hello. a warm welcome. the fate of ethnic armenians in disputed nagorno—karabakh is hanging in the balance, as their leaders say most will likely leave their historic homeland now controlled by azerbaijan. the region is internationally recognised as part of azerbaijan, but large parts of it have been controlled by ethnic armenians for three decades. tens of thousands of armenians have sought refuge in the main city, stepanakert, many of them gathering at the airport. some aid has reached the enclave, but food, medicine and fuel are all in short supply. in new york, azerbaijan's foreign minister told the un general assembly that baku was determined to reintegrate karabakh armenians as equal citizens. but his armenian counterpart demanded the un establish a mission in the region to prevent further killings of ethnic armenians. the bbc�*s olga ivshina is one of the first journalists to have reached the region since this week's hostilities began. she sent us this report. this is the first time journalists have been allowed into karabakh since the start of recent hostilities. we are currently in a key point in the area. it sits on the mountain which overlooks several —— several strategic roads and dance. the conflict has taken tens of thousands of lives. so the question everyone is asking now, will the latest ceasefire hold? the azerbaijan military has called told us they are currently in control of a city down there which karabakh armenians called stepanakert and consider their capital. it is very important. however, we have no details, no evidence, and this is as close as we are allowed to go. the biggest question now is what happens to karabakh armenians who have lived here for several decades? an official has told me they will only target... i official has told me they will only tar: et. .. . official has told me they will only taruet... . ~' . , target... i am kind -- currently conducting _ target... i am kind -- currently conducting my _ target... i am kind -- currently conducting my clinic. _ target... i am kind -- currently conducting my clinic. we - target... i am kind -- currently conducting my clinic. we have. target... i am kind -- currently . conducting my clinic. we have also established temporary camps. in these camps we can provide food, water, electricity and also heating up water, electricity and also heating up to 1000 people in each camp. however, there is a lot of mistrust on both sides. the destiny of these people is now de facto. earlier, the bbc spoke with jason straziuso, spokesperson for the international committee of the red cross. he brought us up to speed on the humanitarian work they are doing in the area. the last couple of days we have sent in several convoys, 70 tonnes of wheat flour, but also used under some sunflower oil. 0bviously those supplies can be used to make bread, other bakery items. that is an indication of how dire the situation is. not enough food, not enough medical supplies. the convoy we sent in today did drop off some medical supplies. and also dropped off body bags, not so pleasant to think about what an important aspect of this is the dignified management of the dead. it is a well humanitarian effort from our team for the past couple of days. 0ver effort from our team for the past couple of days. over the past 72 hours there has been an increase in humanitarian access. i think the sides understand that we are a neutral organisation. we do not take sides. this helps facilitate the activity, the work we carry out. we have close contact with both sides. we wouldn't be able to move through without permission and we don't seek to move through without permission. so those open channels of communication are in place all the time and allow us to carry out these trips. 0ne time and allow us to carry out these trips. one of our approaches is to work with other nations that might be allowed or partners with the governments involved here, and remind the governments involved that they do have a humanitarian duty, that medical supplies must be allowed through, that food must be allowed through, that food must be allowed through, that food must be allowed through, and any body wounded or sick must be allowed to receive medical care. those kind of conversations do take place with other nations that might be involved in this region. a second ship with ukrainian wheat reached turkey, despite russia's withdrawal from the un—backed grain deal. the bulk carrier — laden with more than 17,000 tonnes of wheat — left the port city of chornomorsk in ukraine on friday, bound for egypt. this comes as it is testing a new sea route, avoiding international waters, and using those controlled by nato members bulgaria and romania. a first ship — with 3,000 tonnes of wheat — has safely arrived to istanbul last week. dr hanna shelest is from the transatlantic defenve and security programme at the centre for european policy analysis. earlier, she told me that the recent shipment could be a signal that ukrainian grain exports may be possible without russia's cooperation. we know that in addition to the shoe —— two ships, there are three other ships currently coming. we are expecting them today or tomorrow. but at the same time, that is a clear demonstration, how do i say? that is the exception to the rule. nobody is guaranteed security on the ship. and even that most of the route is happening not in neutral waters, but in the native member states, bulgaria and romania. but for several hours ships are coming into ukrainian territorial waters. they need to be stationed at ukrainian ports. that is part of the decision by clear demonstration that russia cannot control the black sea and cannot... fire russia cannot control the black sea and cannot - -_ and cannot... are we likely to see more ships _ and cannot... are we likely to see more ships on _ and cannot... are we likely to see more ships on this _ and cannot... are we likely to see more ships on this route - and cannot... are we likely to see more ships on this route carryingl more ships on this route carrying more ships on this route carrying more grain? i more ships on this route carrying more grain?— more ships on this route carrying more grain? i assume that we will see not only _ more grain? i assume that we will see not only growing, _ more grain? i assume that we will see not only growing, but - more grain? i assume that we will see not only growing, but maybe. more grain? i assume that we will. see not only growing, but maybe even other goods. if you remember the first two ships before the grain ship, they were stocked with metallurgical material. that was february 22 —— 2022. for more than a year there have been waiting for permission to leave the port. however, others already past to the east and it was secured. more would be willing to use this route. we also need to accompany it with the additional security guaranteed for this trip, probably with the defence of the nato countries or with controls of the ships over there, to guarantee the russian federation will not be provoking the commercial fleet for the freedom of medication. and just briefly, this all comes as ukraine is targeting the home of russia's black sea fleet. what are your thoughts on how that fits into the picture? the your thoughts on how that fits into the picture?— your thoughts on how that fits into the picture? the russian black sea fleet is stationed _ the picture? the russian black sea fleet is stationed in _ the picture? the russian black sea fleet is stationed in the _ the picture? the russian black sea fleet is stationed in the occupied l fleet is stationed in the occupied region. it is the duty of the russian navy. the key story... definitely there is one —— there are myths about the city. 0ne definitely there is one —— there are myths about the city. one of the myths about the city. one of the myths is that crimea is that —— not that much protective. and maybe that —— not that much defended as before. for years it was the second most protected city in the russian federation after moscow. the reality is that it is not. that will allow ukraine to push russian soldiers out from the black sea coast from those operations they have been conducting against ukrainian sure. russian foreign minister sergey lavrov says the united states and kyiv�*s other allies are directly at war with moscow. speaking at the un general assembly on saturday, lavrov also blamed the collapse of the black sea grain deal on ukraine. he further criticized kyiv�*s peace plan as, not feasible or realistic. translation: the collective west has a callin: translation: the collective west has a calling card — translation: the collective west has a calling card and _ translation: the collective west has a calling card and it _ translation: the collective west has a calling card and it has _ translation: the collective west has a calling card and it has long _ translation: the collective west has a calling card and it has long been - a calling card and it has long been to reject the principle of equality and their total inability to reach agreement. being used to looking down at the rest of the world, americans and europeans make also to and they take on commitments, written once and legally binding ones. and then theyjust don't fulfil them. as president putin pointed out, the west is one that is truly an empire of lies. russia, like many countries, knows about this first hand. defence secretary grant shapps said it would be irresponsible to carry on pumping money into hs2 if costs had spiralled, and there was a perfectly legitimate question about the sequencing of the high—speed rail line. mr shapps, the former transport secretary, told bbc�*s sunday with laura kuenssberg programme that costs had increased significantly, citing inflation as having been part of that. he stressed that hs2 was not the "be all and end all" for northern transport projects. with more on this, i'm joined from the newsroom by our political correspondent, jessica parker. hs2 is this enormous rail project. they already scrapped a bit of the leg of the line that was going to run up to leeds in the north of england in yorkshire. now there is also lots of speculation building that the government is going to potentially axe part of the project that would run up to manchester, another city in the uk. this has led to business leaders, some politicians, calling on the government not to axe the project. they say it is vital to the uk economy. the government been tight—lipped about exactly what they are going to do. downing street has repeatedly refused to explicitly say what it is going to do on this front, but we understand a meeting and decision may come this week. it was something that was put to the defence secretary, a senior minister in the garment, grant shapps. the first thing to say is i am reading _ the first thing to say is i am reading a _ the first thing to say is i am reading a lot of this in the newspapers, but there have been no announcements, otherthan newspapers, but there have been no announcements, other than the change on net-zero, _ announcements, other than the change on net—zero, which doesn't change the outcome, which is 2050, still. but on _ the outcome, which is 2050, still. but on hsz, — the outcome, which is 2050, still. but on hsz, we do have to respond to the budgets, in particular. we have been _ the budgets, in particular. we have been hit _ the budgets, in particular. we have been hit notjust by coronavirus but the war— been hit notjust by coronavirus but the war in— been hit notjust by coronavirus but the war in ukraine. any responsible garment— the war in ukraine. any responsible garment looks at that and says, does this still— garment looks at that and says, does this still stuck up for what the country— this still stuck up for what the country requires in terms of where it is spending its resources, and the sequencing of it? it it is spending its resources, and the sequencing of it?— the sequencing of it? it doesn't sound good _ the sequencing of it? it doesn't sound good then. _ clearly the mood music does not seem particularly upbeat in terms of whether this major infra structure project will go ahead. labour, the main opposition party in the uk, have been accused of sending some mixed messages about exactly what they would do in government. labour has been leading the conservatives in the polls ahead of a likely general election in the united kingdom next year. here is what chief secretary to the treasury, shadow chief secretary to the treasury, darrenjones said. we shadow chief secretary to the treasury, darren jones said. we are su ortive treasury, darren jones said. we are snoportive of _ treasury, darren jones said. we are snoportive of hs2 — treasury, darren jones said. we are supportive of h52 being _ treasury, darren jones said. we are supportive of h52 being built, - treasury, darren jones said. we are supportive of h52 being built, but. supportive of h52 being built, but we are _ supportive of h52 being built, but we are responding _ supportive of h52 being built, but we are responding to— supportive of h52 being built, but we are responding to rumours- supportive of h52 being built, but| we are responding to rumours and leaks _ we are responding to rumours and leaks and — we are responding to rumours and leaks. and look, _ we are responding to rumours and leaks. and look, victoria, - we are responding to rumours and leaks. and look, victoria, this- we are responding to rumours and leaks. and look, victoria, this is. we are responding to rumours and leaks. and look, victoria, this is aj leaks. and look, victoria, this is a really— leaks. and look, victoria, this is a really important _ leaks. and look, victoria, this is a really important in _ leaks. and look, victoria, this is a really important in structure - really important in structure project _ really important in structure project what— really important in structure project what i_ really important in structure project. what i say- really important in structure project. what i say on- really important in structure project. what i say on your. really important in structure - project. what i say on your show matters — project. what i say on your show matters because _ project. what i say on your show matters because we, _ project. what i say on your show matters because we, the - project. what i say on your show matters because we, the labour| matters because we, the labour party. _ matters because we, the labour party. hone _ matters because we, the labour party. hone to _ matters because we, the labour party. hone to he _ matters because we, the labour party, hope to be in _ matters because we, the labour| party, hope to be in government matters because we, the labour- party, hope to be in government next year _ party, hope to be in government next year we _ party, hope to be in government next year we are — party, hope to be in government next year. we are not _ party, hope to be in government next year. we are not going _ party, hope to be in government next year. we are not going to _ party, hope to be in government next year. we are not going to make - year. we are not going to make decisions — year. we are not going to make decisions on _ year. we are not going to make decisions on national— year. we are not going to make decisions on national info - year. we are not going to make . decisions on national info structure project _ decisions on national info structure project that — decisions on national info structure project that involves _ decisions on national info structure project that involves tens - decisions on national info structure project that involves tens of- project that involves tens of billions _ project that involves tens of billions of— project that involves tens of billions of pounds _ project that involves tens of billions of pounds without . project that involves tens ofl billions of pounds without all project that involves tens of. billions of pounds without all of the information being available. i mentioned _ information being available. i mentioned a _ information being available. i mentioned a general- information being available. i i mentioned a general election likely next year and i think that is how we have to see things, or the important context at least, as we head into party conference season. all the main parties are having their autumn conferences. this weekend it is the turn of the liberal democrats, who are hoping to revive their fortunes. they have seen some recent successes in a by—election —— by—elections, but they have been flatlining in the opinion polls. ed davey, the leader of the lib dems, was on the bbc this morning. he was presented with some research that suggested lots of people don't know what the party stood for. he said they are making the case, they are making lots of campaigns and policies on things like housing and the cost of living. it's about helping people with the cost of— it's about helping people with the cost of living. they're in real struggling with mortgages and rents. they need _ struggling with mortgages and rents. they need help. it is on the environment where we, for example, led the _ environment where we, for example, led the campaign against the awful sewage _ led the campaign against the awful sewage dumping. so we are getting over our— sewage dumping. so we are getting over our ideas. is there work to do? you are _ over our ideas. is there work to do? you are absolutely right. you over our ideas. is there work to do? you are absolutely right.— you are absolutely right. you have been leader— you are absolutely right. you have been leader for _ you are absolutely right. you have been leader for three _ you are absolutely right. you have been leader for three years. - you are absolutely right. you have been leader for three years. they l been leader for three years. they have no clue about you! we been leader for three years. they have no clue about you!— been leader for three years. they have no clue about you! we have been winnin: have no clue about you! we have been winning by-elections. _ have no clue about you! we have been winning by-elections. we _ have no clue about you! we have been winning by-elections. we have - have no clue about you! we have been winning by-elections. we have had - winning by—elections. we have had success _ winning by—elections. we have had success. where people have had raac heard _ success. where people have had raac heard or _ success. where people have had raac heard or message, people have been switching _ heard or message, people have been switching to us. quite an interesting tension in the liberal democrat party at the moment is their stance on brexit. four years ago as we headed into the general election they were very much the stop brexit party. they didn't manage to stop rags. the united kingdom did indeed leave the european union. at the moment what sir ed davey, the lib dem leader, is saying, is rejoin for the time being is off the table, although the lib dems still want the uk to be at the heart of europe. he wants to rebuild that relationship. there are people within his party who want to see the lib dems being bolder in terms of their stance towards the eu had been clearer about their long—term intention to try to get the uk back into the black. thank you for bringing us up—to—date. —— into the block. a prominent uyghur academic has been reportedly jailed for life by china for endangering state security. 57—year—old professor rahile dawut is an expert on uyghur folklore and traditions, and had been teaching at xinjiang university college of humanities before her arrest. she lost her appeal last month. china denies allegations of crimes against humanity towards the uyghur population located in north west china. a short time ago, we spoke to rushan abbas of the founder and executive director of the campaign for uyghurs organisation. she is an activist who's group was nominated for the nobel peace prize last year. she is an intellectually recognised intellectual and an expert in uyghur traditional culture and folklore, and she has written many publications, and also given lectures worldwide on different platforms and stages. and she is highly respected among the diaspora community for being one of the prominent scholars in uyghur academia. extremely upset, because she is sentenced to life in a secret trial by so—called charges and endangering the government national security, or whatever the terms they use, tojustify security, or whatever the terms they use, to justify its crackdown on the uyghurs. the chinese communist party regards any academic study of our culture as a threat. it's demonstrated by this imposition of a life sentence. her only crime is being a uyghurand being life sentence. her only crime is being a uyghur and being a life sentence. her only crime is being a uyghurand being a uyghur anthropologist. her story intensively illustrates beijing's ruthless elimination of the uyghur culture, so this modern genocide represents hundreds of thousands of uyghur scholars, writers, professors, university presidents and doctors and philanthropist. in 2018, just six days after my first public speech at the washington think tank, my own sister was unjustly detained by the regime as a retaliation for my exercise of free speech as a us citizen. this month we just mark the fifth year anniversary of her detention. we don't know anything about her condition, we have not been given any proof of life. the chinese regime has maintained silence regarding her situation. their media outlet attacked me and accuse me of stealing other people's photo and claiming my missing sister and lying about her detention. and two years later, the chinese foreign ministry, in late 2020, confirmed her wrongful imprisonment, and that based on all the ridiculous fabricated charges, they sentenced hartley. my sister is a retired medical doctor and she has no political history. she isjust a mother and a grandmother who continues to suffer in prison today. later today, a capsule is expected to return from space and land in the american state of utah. the osiris—rex capsule contains rocks and dust from the surface of an asteroid called bennu, which scientists say could give important clues about how the earth was formed. the bbc science correspondent rebecca morelle is in utah where the capsule is expected to return to earth. after an epicjourney through the solar system, nasa's capsule, carrying a precious sample of an asteroid, is set for a perilous return to earth. it will speed through the atmosphere at more than 27,000 miles an hour, heating up to a scorching 3000 degrees, before parachutes open to bring it safely down to the ground. for the osiris—rex mission team, it's a nerve—racking wait. the problem we have with this capsule is there's no instrumentation. we release it from the spacecraft four hours before it intersects with the atmosphere. and we have some optical telescopes and things that can track and give us some confirmation that it released properly. but otherwise, we're just waiting until that atmospheric entry point. the capsule is heading for a vast wilderness, the dugway military base in utah. the landing date has been set since the mission launched seven years ago. so after travelling billions of miles through space, the capsule is going to land somewhere over here in the utah desert, come rain or shine. military meteorologists are monitoring the weather right up to the last moment. copy range control... tracking the winds is vital for the recovery team waiting for the capsule. confirming balloon. is away at this time. by launching weather balloonsi before the object comes down, we can get an idea of what the upper level winds are doing and how- that is going to steer the capsule. and the more accurate the data gets, i the more precisely they can predict. where it's going to land at. the team is well aware that things can go wrong. it looks like we have a no chute, sir. 20 years ago, in this same patch of desert, another sample return mission called genesis came to a catastrophic end after the capsule's parachutes fail to open. negative. copy. receive a visual. impact at 5855. we are very confident that we will not have a genesis type event with this recovery. when that happened, an investigation was done. we understand the error that occurred, which was some gravity switches were installed upside down, and there have been many double checks on the gravity switches on this capsule to make sure they're installed the correct side up. so we actually have no worries about it coming in and operating properly. all of this effort is to solve the mystery of what's asteroid bennu is made of. this is vital because bennu tops the list of nasa's most hazardous space rocks. so studying its makeup could help us to stop it, if we ever need to. but it could also reveal more about our origins. it's a perfectly preserved relic from the dawn of the solar system. this was the moment the sample was collected in a five—second smash and grab, before it was safely stowed in the capsule for its return to earth. the rock and dust will be divided up between scientists around the world, including the team at london's natural history museum. we will be getting a small vial�*s worth, which will be made up of thousands of individual, tiny little grains, which we will analyse one by one. we're all unbelievably excited. we've thought about it, we've talked about it, we've written papers about it, we've dreamt about what it's going to be, and finally, we're actually going to see it and find out what it really is. the hope is this small but invaluable sample will shed light on the story of our solar system, and answer some of the biggest questions we have. rebecca morelle, bbc news, utah. the most important bits of dust in the world right now, perhaps. earlier i spoke to professor ian franchi, a scientist who will be receiving part of the sample from the asteroid. he told me about his involvement in the project. i've been working on bringing a sample — i've been working on bringing a sample back from an asteroid by space _ sample back from an asteroid by space mission for 20 years now. i have _ space mission for 20 years now. i have been— space mission for 20 years now. i have been involved in osiris—rex for ten years _ have been involved in osiris—rex for ten years it — have been involved in osiris—rex for ten years. it has been a long journey— ten years. it has been a long journey to— ten years. it has been a long journey to get here. a lot of the planning — journey to get here. a lot of the planning that has gone into what we will do _ planning that has gone into what we will do when we get the samples back, _ will do when we get the samples back, what samples we actually wanted — back, what samples we actually wanted from the surface of the sample, — wanted from the surface of the sample, that was a long process, very carefully done by the mission team _ very carefully done by the mission team so. — very carefully done by the mission team. so, yeah, super exciting to be here, _ team. so, yeah, super exciting to be here, less _ team. so, yeah, super exciting to be here, less than seven hours away from _ here, less than seven hours away from seeing it finally arrived back. will you _ from seeing it finally arrived back. will you be — from seeing it finally arrived back. will you be trying to establish or learn from those samples when they finally reach you? —— what will you be trying to establish? brute finally reach you? -- what will you be trying to establish?— be trying to establish? we are involved in _ be trying to establish? we are involved in a _ be trying to establish? we are involved in a lot _ be trying to establish? we are involved in a lot of _ be trying to establish? we are involved in a lot of the - be trying to establish? we are involved in a lot of the key - involved in a lot of the key measurements in understanding what happened _ measurements in understanding what happened how much water was present on the _ happened how much water was present on the asteroid and what happened to that water _ on the asteroid and what happened to that water. and also looking at the carbon, _ that water. and also looking at the carbon, nitrogen and other organic materials— carbon, nitrogen and other organic materials important to life on earth. — materials important to life on earth, essentially. so, we think these _ earth, essentially. so, we think these asteroids might have delivered to the _ these asteroids might have delivered to the water and the building blocks for life. _ to the water and the building blocks for life, and so we are trying to understand what is on these asteroids to see if that is a credible _ asteroids to see if that is a credible theory.— asteroids to see if that is a credible theory. asteroids to see if that is a credible theo . ., . ., ,, ., , credible theory. how much work does it take to get — credible theory. how much work does it take to get an _ credible theory. how much work does it take to get an extra _ credible theory. how much work does it take to get an extra ride _ credible theory. how much work does it take to get an extra ride back- credible theory. how much work does it take to get an extra ride back to - it take to get an extra ride back to presumably where you are, milton keynes, my hometown, as it happens, how much time does it take to get from space to you in milton keynes? it will be another three or four weeks — it will be another three or four weeks before we get the samples. pretty— weeks before we get the samples. pretty quick, actually. they have to recover _ pretty quick, actually. they have to recover the — pretty quick, actually. they have to recover the space capsule, get it to clean _ recover the space capsule, get it to clean rooms, the main cure since entering — clean rooms, the main cure since entering houston. then they have to open up _ entering houston. then they have to open up the — entering houston. then they have to open up the spacecraft, understand what is _ open up the spacecraft, understand what is in _ open up the spacecraft, understand what is in there, extract material from _ what is in there, extract material from it — what is in there, extract material from it. then start deciding which bits they— from it. then start deciding which bits they want to sample and sent to us. 50. _ bits they want to sample and sent to us so. yeah. — bits they want to sample and sent to us. so, yeah, there are a lot of steps _ us. so, yeah, there are a lot of stepsand— us. so, yeah, there are a lot of stepsand it— us. so, yeah, there are a lot of steps and it has to be done super carefully. — steps and it has to be done super carefully, every step. we have to make _ carefully, every step. we have to make sure — carefully, every step. we have to make sure we don't lose anything, that we _ make sure we don't lose anything, that we get— make sure we don't lose anything, that we get the right materials. different — that we get the right materials. different scientists agree to be different things. you have to make sure the _ different things. you have to make sure the right scientists get the right— sure the right scientists get the right samples. i sure the right scientists get the right samples-— right samples. i was reading somewhere _ right samples. i was reading somewhere that _ right samples. i was reading somewhere that one - right samples. i was reading somewhere that one of- right samples. i was reading somewhere that one of the l right samples. i was reading - somewhere that one of the other aims are getting the sample exalted to learn better how to protect and defend earth from an asteroid attack? , ., ., , , attack? yes. so the materials they can see when _ attack? yes. so the materials they can see when the _ attack? yes. so the materials they can see when the spacecraft - attack? yes. so the materials they can see when the spacecraft was i attack? yes. so the materials they| can see when the spacecraft was in orbit around — can see when the spacecraft was in orbit around the asteroid, they appeared — orbit around the asteroid, they appeared quite different in many respects— appeared quite different in many respects from the meteorites we had from similar asteroids. more density _ from similar asteroids. more density. understanding the properties of these materials in more _ properties of these materials in more detail will help us to understand how to deflect potentially dangerous asteroids,.... potentially dangerous asteroids, . . .. have _ potentially dangerous asteroids, . . .. have you _ potentially dangerous asteroids,.... have you ever held a piece of asteroid before? what is it look and feel like? the asteroid before? what is it look and feel like? , , ., ., ., feel like? the type of material we have not feel like? the type of material we have got here _ feel like? the type of material we have got here is _ feel like? the type of material we have got here is incredibly - have got here is incredibly dark—coloured. it is darker than most _ dark—coloured. it is darker than most black— dark—coloured. it is darker than most black paint, in fact. it is quite — most black paint, in fact. it is quite low— most black paint, in fact. it is quite low density, but it is still a rock _ quite low density, but it is still a rock the — quite low density, but it is still a rock. the features are fine—grained as welt _ rock. the features are fine—grained as well. with the naked eye it is difficult — as well. with the naked eye it is difficult to — as well. with the naked eye it is difficult to see very much. we have powerful _ difficult to see very much. we have powerful microscopes that allow us to see _ powerful microscopes that allow us to see the — powerful microscopes that allow us to see the incredible detail within these _ to see the incredible detail within these rocks. and stay with us here on bbc news across the day, as we'll have comprehensive coverage of this exciting event. we'll hear from experts involved in the project and will be there for the moment of touchdown, expected in a few hours' time. do stay with us here on the bbc. hello, there. the week ahead looks very unsettled with heavy rain and gale force winds at times. so far today we have seen some showery outbreaks of rain. fairly fragmented, as you can see from the earlier rainfall. low pressure is still driving the weather story at the moment. plenty of isobars on the charts and plenty of wet weather to come for the remainder of the afternoon. not for all of us. central and southern parts of england and wales will continue to see the cloud break up in the sunshine come through. heavier rain moves further north by the end of the afternoon, sitting across the scottish borders, northern ireland in particular. but with the sunshine, we could see temperatures topping out at 20 or 21 degrees. in the early evening we will see another heavier pulse of rain pushing in from the south—west across wales coming to the lake district, and into western scotland, weather warnings in force here. gusts of winds accompanying the heaviest costs of —— bursts of rain. 50 to 60 mph. some pretty miserable conditions to close at mentor. that front will ease away. showers continue into the far north—west, with plenty of cloud around and still the wind direction coming from the south—west, a mild night, overnight lows of 12 to 15 degrees. we start tomorrow on a slightly quieter node. the winds will ease, still blustery, nowhere near as strong. sunny spells for many. scattered showers through scotland. temperatures will respond. we could see temperatures peaking at 22, 70 two fahrenheit, way above what we should have at this time of the year. more rain to come in the forecast, as you can see, on tuesday. it is western areas that will bear the brunt of this rain. there is the potential for will bear the brunt of this rain. there is the potentialfor some localised flooding as we go through the week ahead. that rain will focus its story across much of scotland and north—west england, central and southern england and wales dry and still pleasantly warm. but as we move towards the middle part of the week, we not only sue more wet weather but also the risk of some through severe gales. we need to keep an eye on this position of low pressure. it might be that bit further north, it might be further south. at one thing is all certain. the middle part of the week looks pretty unsettled. heavy rain and strong winds. better by friday. this is bbc news, the headlines... defence secretary grant shapps tells the bbc it would be �*crazy�* not to reconsider how the hs2 rail line proceeds — given rising costs and inflation in the uk. the fate of ethnic armenians in disputed nagorno karabakh is hanging in the balance as their leaders say most will likely leave their historic homeland — now controlled by azerbaijan. china reportedlyjails a prominent uyghur scholarfor life — amid a year—long government crackdown against the minority ethnic group. and a seven—year mission to study an asteroid will reach its dramatic conclusion on sunday. nasa's osiris—rex spacecraft is sending home samples from the surface of bennu, which will land in a capsule in the utah desert later.