we acknowledge that. thank you. applause thank you those remarks and for being _ thank you those remarks and for being here — thank you those remarks and for being here to make them. you raised a being hereto make them. you raised a number_ being here to make them. you raised a numberof— being here to make them. you raised a number of important and complicated questions, and i think may be _ complicated questions, and i think may be at— complicated questions, and i think may be at the one that is likely to be most _ may be at the one that is likely to be most provocative is the question of the _ be most provocative is the question of the future of the un convention on refugees. you say it needs to be modernised, are you saying that if that doesn't happen, the uk may consider— that doesn't happen, the uk may consider withdrawing from that convention? my consider withdrawing from that convention?— consider withdrawing from that convention? g , ., convention? my personal views on the echr have been _ convention? my personal views on the echr have been chronicled _ convention? my personal views on the echr have been chronicled and - convention? my personal views on the echr have been chronicled and a - convention? my personal views on the echr have been chronicled and a very| echr have been chronicled and a very clear part what i think is a legitimate question for all of us to be asking in the uk is whether it is operation and its interpretation by the court is compatible with our pressing need to control our borders and national sovereignty. we have engineered and struck a ground—breaking deal with rwanda, we believe that to be in compliance with our international obligations and compatible with international law frameworks. we havejust and compatible with international law frameworks. we have just past the new legislation in the form of the new legislation in the form of the illegal migration bill, we consider that to be compliant. we are wanting to work within those frameworks and we are confident that we can achieve that but i do think legitimate questions need to be asked about the somewhat ill fitting nature of how these outdated international models are sitting with the global migration crisis of the 21st—century. h0??? with the global migration crisis of the 21st-century._ with the global migration crisis of the 21st-century. how do you think about how those _ the 21st-century. how do you think about how those models _ the 21st-century. how do you think about how those models have - the 21st-century. how do you think i about how those models have become outdated? _ about how those models have become outdated? the words on the page of the un _ outdated? the words on the page of the un convention have not changed dramatically since the one protocol in the _ dramatically since the one protocol in the late — dramatically since the one protocol in the late 1960s, and yet as you say, _ in the late 1960s, and yet as you say, the — in the late 1960s, and yet as you say, the particle forms they have taken _ say, the particle forms they have taken and — say, the particle forms they have taken and the actual practice of dealing — taken and the actual practice of dealing with refugees all around the west and _ dealing with refugees all around the west and the world have changed dramatically, how has that happened and how— dramatically, how has that happened and how would changing the words on the page _ and how would changing the words on the page address that problem? | the page address that problem? i think the page address that problem? think a lot the page address that problem? i think a lot of the challenges we face are because of the jurisprudence, interpretation by courts. add a more forward leaning an expansive approach taken by judiciaries around the world. so whether it is in the context of the echr, we can see article three, the prohibition against torture, or article eight, the right to family and private life, being stretched beyond all recognition to what the original intent of that convention was. in the context of the refugee convention, whether it is the definition of refugees as i set out in my speech, whether it is the definition of reform on travel. those are big been subject to unforeseen and expansive interpretations by courts, added thatjurisprudence and case law has then imposed greater burdens, unsustainable burdens on governments around the world. if we unsustainable burdens on governments around the world.— around the world. if we can untangle to elements — around the world. if we can untangle to elements of _ around the world. if we can untangle to elements of the _ around the world. if we can untangle to elements of the way _ around the world. if we can untangle to elements of the way that - around the world. if we can untangle to elements of the way that you - to elements of the way that you describe — to elements of the way that you describe this in your remarks, the question— describe this in your remarks, the question of— describe this in your remarks, the question of national sovereignty on the one _ question of national sovereignty on the one hand and in the actual specific— the one hand and in the actual specific content and substance of the treaty — specific content and substance of the treaty commitments. you may know the treaty commitments. you may know the us— the treaty commitments. you may know the us is_ the treaty commitments. you may know the us is not— the treaty commitments. you may know the us is not an original signatory of the _ the us is not an original signatory of the un — the us is not an original signatory of the un convention on refugees, the truman — of the un convention on refugees, the truman administration decided that it _ the truman administration decided that it was — the truman administration decided that it was too much of a violation of american — that it was too much of a violation of american sovereignty and in the us stayed — of american sovereignty and in the us stayed out of the gd for 17 years — us stayed out of the gd for 17 years. untilthe us stayed out of the gd for 17 years. until the late 1960s. the objection— years. until the late 1960s. the objection was a matter of sovereignty, they argued that the treaty— sovereignty, they argued that the treaty would take immigration policy out of— treaty would take immigration policy out of the _ treaty would take immigration policy out of the hands of the us government. the admin you are making seems _ government. the admin you are making seems to— government. the admin you are making seems to be _ government. the admin you are making seems to be more that the specific substance — seems to be more that the specific substance of the multilateral commitment is the problem, you do seem _ commitment is the problem, you do seem to _ commitment is the problem, you do seem to think there can be a multilateral way to deal with refugee issues, that there is a way for nations— refugee issues, that there is a way for nations to agree on rules without— for nations to agree on rules without losing control of their immigration policy, is that right? multilateralism is the way to ultimately frame refugee policy? | ultimately frame refugee policy? i don't think these arm usually exclusive choices. there needs to be an international level approach which is consistent and has an equitable approach in instilled throughout it, that is why i am calling for a renewed global conversation about the substance of some of these international conventions. and i believe that the nation state at its very concept and existence is dependent nationally elected governments which are held to account by the electorate, to take their own decisions unilaterally or bilaterally, in the way that we have done in the uk with our partnership with rwanda, or defining and rolling out particular and bespoke domestic legislation. what is the right definition of refugee? you put your finger on the problem _ refugee? you put your finger on the problem that there really are people who are _ problem that there really are people who are in _ problem that there really are people who are in danger, in a position that— who are in danger, in a position that is— who are in danger, in a position that is like _ who are in danger, in a position that is like the one these tds were intended _ that is like the one these tds were intended to address, there are also people _ intended to address, there are also people who are now covered by those definitions _ people who are now covered by those definitions that are not in that position. _ definitions that are not in that position, if it were up to you or if the process— position, if it were up to you or if the process you are calling for when to start, _ the process you are calling for when to start, what definition of refugee would _ to start, what definition of refugee would you — to start, what definition of refugee would you think would work in the 21st—century? sis would you think would work in the fist-century?— would you think would work in the 21st-century? as i pointed out, the definition has _ 21st-century? as i pointed out, the definition has expanded _ 21st-century? as i pointed out, the definition has expanded beyond - 21st-century? as i pointed out, the i definition has expanded beyond what is a reasonable and sustainable approach. what we are saying in the uk at least, in the eu, economic migrants are falling under the umbrella of refugees. whether through illegitimate claims being made to mask the fact that they economic migrants or otherwise. and we have seen in our case law at what has been played out in the courts a disproportionate allowance being made for economic migrants under the guise of asylum law. that line has been blurred. people are leaving a safe country like france, coming to the uk and claiming asylum on a face level interpretation of the text, that should not be allowed. but jurisprudence caselaw, practice, convention has built up over time to render that not the case. that is one very simple example of where... the existing definition... yes, we do need to... taste the existing definition. .. yes, we do need ton-— the existing definition. .. yes, we do need tom— the existing definition... yes, we do need to... we are going to come awa , do need to... we are going to come away. having _ do need to... we are going to come away, having listened _ do need to... we are going to come away, having listened to _ do need to... we are going to come away, having listened to suella - away, having listened to suella braverman saying in that speech in washington, arguing that a failure to control migration poses an existential challenge to the west. she described it as a permanent and structural challenge for developed nations, saying unless we act, it will only worsen in the years to come and finishing by aiming her thoughts at the refugee convention and talking about the need for reform leaving hanging what would happen if he was no reform. some very clear views outlined by suella braverman, the uk home secretary, made in washington, taking in her issues in europe, issues in america, but spending a lot of time about the challenge of stopping small boats crossing the english channel are political correspondence was listening to all of that.- listening to all of that. your analysis — listening to all of that. your analysis. very _ listening to all of that. your analysis. very speech, - listening to all of that. your analysis. very speech, very| listening to all of that. your - analysis. very speech, very clear, calling for reform of a convention that dates back to the end of the second world war and was in place since 1951. she argues it is no longerfit for purpose since 1951. she argues it is no longer fit for purpose and part of her argument is that the weight is being interpreted by courts over that time. so that is a convention initially designed to protect people fleeing from persecution after the war, it has now been interpreted as merely to protect people who are facing discrimination. so in one of the more controversial passages in his speech, she talked about in effect simply being gay are a woman and fearful of discrimination in your country of origin is sufficient to qualify for protection, she says that you'd not happen. she also set out in some detail economic and practical arguments against immigration and in terms of a uk audience she said that multiculturalism had failed and that people had been coming to the uk and simply living parallel lives, as she put it. in simply living parallel lives, as she ut it. , ., put it. in terms of the evidence-based - put it. in terms of the evidence-based for i put it. in terms of the - evidence-based for some of put it. in terms of the _ evidence-based for some of those evidence—based for some of those claims, at one stage she talked about 900 million people would like to leave their country, she talked about the numbers likely to come to europe likely to surge in the coming years, what was the evidence to base all that on? the years, what was the evidence to base all that on? ' :: :: years, what was the evidence to base all that on? ' i: :: ., all that on? the 900 million figure comes from _ all that on? the 900 million figure comes from a _ all that on? the 900 million figure comes from a catfight _ all that on? the 900 million figure comes from a catfight gallop - all that on? the 900 million figure i comes from a catfight gallop opinion poll, a global one, she has extrapolated figures from that. she also said that when the convention came in 1951 it was designed to protect about 2 million people, research by a think tank linked to the conservative party in the uk has suggested that a definition as applied now could lead to 780 million people having a notional right to move to another country. that is strongly disputed, the un puts the figure of registered refugees at around 35 million globally. refugees at around 35 million aloball . ,, ., ., globally. she talks about the refu . ee globally. she talks about the refugee convention, - globally. she talks about the refugee convention, the - globally. she talks about the | refugee convention, the need globally. she talks about the - refugee convention, the need to reform it, she talked about the reasons it didn't happen, fear of being branded racist or liberal. terms of the chances of being reform, chances are that and if that doesn't happen, she left hanging what her position was if she failed to get reborn. what her position was if she failed to get reborn-— to get reborn. talking about a convention — to get reborn. talking about a convention that _ to get reborn. talking about a convention that has _ to get reborn. talking about a convention that has around i to get reborn. talking about a | convention that has around 150 countries signed up to it, so getting reform is difficult. it is governed by the un's commission on refugees and the government has already been at odds with that policy of trying to deport people who come to the uk illegally to rwanda. she was asked in the first question after that speech, did that mean that if she doesn't get reform, the uk would walk away from the un convention? she sidestepped that antivert to talk about the european convention on human rights, and other position entirely. in washington, terms of your analysis of why the backdrop to all of that, and in the political reaction from opposition in the uk to what she has been saying. she opposition in the uk to what she has been saying-— been saying. she has made it to think tank, _ been saying. she has made it to think tank, so _ been saying. she has made it to think tank, so she _ been saying. she has made it to think tank, so she made - been saying. she has made it to think tank, so she made it - been saying. she has made it to think tank, so she made it to i been saying. she has made it to think tank, so she made it to an audience of supporters, she is also been holding other meetings in the us while she had there. political reaction at home, conservative allies like what she had to say, that might prove significant if there was to be leadership election in the neck year or so. as for her opponents, laboursay she in the neck year or so. as for her opponents, labour say she is grandstanding abroad to disguise the fact that our policies at home are not working. —— her policies. irate not working. -- her policies. we will have not working. —— her policies. we will have continued analysis and reaction to what we have heard. let's leave that story for now. across the world and here in the uk, you're watching bbc news. a hospital trust has blamed computer error for 24,000 letters not being sent to patients and their gps. newcastle hospitals has apologised for the problem, which dates back to 2018. many of the letters explained what should happen when patients were discharged. but a significant number were written by specialist clinics, spelling out required care. new research suggests workers in the uk are taking more sick days than at any point in the past decade. staff took on average 7.8 sick days in the past year, up from 5.8 before the pandemic. the chartered institute for personnel and development said the rise was a "worry", and blamed stress, covid and the rising cost of living. water companies have been ordered to pay back £114 million to customers after missing key targets. it will be repaid through reductions in bills. the regulator, ofwat, says firms across england and wales are "falling short" on performance measures around leakages, supply and reducing pollution. you're live with bbc news. the number of ethnic armenians leaving the disputed territory of nagorno karabakh has grown to about 19,000. that's about 15% of the population. adding to the scenes of desperation, at least 20 people died in an explosion at a fuel depot. armenian separatist officials say almost 300 people are in hospital. dozens are in critical condition. the international committee of the red cross says there are hundreds of burns victims and it is looking to help with medical evacuations. the cause of the blast is not known. the roads out of nagorno—karabakh to the border are jammed, with people trying to get out as fast as they can. they fear persecution and ethnic cleansing. here's one refugee describing their experience of leaving. translation: it was horrible, children were starving - and they were crying. the child had a fever so we gave her some medication. we ran away to survive, that is all. envoys from both armenia and azerbaijan have held eu—backed talks in brussels. it's the first meeting between the countries since azerbaijan seized the enclave. armenia reportedly described the talks as "quite constructive", while azerbaijan said they would help with the "normalisation process". 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. live now to bbc russian's nataliya zotova. what are you seeing on the ground? take me through it. i am standing riaht now take me through it. i am standing right now on _ take me through it. i am standing right now on the _ take me through it. i am standing right now on the main _ take me through it. i am standing right now on the main square, - take me through it. i am standingl right now on the main square, akio we are supposed to see a big protest against the prime minister, but yesterday the opposition cancelled the protest. they said in his because so many refugees are coming to the country that it is better for everyone to just focus on helping them. we actually see some effort from just ordinary people to help the refugees. on one of the mainstays, —— main streets, we saw volunteers setting up a collecting point for refugees, and people are bringing them money, clothes, food like pasta or cookies, and all those boxes everyday go to, closer to the border where the refugees keep coming from nagorno—karabakh. in terms of the flow of people, what are the latest numbers? when you see the pictures, it goes back four kilometre after kilometre, rows of cars, people trying to get out as quickly as they can. that cars, people trying to get out as quickly as they can.— quickly as they can. that is to start the armenian _ quickly as they can. that is to i start the armenian government, the latest numbers are 13,000 people but we know for sure that this figure will get much bigger. just this morning we work in another town, a border town, closest to the border, a small town. it is not supposed to have traffic jams. a small town. it is not supposed to have trafficjams. there we were. many cars were overloaded with belongings just hanging from roofs. so those were the cars of the people who just came, so those were the cars of the people whojust came, hejust so those were the cars of the people who just came, he just left nagorno—karabakh, they packed nagorno—kara bakh, they packed everything nagorno—karabakh, they packed everything they could because they think they are leaving for good, forever. so we will have, we will see more and more people coming, and many of them say to me that, we don't feel safe under azerbaijan, so, yes, probably when people don't feel safe, theyjust pack and go. so there will be much more people. in terms of what the aid agencies are saying to you, what? we terms of what the aid agencies are saying to you, what?— terms of what the aid agencies are saying to you, what? we spoke to a doctor that — saying to you, what? we spoke to a doctor that is _ saying to you, what? we spoke to a doctor that is helping _ saying to you, what? we spoke to a doctor that is helping refugees i doctor that is helping refugees there, she says there are malnourished people and some have been without medication for months, and children are emaciated, when they see cookies are suites that are given to them, they didn't have any. we are out of time, thank you. back with more of the day's headlines here on bbc news injust a moment, don't go away. hello there. overnight it will turn drier for many with lengthy clear skies, like a win, particularly because the northern half of the country, making it ten chilly across the scottish glens. all chain to the south, this system deepening approaching ireland. storm agnes, throwing up cloud in toward southern and western areas as we move through the night, the wind picking up. temperatures rising, the luton mid—teens, but a chillier night to come. storm agnes bringing some impact to western parts of the country on wednesday, rain and gates, could see severe gales around some of the irish seacoast. weakening as it continues moving northwards, by far the biggest impact will be across central and southern parts of ireland. around irish seacoast, 60-70 ireland. around irish seacoast, 60—70 mph, also in south—west scotland, favoured spots for some of the strongest gusts. heavy rain spinning northwards with the strong winds as we move through the morning into the afternoon, pushing into scotland but much of central and eastern and south—east england will avoid all the action, staying lousy drive. breezy but some sunshine, temperature 21 celsius, further north and west mid—teens with the gates and rain. strong wind, gales gates and rain. strong wind, gates and rain putting northwards across scotland, storm agnes exits the uk in towards the norwegian sea by the end of the night. mild night, temperatures in double figures for most. thursday, in between weather systems, more can a up on us as we head into friday and on the weekend, affecting northern and western areas. not too bad, wind a feature but not strong. some good spells of sunshine around but cloud building through the day and will see another frontal system pushing into the west, bringing rain to northern ireland, scotland, perhaps western england and wales by the eight of the day. cool across—the—board, 20 celsius in the south—east, mid—teens further north and west. further frontal systems moving at the northern and western parts, better chance of staying dry this weekend in the south. this is bbc news. the headlines... speaking in the past half hour, uk home secretary suella braverman says failing to tackle what she calls "illegal migration" poses an "existential challenge" to the west. illegal migration is not merely an event driven or cyclical problem, it is a permanent and structural challenge for the developed nations in general and the west in particular. the exodus ramps up. over 19,000 ethnic armenians leave the disputed region of nagorno—karabakh. and sea ice in antarctica shrinks to its lowest levels since records began. more on those stories. time for a look at the business news now with samantha simmonds. we begin in the us and the strike action