tonight at ten — thousands of motorists are stranded on roads in england and wales, as more snow and blizzards sweep in. these cars on the a31 in hampshire haven't moved since 5pm this afternoon. conditions on many other roads are treacherous. we live in devon, where there is a severe red won warning tonight and people are being told not to drive. —— red warning. and what hope for the homeless — we report on how they're coping with the bitterly cold temperatures. i've been shivering for about three weeks, do you know what i mean? if it weren't for people coming along with blankets then i would be dead in a doorway. the met office has weather warnings in place for most of the uk tonight, with up to 50 centimetres of snow expected in some places. also tonight. america first — president trump says he'll tax imported foreign steel to protect jobs. some fear a trade war. one of russia's new generation of nuclear weapons unveiled by president putin — he says they can evade us

missile defence systems. boko haram strikes again, kidnapping over 100 more schoolgirls in nigeria. their parents tell us of their desperation to find them. and hoping for oscar glory — the profoundly deaf six—year—old from swindon who'll be joining the stars on the red carpet this weekend. coming up on sportsday on bbc news — could arsenal avenge their league cup final defeat against manchester city, with the premier league leaders tonight's visitors to the emirates. good evening. hundreds of motorists are stranded on roads in parts of southern england tonight, as heavy snow and blizzards continue to sweep across the uk. the met office has issued weather

warnings for almost everywhere many have been stuck for hours on the m62 near rochdale, others in hampshire. the met office has issued weather warnings for almost everywhere tonight, with amber alerts — the second highest level of warning — in place over large parts of the uk. but the worst of the weather is here, in these parts of southwest england and south wales — where a red alert is in force, meaning there's a risk to life. and jon kay is in tiverton in devon with the latest. yes, as you join us tonight, the snow seems to have stopped for a few moments, but it's been replaced by this horrible freezing rain and that's going to cause all sorts of extra problems tomorrow morning on the roads. that's why this red severe alert remains in place into tomorrow. it was issued at 8am this morning. we were told then stay off the roads, but it seems a lot of people have still been called out. —— caught out. the red warning zone, but tonight

there's only white to be seen. workers abandoning their cars in tiverton, hoping to get home on foot. horrible. it's slippery, it's cold. it's just not very nice at all. i wouldn't risk going out in it tonight, there's too much risk of having an accident. across the west country and south wales tonight, thousands of drivers have been stuck and notjust on remote country roads. these are some of the main routes outside cardiff — strangers helping one another out. it's a very busy road, everybody‘s driving about 20 to 30 miles an hour, people are going faster than that but we're just stuck. despite all the warnings and the plans, holden hill outside exeter has ground to a halt. a dual carriageway now a shivering car park. this is the only route i could go, this is the only one i thought was going to be open, but what can you do? yeah, it's been chaos. we haven't been able to move anywhere. i thought we would

get home, didn't we? certainly did. not be victims. they call this the english riviera. torbay, in south devon. treacherous. but this afternoon everything suddenly changed. snow from the east mixing with winds from the south. it's very easy in modern cars to be cocooned from the outside environment and to actually lose touch with the fact that it's freezing, the road surface is becoming more and more challenging. other than the main roads which are gritted, but that's proving challenging for our highway authority partners, we are saying take real care on the roads. in some areas of devon and cornwall this seemed to be the best way to keep moving. or maybe not. it is the lethal combination of snow, wind and ice that so concerns the authorities, and there is much more of all of those to come in the hours ahead. as well as treacherous freezing

rain, which could also be added to the list tonight. jon kay, bbc news, devon. hundreds of motorists have been stranded by the snow for at least five hours on the a31 in the new forest in hampshire tonight. our correspondent duncan kennedy is one of them. yes, that's absolutely right. we arrived here at 5:15pm, and we've barely moved an inch since, so nearly five hours we've been stuck here. i'm actually standing on the a31 as we speak tonight, along with dozens, possibly hundreds of other drivers in their cars. we've seen children in cars, we've seen people coming home from work, who have been stranded here for hours and hours and hours. it's about —10 here with the wind chill factor, it's snowing. we've seen people walking back down this dual carriageway here to try and find an escape route. we've seen

ca i’s and find an escape route. we've seen cars driving against the flow of traffic on the hard shoulder, add then to try and find an escape route. why is it happening? we're not really sure. we've been told on the radio there were some accidents up the radio there were some accidents up ahead but those accidents have been cleared and yet the traffic is still stationary. what's more, these people are going to be spending hours here tonight, because these haven't moved for hours and hours and hours and also it's going to be snowing right through the night. duncan kennedy with the latest from the new forest, thank you. thousands of schools across the uk will remain closed for a third day tomorrow, and railways will again be severely affected. in lincolnshire many roads have been impassable today. the raf was drafted in to help the emergency services, and police asked farmers with tractors to help clear the snow. danny savage reports on the situation. lincolnshire, one of many counties battered by the siberian weather. this fan will not be going anywhere for a long time. make sure if the public stop

to speak to you, please engage with them, more than happy. a critical incident was declared here and the raf was called in to help the emergency services. in county durham, many people woke up to find deep snow. behind every frozen door was a snapshot of life around the uk today, children off school, and parents wondering just how long this is all going to go on for. childcare is an issue for a lot of parents. we end up with a house full of children. we've got old people, vulnerable people that unfortunately can't get out. it's hard, you know, to dig each other out. a lot of community spirit goes on. and they were digging out from first thing with all ages lending a hand before it snowed again. and here in middleton in teesdale the unofficial snow depth is 33 centimetres. venturing out into the countryside around here was a battle with the elements. what's different today is the wind and the immense wind—chill that comes with it.

it's whipping the falling snow and the stuff that's going around into these huge drifts. exposed to the strong easterly wind, drivers in norfolk ended up in bother too, and out came the shovels. i phoned in to work and said i can't make it because i'm stuck in a drift and i won't be in. so i'm just trying to get home. it's really deep. i'm onlyjust able to get through in low ratio here so this is going to be tricky and i don't think i've got enough traction to pull this car through the snow drift. what are you going to do? go home and have a cup of tea. i think that's the answer to everything, isn't it? the a19 near teesside saw accidents and jackknifed lorries. it was conditions like this which meant little sienna waring was delivered nearby on the side of the a66 at stockton. dad andrew helping his wife daniela in the freezing conditions. this is what trans—pennine a roads looked like in north yorkshire and this wasn't even on high ground.

the a65 between skipton and kendal was best avoided. in ireland, a severe weather warning has been issued for the republic. the siberian freeze from the east has crept further west. tonight, thousands of drivers are stranded in long delays on the m62, which has been closed because of heavy snow and high winds. conditions are atrocious. danny savage, bbc news. the conditions have also had a big impact on the nhs, with many non—urgent operations and appointments cancelled. in scotland, troops have been drafted in tonight to help get hundreds of hospital staff to work. some stranded passengers are spending a second night at glasgow airport, while hundreds of motorists spent last night on the m80. our scotland correspondent lorna gordon sent this report. scotland's road to nowhere. hundreds of drivers stuck in miles of stationary traffic on what is usually one of the country's busiest roads. i left stirling at about eight

o'clock and i've been here since, unfortunately. that is a good 17 hours, maybe, at the moment? just knocking on that, yeah. i think i've moved about 100 metres in that time. last night, there was some old boys came out with biscuits and crisps and this morning, it was all the schoolkids that came out, so we're getting looked after. i've got two biscuits. the worst of circumstances bringing out the best in people. volunteers handing out food and water to those stranded in their cars. this storm was forecast well ahead of time, but despite the warnings, people did still venture out. now, after waiting nearly 18 hours on this stretch of motorway, it looks as if, finally, the traffic mightjust be about to start moving again. police officers clearing the way ahead, one by one. we've been coming up and down the northbound carriageway,

because of the queueing vehicles and the vehicles stuck most of the night. hard work, i've seen the guys digging it out. very much so, very much so. giving the public reassurance to say we're getting to them albeit, yes, it's slowly. but the appalling weather saw even the emergency services struggling at times. no worries, thank you. cheers. those though who have experience of working in these extreme conditions have been putting their knowledge to good use. we're picking up a prescription for somebody out in the countryside near hawick who has not been able to get their essential medication, so we're going to take it to them. for much of the day, trains in the affected areas have been off and the vast majority of flights were cancelled from edinburgh and glasgow once again. there was fun for some... but with blizzards, freezing temperatures and drifting snow, there are serious concerns for those out in these conditions,

even as those who could heeded the warnings to stay at home. lorna gordon, bbc news, denny. the conditions this week have been particularly harsh for the homeless. in some big cities, hundreds of extra beds have been made available in shelters, hostels and churches. but in others, it's a different picture. our social affairs correspondent michael buchanan has spent the past two nights talking to homeless people on the streets and has sent this report. it's bad enough being homeless, but in this? staying warm, never easy, has been almost impossible. some have turned to alcohol, lots of it. well, i'm going to be helpful if you'll let me. in big cities like london outreach workers have been encouraging rough sleepers to use emergency hostels, and offer that some have readily taken. but in other towns support is less available. by the coast in eastbourne

the increasing numbers of rough sleepers have a particular enemy. a biting wind has frozen kevin to his core. time passes slowly when the temperature feels like 12 below zero. a warm drink donated does help, but only for a short time. i've been shivering for about three weeks and if it weren't for people, along with blankets, do you know what i mean, i would be dead in a doorway. what are you doing tonight? sleeping in a doorway. like i did last night and the night before, and for weeks before that. there are few services for rough sleepers in eastbourne, the town struggling to cope with its rapidly rising homeless population. part of the reason a town like eastbourne has a growing number of rough sleepers is that homeless people from elsewhere in the uk have moved here because the weather tends to be warmer.

it hasn't been this week. local churches are taking the strain. each evening throughout winter a different parish hosts a homeless shelter. a welcome respite for those that can make it. refugee in my own country, i am. that's the best way of explaining it. refugee in my own country. the breakdown of his marriage has met graham has been homeless for the past fortnight, the first time he's ever had to sleep outside. there's lots of dangers you have to watch out for. like not making yourself sweat. things like that. because hyperthermia's just around the corner. are you frightened ? yeah, wouldn't you be? i'm 56 years old. i'm not a young man. not a young man at all. i'm sorry, but i'm finding it impossible. he's no idea what he'll do when this

shelter closes on monday. for others, perhaps suffering with psychiatric problems, they prefer to remain outdoors, prepared to dice daily with nature's wrath. michael buchanan, bbc news, eastbourne. you can keep up to date with the weather and travel situation wherever you are by visiting the bbc news live page. that's at bbc.co.uk/news. you can also get updates from the bbc news teams where you are after this programme. president trump has announced he's going to impose hefty tariffs on imported steel and aluminium next week to safeguard american jobs. he said the industries had been unfairly treated by other countries for decades. but his plans have already drawn international criticism tonight amid fears of a trade war,

as our washington correspondent nick bryant reports. the derelict steel mills of america's old industrial heartland provided the seedbed for the rise of donald trump. he wouldn't have won the presidency had it not been for the support he received from the rust belt. the promise he gave to protect us manufacturers from cheap imports, even if it meant sparking a global trade war, echoed through these empty plants. during his first year in office he didn't erect the kind of protectionist barriers he'd promised. but today came his most controversial trade move yet. meeting with industry leaders he announced big tariffs on foreign steel and aluminium. what's been allowed to go on for decades is disgraceful. it's disgraceful. and when it comes to a time when our country can't make aluminium and steel, and somebody said it before, and i will tell you, you almost

don't have much of a country because without steel and aluminium your country's not the same. chinese steel only accounts for a small proportion of us imports but the massive expansion of its industry has produced a global glut driving down prices, which has angered the president. announcer: mr donald] trump! much of his america first rhetoric has been directed against beijing. because we can't continue to allow china to rape our country, and that's what they are doing. it's the greatest theft in the history of the world. there's already been a fierce international reaction. the european commission warning tonight of countermeasures in response to what it called a blatant intervention to protect us industry. on capitol hill too, senior republicans are urging a rethink.

free traders who have long believed liberalised global commerce is good for the american economy. fears of a trade war helped trigger a large sell—off on wall street. donald trump is invoking a cold war era measure not used since the reagan years, which allows us presidents to impose tariffs in the interests of national security. but the fear is it could spark a 21st—century global trade war, which damages every economy. nick bryant, bbc news, washington. theresa may is expected to set out her plans tomorrow for the next stage of negotiations with the european union over brexit. the speech, in london, comes at the end of a week in which the eu unveiled its negotiating strategy, leading to tensions over issues like the irish border. our political editor laura kuenssberg is in westminster. how much detail are we going to get from the prime minister about her plans? you can see why the prime minister had to move her speech from the north—east to london but i'm not sure the climate will be much more hospitable here for her. i'm told by ministers who saw the draft today and disgust at around the cabinet

table it is a long speech chock full of details, in part in answer to some of theresa may pop critics who for months have said she's being too vague, greedy and she wants everything and is not being realistic. she's going to try and do twojobs, the realistic. she's going to try and do two jobs, the first to send a clear message to the eu. she will say, we know what we want and we understand your principles too. essentially saying, i'm not unsure, not clear, i know what i'm trying to get for the uk and also implying that she is willing to compromise, that she doesn't even realise that the uk cannot have its cake and eat it. one of her colleagues in cabinet said to me today theresa may will feel like she's being honest with the public tomorrow and that message could come with some hard truths to use their phrase. but the second thing she's going to try and do tomorrow after such a brutal time of debate in westminster since the referendum that frankly in recent months it has become very ugly, notjust inside

the tory party but also to call for the tory party but also to call for the country to come together, to say that it is time to move on from the referendum, to try to pull together and create a sense of unity. now, of course, this is a complicated process , course, this is a complicated process, politically very controversial and one speech is not going to answer one of the very many questions that there are. but there is hoping government that while this might be an incremental step rather than a might be an incremental step rather thana giant leap, might be an incremental step rather than a giant leap, it does allow the negotiations to get some momentum again and to proceed to the next stage. laura kuenssberg, thank you. russia's president putin has unveiled a new range of nuclear weapons, which he says could evade american missile defence shields and hit targets around the world. he said the arms, which include an underwater drone and a missile capable of travelling at five times the speed of sound, were either ready or being developed. he made the unexpected announcement during his state of the nation speech, ahead of the russian presidential elections in march. from moscow, steve rosenberg reports. announcer: vladimir vladimirovich putin. he never slips into a room quietly.

vladimir putin took the stage for his annual state of the nation address. the audience was expecting to hear about the economy, social issues and there was some of that, but then the kremlin leader took everyone by surprise. on a video screen he showcased the very latest russian nuclear weapons. 200—tonne intercontinental ballistic missiles. cruise missiles with nuclear engines. he claimed they could hit any target and dodge any defence. "and there's more," he said. and the show continued. the missiles kept coming and with them a warning to the west. "those who tried to contain russia have

failed," president putin said. "believe me, i am not bluffing." i think we're entering, if not already in, a new cold war and that's not just because of putin's statements this morning. you hear president trump also thumping his chest and talking about having the best nuclear systems. but in moscow the reaction from the hall — russia is acting in self defence. it's reminiscent of the cold war, is it not? we're talking about an arms race here. i don't believe — at least, the statement of my president isn't a cold war rhetoric. and if you are looking for the roots of the next edition of the cold war, look to the west. the kremlin was delivering two messages today with this speech. the first message was to the west. russia will not be pushed around. the second message, ahead of elections here, was to the people of russia. vote for putin and you will have security at home. that's how the kremlin

wants russians to see their president, as the embodiment of russia, as the protector of their country. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. four years after hundreds of nigerian schoolgirls were kidnapped by the jihadist group boko haram, the militants have struck again. they've taken over 100 more in what nigeria's president is calling a national disaster. the girls were kidnapped from their school in the town of dapchi, in north eastern nigeria, ten days ago. boko haram wants to establish a hard line islamic state in the region, and opposes western teaching methods. our reporter stephanie hegarty has been talking to some of the families of the missing girls in dapchi. this is where fatima ran when the militants attacked her school. it was 7pm, she was in her dorm with her best friend zara. they were just about to eat their

dinner when they heard gunshots. translation: one of our teachers told us to come out. when we came out we saw bullets flying in the air like fire. there was confusion all over the school. students screaming and rushing towards the gate. but the gate was locked. this is the path that many of the girls took to try and get away. the main exit is down that way and you can see some of their discarded sandals. they're littered all along this path here. translation: then we saw the milita nts' trucks and they were shooting and calling us to get into the trucks. they were pretending they would help us. during the attack fatima managed to run away from the militants twice but she was with her best friend zara when they were attacked and they got separated. she said altogether five of her closest friends are missing. this is zara. she's 1a. herfriend fatima said business

was her favourite subject. yes, business. her sister falmata is 25 and went to the same school as the girls. translation: she was close to zara. it was three days before the government admitted that there had been a kidnapping. last week the authorities claimed girls had been rescued. then they said that claim was false. for zara's mum that was the hardest moment. nigeria's president has said that the military and air force are searching for the girls. but parents aren't reassured. translation: in this school there are no children of government officials. all the students are the daughters of poor people. now the school is eerily quiet. the scene is chillingly similar to the aftermath of the kidnapping of the chibok schoolgirls in 2014.

it was three years before most of those girls were released, and over 100 of them are still missing. the parents of dapchi are afraid that they will also wait years to see their children again. stefanie hegarty, bbc news, dapchi. the government has scrapped plans to hold the second stage of the leveson inquiry, which was due to look into unlawful conduct within media organisations, and relations between police and journalists. lord justice leveson accused ministers of breaking their promise to phone hacking victims. but the culture secretary said it wouldn't be in the national interest they were dubbed britain's lost children — thousands of them forcibly sent abroad to countries such as australia and canada after world war ii. they were promised new lives, but instead many suffered physical and sexual abuse. now an independent inquiry into the scandal has urged the british government to pay

compensation to all the survivors, as tom symonds reports. a dark history. british children lied to, deported, sexually abused, and even tortured. the pain has not gone even now. all we did was do as we were told and suffered immensely for it. the child migrants from poor backgrounds were promised a betterfuture. when visitors came, especially from britain, that's how it seemed. but last year the now—elderly migrants gave hours of chilling evidence of what their carers said. you're from the gutter, you're nobody. you've got nobody. you've got no parents. they're all dead. and even worse, did. the verdict today, even by 1940's standards, what was indefensible. and the official archives show

the government didn't stop it for fear of upsetting the charities and religious groups involved, or the australians. politics put before children. they ignored our plight. they encouraged paedophilia to a degree because they were made aware of problems in australia where they were sending us to come and yet they continued sending us. now, what does that tell you? that tells me that they didn't give a rat's backside, if you'll pardon the vernacular, about the british children. campaigners were delighted today that the british government has been held responsible. at last, a measure of truth and a measure of responsibility. the buck stops with the government. she uncovered all of this in the 1980s. britain apologised in 2010 but this report has called for all surviving migrants to receive compensation within a year. the government's considering its response. it's the first time this much—criticised inquiry

has bared its teeth. but the evidence heard in this room was never really in doubt and this was a scandal very much in the past. the inquiry‘s other investigations may not be as straightforward. but this work had to come first because half of those who have been called britain's lost children have already passed away. tom symonds, bbc news. a six—year—old girl from swindon — who is profoundly deaf — will be joining the stars on the red carpet at the oscars on sunday. maisie sly stars in the british drama the silent child, which has been nominated for best short film. colin paterson reports. it's a story so happy it could be the plot of a hollywood film. maisie sly had never even acted before her parents were told about film—makers looking for a profoundly deaf girl to star

in their film, the silent child. and now, here are the nominees for best live action short film. this is the moment injanuary when the team gathered to find out if they had been nominated for an oscar. my nephew emmett. the silent child. cheering yes! and so, this week, they reunited at heathrow... hello, welcome on board. and headed to los angeles. most people prepare for the oscars by meeting stylists and planning acceptance speeches. maisie's schedule has been rather different.