here on bbc news. we start in the uk, and the case 16—year—old brianna ghey, who was murdered last year by two children her own age. in a highly unusual move, thejudge in the case has lifted the usual anonymity given to young people, allowing brianna's killers to be named. scarlettjenkinson and eddie ratcliffe, both 16, have been sentenced to life in prison with minimum terms of 22 and 20 years respectively, for the murder of brianna, who was transgender. she was stabbed 28 times in broad daylight in february last year in cheshire in the north west of england. in the days following her murder, candlelit vigils were held across the uk for brianna, many organised by the members of the transgender community. nick garnett reports. a warning awarning — a warning — you may find son of —— some of his report distracting.

scarlettjenkinson and eddie ratcliffe, the killers of brianna ghey. —— distressing. the two had been close, trusted friends, at school together, untiljenkinson was temporarily moved to birchwood high where scarlett became friends with brianna. in terms of scarlett, there were no red flags that came up. i think sitting and listening in court to the messages between eddie and scarlett was very, very surreal, and trying to imagine that anyone would talk in that way, plan in that way, and for it to be a child that you've actually met is even more shocking. brianna's friend had dark fantasies she shared with ratcliffe. she wrote a letter planning how they'd attack her. he smuggled a hunting knife out of his home. unaware, on a saturday afternoon, brianna went to meet them. they walked to the park

and murdered her in cold blood, stabbing her more than two dozen times before running off across the fields, leaving her to die alone. they were arrested shortly after the attack and convicted in december. i feel like they need to be off the streets for a very long time, if not forever, because i can't see that that level of... ..of, like, darkness i suppose, can ever be rehabilitated. i think that they're both very dangerous and, like i say, they're both in the right place and they should be kept away from society, because i feel like there would be a risk of them committing crime in the future. this is not the first case in which young murderers have had their identification revealed. the killers of two—year—old james bulger were named after their trial. defendants, adults. -

defendants, children... the man who led that prosecution believes it's rightjenkinson and ratcliffe�*s identities are made public. there is much, much good to follow if these cases - are examined very fully, _ and the public know what went wrong in that particular family. only then can we ask . ourselves the question, "could this happen in our family?" because at the moment, - we don't know what went wrong. scarlettjenkinson and eddie ratcliffe are just 16 years old. the decision to release their names will have implications for them and their families for the rest of their lives. but brianna's family see the end of the legal fight as a relief. justice for brianna, who lived a life, like her tiktok videos, loud and proud of who she was. nick garnett, bbc news.

we'll pick up on that in a moment, but ijust want we'll pick up on that in a moment, but i just want to bring we'll pick up on that in a moment, but ijust want to bring you some live pictures from dover air force base in the united states. this is president biden, who isjust touched down on air force one in the last few moments. he is expecting shortly to see the three bodies repatriated of the us service personnel, who were killed in that air strike — a drone strike, rather, overthe weekend. the soldiers, sergeant williamjerome rivers, kennedy william jerome rivers, kennedy sanders williamjerome rivers, kennedy sanders and breanna alexandria moffat, all killed in the attack. we are expecting their bodies to be returned to the us shortly. president biden is there for that, and he will be meeting the families of the soldiers. it was that attack on that base that has prompted president bided to say that it will be us response.

we will keep you updated on the story as it develops. let's go back to the story of brianna ghey and her killers. in a statement given after the sentencing, the senior crown in a statement given after the sentencing, the senior crown prosecutor nicola wyn williams said this marked the end of one of the most disturbing cases she had ever seen. sentencing hearing concludes what are the most disturbing cases that the cps has had to deal with? atjust 16, scarlettjenkinson and eddie ratcliff are convicted killers responsible for the brutal murder of a young girl who thought they were friends. the planning, violence and the age of the killers is beyond belief. the two appear to have had deadly influence on each other and turned what may have started out as dark fantasies about murder into a reality.

the messages between the two provided a terrifying insight into the warped desires and fantasies of the two defendants. however, they also provided us with the motivation behind the attack, the plans, and the attempts to cover it up. crown prosecution service presented all the evidence in this case for the jury to consider, including the hateful and dehumanising language used to describe brianna. we applied to the judge for an increase in the defendants sentences because we believe this killing was a hate crime, motivated in part by hostility towards brianna because she was transgender. we're pleased that the court has agreed that this was a motive. today's sentence reflects the brutality of the two killers' heartless crime. and while it cannot erase the pain of brianna's loss, we hope it brings some closure. the crown prosecution service would again like to thank brianna's family for the courage and dignity they have shown throughout the proceedings. and our thoughts and sympathies

remain with them at this. that was the senior crown prosecutor. our correspondent rowan bridge is at the court in manchester and joins us now. tell us more about what was said in court. ,, , , ., ., ., court. she spent half an hour outweighing _ court. she spent half an hour outweighing the _ court. she spent half an hour outweighing the brutal - court. she spent half an hour. outweighing the brutal murder court. she spent half an hour - outweighing the brutal murder of brianna ghey. she said the families' loss was unimaginable and she was bothjenkinson and radcliffe played a part in the killing. she said "you enjoyed the killing, this was involving sadistic conduct," warning if that continued, she would never be released from prison. turning to ratcliffe, who showed no remorse, since then, he had shown insight

into the feelings of the families. she said the killers were very young when they committed the crime, and she held some hope that they could be rehabilitated, but they've both face now senses of at least 20 years in prison, which means they'll both be in their mid to late 30s before they're even eligible for parole. they'll be a decision for the parole board. they are spending from tonight a very long time in prison going forward. tonight a very long time in prison going forward-— tonight a very long time in prison auoin forward. ., �* ., ~ going forward. rowen bridge, thank ou ve going forward. rowen bridge, thank you very much- _ i'm joined now by barrister and judge maria karaiskos. thank you for making the time for us. i want to talk about the naming of the two individuals involved. this was an unusual move. many will say that you absolutely should be named, but many argue these are young people and anonymity is important for their future. young people and anonymity is important for theirfuture. talk young people and anonymity is important for their future. talk us

through thejudge's important for their future. talk us through the judge's reasoning. important for their future. talk us through thejudge's reasoning. i5 important for their future. talk us through the judge's reasoning. is a through the 'udge's reasoning. is a balancin: through the judge's reasoning. i3 —. balancing act. every case is different. an individual approach has to be taken by the judge in kroll of the type —— in control of the trial. you have to balance the interests of open justice, the press, the right to report freedom of speech, freedom of information and also public accessibility. the public have an interest in what is going on in the crown courts opened on country. those have to be balanced with the welfare of the children. in law, children are vulnerable. we have 216—year—old now having a trial. we know the details. it's one of the most shocking cases that we've heard in recent times. ——

two 16—year—olds. it is not designed to name and shame, is not designed to name and shame, is not designed to cause notoriety or reprisals, it's not designed to hamper rehabilitation. it's a balancing act. in this case, the public interest knowing the details of the two offenders has been given priority. i think what the judge is looking at in particular is the need to send out the message a deterrent impact is possible. we need to ask ourselves what went wrong. is there something that could have been spotted sooner? is something that encourages debate about violence on social media, violence on the internet, the dark web. these are all topics we have to discuss to prevent this from happening again. if it means that one or two children — hopefully more — will get this

message, that will be an important message, that will be an important message and that willjustify message, that will be an important message and that will justify the decision to lift the reporting restrictions in this case. fin decision to lift the reporting restrictions in this case. on the deterrent _ restrictions in this case. on the deterrent element _ restrictions in this case. on the deterrent element that - restrictions in this case. on the deterrent element that you - restrictions in this case. on the - deterrent element that you touched on there, life sentences for these two individuals, talking through the weighing up that the judge had two individuals, talking through the weighing up that thejudge had to do in this case to make that decision. the sentence for murder is one that is fixed by law. the children are convicted of murder, the sentence is one of detention. the judge convicted of murder, the sentence is one of detention. thejudge has convicted of murder, the sentence is one of detention. the judge has to look at aggravating features of the case, and in this case, there are many. we had a nice being taken to the scene, multiple stabbings, serious stabbings, almost 30 in this case. it was planned, premeditated. it was described as a brutal attack, a savage attack, by the judge. there were also elements of patriarch ——

hate crime. these are all aggravating features that will increase the minimum term. thejudge has to look at mitigating features. we are dealing with young children. thejudge has to we are dealing with young children. the judge has to look at any vulnerabilities and difficulties. she would have access to medical reports or psychological assessments. how they have progressed, they've been in prison for some time awaiting trial. all these factors have to be taken into account. we want rehabilitation. it's one of the principles of our sentencing. we also have to look at risk and future risk. when the judge has fixed the minimum term, we have to remember that each of those days across that minimum term will be served. these are not sentences where half of the term is served or two thirds. all of those 22 years or 20 years will be served before being eligible for consideration by the parole board. we eligible for consideration by the parole board-—

eligible for consideration by the arole board. ~ ., ., ., parole board. we will have to leave it there for — parole board. we will have to leave it there for now. _ parole board. we will have to leave it there for now. judge _ it there for now. judge maria karaiskos, thank you very much. we're nowjoined by charlotte nichols, labour mp for warrington north, where the attack happened. thank you for making time for us. these details will have horrified many. what's your reaction? i think it's something _ many. what's your reaction? i think it's something that _ many. what's your reaction? i think it's something that i _ many. what's your reaction? i think it's something that i hope _ many. what's your reaction? i think it's something that i hope can start| it's something that i hope can start the process of closure within our community. these are life sentences and minimum terms rightly reflect the ages of the perpetrators and the hope rather than expectation injustice where either of them can be rehabilitated. i think the fact they have been named can help the process of beginning to understand what went wrong, if anything could have changed what happened, and for people to process that. i

have changed what happened, and for people to process that.— people to process that. i want to come back _ people to process that. i want to come back to — people to process that. i want to come back to the _ people to process that. i want to come back to the question - people to process that. i want to j come back to the question asked people to process that. i want to i come back to the question asked of him own that skates, but because a bit more about how this could fit all not affected your community —— of this case. i all not affected your community -- of this case-— of this case. i think the primary motion was _ of this case. i think the primary motion was shocked _ of this case. i think the primary motion was shocked and - motion was shocked and particularly when it became apparent that it was children who were the perpetrators. there is also the process of grief and a lot of anxiety generated, particularly for younger people, in terms of the other children that they were hoping to target and binkley were not able to. that's something that's had a really profoundly negative effect —— frankly were not able to. i think there's been real confusion over exactly how something like this could have happened and whether

there's the risk of something like this happening again in the future if we don't understand what happened here. we if we don't understand what happened here. ~ ., ., ., here. we have to leave it there for the time being. _ here. we have to leave it there for the time being. charlotte - here. we have to leave it there for the time being. charlotte nichols, | the time being. charlotte nichols, thank you for being with us. our mind or you thank you for being with us. our mind oryou can thank you for being with us. our mind or you can get the very latest on this story on the bbc news website. we have a live page up and running covering the story of brianna ghey, her killers sentenced today to life in prison. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news here in the uk. a woman who drove at her fiance before dragging him more than a 150 metres along a road has beenjailed for a minimum of 18 years for his murder. alice wood and her partner ryan watson had been arguing after a party in may 2022 but she claimed his death was a "tragic accident".

water companies are forecasting an above inflation rise in average household bills in april drawing criticism from campaigners. the average annual water and sewerage bill is expected to rise by 6% in england and wales up to £473 says the suppliers' trade body water uk. in scotland, water and waste charges will go up by nearly 9%. early years' charities say a new government recruitment programme for childcare workers in england has come far too late to meet the demand created by the expansion of funded places for preschool children. the campaign's being launched ahead of the first phase of the roll—out in april when working parents of two—year—olds will be you're live with bbc news. thanks forjoining us. the bodies of the three american soldiers killed in a drone strike will be repatriated today.

the bodies of the three american soldiers killed in a drone strike joe biden and first ladyjoe biden have arrived ahead of the ceremony also the us blames that attack on an iranian backed group, though iran itself denies any involvement. earlier, i spoke with retired lieutenant general mark schwartz, former us security coordinator for israel and the palestinian authority, who says the us will be balancing a strong response with avoiding widening the conflict by directly targeting iranian targets. the options are being developed by us central command and the the intelligence community within the united states and also working with our allies and partners, that's absolutely a consideration. so, there's a lot of

discussion, i am sure, discussion, i am sure, going on at the highest levels of our government and others that the targets that are being looked at and the collective response that will occur, i assume over several days, it's notjust going to be a one—off in response to this direct attack that happened injordan at tower 22. so, yes, it is, but there's a lot of options available and there's the opportunity, i would say, for a comprehensive approach to actually start deterring these attacks. i think we're in excess of 160 now that have occurred against us forces and installations across syria and iraq and now jordan to this point. i think the two most pressing areas within the region, certainly our forces that are operating in iraq and syria. so, kataib hezbollah that operates there and the other

popular mobilisation forces that operate in iraq, those are certainly going to be, i think, high on the list of options that will be presented to the secretary of defence. and then, second, the strikes that have occurred in yemen, that against the houthis that are trying to deny maritime commerce and also military movement, maritime movement in the red sea and baba mandeb will also be, i think, part of this response. earlier, matthew kroenig, vice president at the atlantic council and senior director, scowcroft center for strategy and security told the bbc. the biden administration came in hoping to focus on china, and then, of course, we have the major war in europe and now in the middle east. and now in the middle east, and so he doesn't want to get caught in a major war in the region. and here, i think the domestic political incentives and the international strategy incentives actually align. i think that for the electoral purposes, biden does want to look strong. he'll want to have a tough response that will keep republicans

and maybe some independent voters from thinking that he's weak. on the other hand, if he does get involved in a major conflict in the region, i think his progressive left wing is not going to like that. so, i think best case scenario, both for foreign policy but also domestic electoral politics, is a strong response that causes iran to back back off and leads to something of a de—escalation. a major manhunt is still under way in london and across the north east for the man wanted in connection with a corrosive liquid attack in clapham in south london on wednedsay they have urged a man to do the right thing and hand himself in. police have issued new photos of the suspect. he was captured at london's king cross station. 31—year—old woman was attacked in south london a corrosive substance and remains very poorly according to police and sedated in hospital with her injuries thought to be

life—changing. the injuries to her daughters are not likely to be life—changing. graham, tell us more with the police had to say. the police gave us gave us an update on the manhunt for azedi, who is still on the run. each one of those calls is being followed up. they carried out a series of raids at properties both here in london and the northeast, where they say they found significant new evidence including two m sd and they are now the subject of forensic tests. same substance that was used in the attack on wednesday night. that left the 31—year—old woman in the hospital with life changing injuries. we're told she is stable but critical condition. it's also a

timeline of abdul azedi's movements. he drove down to london and was seen at various places in and around london. the last sighting was getting on a tube train heading itself. they have renewed their appeal to help them try and capture this man, who they say remain dangerous, but is absolutely urgent that they find him.— that they find him. we've also learned in _ that they find him. we've also learned in the _ that they find him. we've also learned in the last _ that they find him. we've also learned in the last 24 - that they find him. we've also learned in the last 24 hours i that they find him. we've also learned in the last 24 hours a | that they find him. we've also i learned in the last 24 hours a bit more about this man, including the circumstances that brought him to britain. tell us a bit more. we understand — britain. tell us a bit more. we understand he _ britain. tell us a bit more. - understand he arrived in the united kingdom in 2016 originally from afghanistan, that he applied for asylum. he was then convicted of two

sexual offences. he claims to have converted to christianity and was successful in given lead to remain applying for asylum. there was an inquiry going on with officials putting him together —— his case file together for the home secretary. he expressed his disquiet on this man... we wait to see the outcome of that.— on this man... we wait to see the outcome of that. graham satchell, outside new _ outcome of that. graham satchell, outside new scotland _ outcome of that. graham satchell, outside new scotland yard. - outcome of that. graham satchell, outside new scotland yard. let's i outside new scotland yard. let's remind you of this picture that the met police has released. this picture was taken at kings cross

railway in london. they have warned her not to approach them but to call emergency services. before we go — italian present has been seen on dell back in corsica, and he escaped prison last year in sardinia using the tried and tested method of the knotted bed sheets. he had been serving a 24 year sentence. he was caught in a joint operation run by italian and french special forces. much more still to although

stories. don't go anywhere. stick with us here on bbc news. see you in a bit. hello. the weekend's looking mild for most of us, but it's often going to be cloudy, very blustery, and on top of that, some rain in the forecast, too — heaviest of which is expected across western and northwestern scotland. let's have a look at the satellite picture from the last couple of days, and you can see big swirls, patterns in the clouds here. big storms moving from the north atlantic across the norwegian sea. they've been slamming scandinavia, especially norway, in the last couple of days. so, this is thejet stream here. the air is relatively mild across the southern half of the uk through this evening and overnight. weather front here and lots

of layers of cloud, bits and pieces of rain. to the north of that, just about cold enough, i think, for a touch of frost in the highlands. but glasgow will be seven, belfast nine, and look how mild it is in the morning across the bulk of england and wales. we're talking about double figures now. the forecast for saturday — high pressures to the south, some nasty lows across the norwegian sea. a lot of ice after that big pressure gradient and those strong west, south—westerly winds. and i think it's going to be, again, quite blustery and relatively cool across scotland. some sunny spells here, temperatures will be around about 7—9 degrees. i say relatively cool compared to the south where it'll be perhaps as high as 14 degrees, often cloudy with some dribs and drabs of rain. how about the six nations? also spots of rain certainly possible, at least for a time, maybe a little bit heavier for a moment or two, and relatively mild, but blustery.

here's the forecast into sunday — another weather front moves in again, mild southwesterlies across the southern half of the uk. but further north, this weather front here will be responsible for that very heavy rain across western and northwestern scotland, particularly sunday night into monday. and in fact, the met office warns that widely across that part of scotland, the west and the northwest could be around 50mm, perhaps as much as 100—150mm, maybe even maybe even a little bit more in the extreme case, and very blustery, too. but south of that, you can see on monday, certainly south of the lowlands, it's generallyjust cloudy with spots of rain from time to time. a bit of sunshine i think towards the east is certainly not impossible. the outlook through next week, well, there is an indication

in prison for two teenagers who killed a 16—year—old girl in a crime that a judge called brew and sadistic. eddie ratcliffe and scarlett jenkinson who are both 16 years old killed brianna ghey in broad daylight in february last year. here in stormont and northern ireland the politicians will be back after two years away. and with a new first minister, all the details coming up. b. first minister, all the details coming up-_ first minister, all the details cominu u. �* ., ., ., ., coming up. a nationwide manhunt for the man throwing _ coming up. a nationwide manhunt for the man throwing corrosive _ coming up. a nationwide manhunt for the man throwing corrosive liquid - coming up. a nationwide manhunt for the man throwing corrosive liquid at l the man throwing corrosive liquid at a mother and her two daughters.

much more to come on all of those, sport force. for a full round—up here is the bbc sportscenter. not long to go good evening. not long to go now until this year's six nations gets under way the first match kicks off at 8 and it's set up to be a thriller as france take on ireland. to look ahead to tonight and the weekend ahead we can join 0lly foster in cardiff. we'll talk wales scotland in a minute 0lly, and england too, but what a match to get things started tonight? we know where we will be heading this evening because the bars will be packed and this evening because the bars will be acke: . . ' this evening because the bars will be ”acke ., ., ' ., ., be packed and cardiff for ireland versus france _ be packed and cardiff for ireland versus france in _ be packed and cardiff for ireland versus france in marseille. - be packed and cardiff for ireland versus france in marseille. thel versus france in marseille. the french are taking the six nations on the road because the sty difference is getting ready for the olympics later this year. this is the world cup final that we all wanted, but they both fell short in the quarterfinals of the work up at the end of last year. ireland then the world number one and the french as

well doing so