this is bbc news — welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. our top stories: president of the european commission ursula von der leyen will travel to tomorrow to meet prime minister rishi sunak. earlier the bbc learnt that an announcement about the new deal between the eu and the uk on post—brexit trading rules for northern ireland is imminent. at least 59 people have died — after a boat carrying migrants sinks near the coast of southern italy. pope francis has prayed for the victims and surivors. i pray that everyone of them, for the missing and the other surviving migrants. counting is under way in nigeria's most competitive elections in decades — with three candidates still hopeful of becoming president.

hello and welcome. the president of the european commission ursula von der leyen will meet prime minister rishi sunak in london tomorrow. earlier we learned that an announcement of a new deal between the uk and eu on the post—brexit trading arrangement for northern ireland is imminent. ione wells is here now. we have a statement between ursula von der leyen and rishi sunak where they are agreeing to continue their work and they are crucially meeting tomorrow. what does that tell us? that's right. essentially, this statement which was issued jointly by the european commission and number ten here in the uk says that

the president of the european commission, ursula von der leyen and the prime minister agreed to continue their work in person towards shared practical solutions for what they describe as a range of complex challenges around the protocol and ireland and northern ireland. they are going to meet in the uk tomorrow. this is very significant that ursula von der leyen will be in the uk tomorrow. this shows that if all goes to plan, while is no wonder or say a deal is done until it is signed on the dotted lines, it does show that they are poised, all going to find tomorrow to try and announce something. we know that there has been speculation over the last couple of days about a deal. we have had hints of ministers as well about what it may even contain. it looks like tomorrow may well be the day that we get further details. fire like tomorrow may well be the day that we get further details. are we exectinu that we get further details. are we expecting more — that we get further details. are we expecting more today? _ that we get further details. are we expecting more today? well, - that we get further details. are we expecting more today? well, i- that we get further details. are we | expecting more today? well, i think toda the expecting more today? well, i think today the update — expecting more today? well, i think today the update that _ expecting more today? well, i think today the update that we _ expecting more today? well, i think today the update that we have - expecting more today? well, i think today the update that we have had l expecting more today? well, i think| today the update that we have had is all that we are expecting. i think that it all that we are expecting. i think thatitis all that we are expecting. i think that it is fair to say that both sides will make sure that, as i say,

all details are confirmed on both sides are absolutely happy before there is any final announcement made and of course that they will want to follow a set of what would be expected processes. for example, the government who have indicated they want to give what they describe as an opportunity for mps in the uk to express themselves over any possible deal. they haven't clarified whether that will involve a formal vote or not but i think we can expect more dates very quickly tomorrow when we no further detail of how that meeting has gone.— no further detail of how that meeting has gone. thank you very much indeed- _ meeting has gone. thank you very much indeed. let's _ meeting has gone. thank you very much indeed. let's go _ meeting has gone. thank you very much indeed. let's go live - meeting has gone. thank you very much indeed. let's go live to - much indeed. let's go live to brussels and a european correspondentjessica parker is with us. just tell us from your point of view how life —— significant at this moment feel? view how life -- significant at this moment feel?— view how life -- significant at this moment feel? very significant. we have had joint _ moment feel? very significant. we have had joint statements - moment feel? very significant. we have had joint statements about i moment feel? very significant. we l have had joint statements about the talks recently after moo of negotiations have got better. the fact that ursula, d head of eu is

heading to the uk tomorrow very much suggested to deal is now in the works as we have been expecting. it was always the plan, as i had in recent weeks that once they got to a point where they could sign off on a deal ursula von der leyen would go to london or somewhere in the uk to meet with rishi sunak and that would be the moment. it had to be a senior top level politician sign. of course, as we have been reflecting, downing street are not saying in thatjoint downing street are not saying in that joint statement that a deal has been done but i think it would be pretty strange if they were to announce her travel plans to head to the uk tomorrow at this time tomorrow, we are not talking about some kind of very significant announcement. in some kind of very significant announcement.— some kind of very significant announcement. , ., , announcement. in terms of pulling down the wider _ announcement. in terms of pulling down the wider picture _ announcement. in terms of pulling down the wider picture for - announcement. in terms of pulling i down the wider picture for everybody tuning in and around the world in particular, when we look at this and say that we have got another brexit moment, just explain why we are

still in a diplomatic wrangle on this. �* ., , ., this. after the uk left the european union there — this. after the uk left the european union there were _ this. after the uk left the european union there were special _ union there were special arrangements for northern ireland because it shares a land border with the republic of ireland which remained in the eu. those arrangements remain controversial particularly within ireland which felt that its place in the united kingdom was under threat. businesses voiced their concerns as well because it involved checks going from goods from england and scotland and wales to northern ireland. they have been discussing for a while over a year how checks can be eased and how these arrangements can be reformed. at times, those talks have gone very, very badly. to the point that the northern ireland protocol, the treaty that we are talking about here, the deal that they are going to do in trying to reform it. it is really soured relationships between the united kingdom and the european union, to the extent that the uk have not been given full access, for

example, to a major eu science programme called horizon. there is the sense that relations haven't been outer move on pros brexit whilst this problem and issue has been hanging over the eu and the uk. if they can come to an arrangement and if this can be agreed to, looking down the line, by unionists in northern ireland, i think they will want to take a lot of time to look at the deal. they haven't seen the legal text yet. i think there will be a hope that there can be a little bit of a reset. there —— we shouldn't get too ahead of ourselves but this is a very significant moment. but this is a very significant moment-— but this is a very significant moment. ,, ._ , , ., but this is a very significant moment. ,, , , ., moment. stay with us if you can i 'ust want moment. stay with us if you can i just want to _ moment. stay with us if you can i just want to bring _ moment. stay with us if you can i just want to bring ione _ moment. stay with us if you can i just want to bring ione back - moment. stay with us if you can i just want to bring ione back in. i moment. stay with us if you can i j just want to bring ione back in. in terms of the conservative party, we have seen those brexit divisions on show recently, even if it has been a little bit under the surface. this is going to be a key point of

delivery is rishi sunak and get it over the line for his premiership. i think this is probably the biggest test so far of rick —— rishi sunak�*s premiership. usually by making some kind of concession to some groups that might have opposed things. this is where things could prove potentially politically very problematic. we know that there are some brexit are backbench tory mps who have been very unhappy about the idea of any kind of attention of eu law or sovereignty and northern ireland. that is a key test and if thatis ireland. that is a key test and if that is not met could well be some upset on the tory backbenchers. there is also the crucial cat my question of how much or not this satisfies the democratic unionist party. currently they are refusing to go back into a power—sharing government in northern ireland unless the changes that they want to the current arrangements are made.

that is left northern ireland without a functioning government at the moment. there is huge pressure on rishi sunak to try and resolve that. they have always said that they want to see the text of the deal and really pour over the detail before they come into any kind of judgment on it. i think if and when they have such attacks they will certainly be looking at the finer details of it and try and make sure that their tests are met and that they are not and they still refuse to go back into government that could prove another politically challenging movement for rishi sunak. ., . challenging movement for rishi sunak. .. ., ., ., sunak. the fact that we have had the statement issued _ sunak. the fact that we have had the statement issued now _ sunak. the fact that we have had the statement issued now in _ sunak. the fact that we have had the statement issued now in the - sunak. the fact that we have had the statement issued now in the last - statement issued now in the last hour suggest that conservative critics have been squared off or is that still unclear? we critics have been squared off or is that still unclear?— that still unclear? we know that there have _ that still unclear? we know that there have been _ that still unclear? we know that there have been conservative i that still unclear? we know that i there have been conservative mps that still unclear? we know that - there have been conservative mps and discussion with ministers and the prime minister over the last couple of weeks. the substance of this deal has been done ready for some time and now it has been all about the negotiating the delivery of it and how it is presented. as part of that

process the prime minister has been discussing concerns with dup is, stakeholders and conservative mps. it is not clear whether everybody�*s fares will be happy. i know that something people in government have been telling me over the last couple of days as they need to make sure they give everybody some of what they give everybody some of what they need even if they can't get everybody all of what they want and i think that is the kind of message that the government has been putting out over the last couple of days. it is unclear whether they have necessarily satisfied everybody�*s demands but they certainly will feel that if they have got to this position and are able to make the statement they have a certain degree of confidence as to how they are going to present it. live now to brussels and our europe correspondentjessica parker. for the european take. there has been some reporting on the relationship between ursula von der leyen and rishi sunak and whether this is a new conservative prime minister that european leaders felt that they could do business with

him. known for his attention to detail even though he is perhaps less politically experience and some of his predecessors as prime minister. , ~ , minister. yes, i think it is completely _ minister. yes, i think it is completely fair— minister. yes, i think it is completely fair to - minister. yes, i think it is completely fair to say - minister. yes, i think it is| completely fair to say that minister. yes, i think it is- completely fair to say that here in brussels they have preferred doing business with rishi sunak. what i am told from sunak took over the negotiations actually got serious and that the government was really serious about trying to find some sort of practical arrangement. trying to find some sort of practicalarrangement. now, look, practical arrangement. now, look, the practicalarrangement. now, look, the administrations of liz truss and borisjohnson might disagree with that but something that rishi sunak is done is gone down very well here in the eu is essentially, he has never said it but that northern ireland protocol bill could have unilaterally do supplied some of the treaty on ice. that was launched under borisjohnson and by liz truss when she was foreign secretary and then of course she briefly became

prime minister. i think the fact that he appeared to put that on ice went down very well here. the eu was launching legal action for not applying the treaty properly so that's when things were getting really nasty but they certainly have preferred talking to rishi sunak and he has reached this point of potentially announcing a deal in a very short order. maybe tomorrow. but as ione has been reflecting there will be some political legwork to do at home. there will be some political legwork to do at home-— there will be some political legwork to do at home. thank you very much indeed. to do at home. thank you very much indeed- my — to do at home. thank you very much indeed. my colleague ben brown is. to do at home. thank you very muchl indeed. my colleague ben brown is at downing street for us. we should remember that of course it is a conservative government, boris johnson, who signed the initial brexit deal that then his further successes liz truss and now rishi sunak have had to deal with because of the fallout of that initial deal. yes, that is right. i think the rishi sunakfeels yes, that is right. i think the rishi sunak feels that if you can

get this over the line, still a bit of an effort at the moment that that will be quite a feather in his cap. he said today that he is giving it everything. and dominic rob, the deputy prime minister, has said that we are on the cusp of an agreement and we have made great progress said dominic robbed. we keep hearing this word eminently i can tell you there is quite a lot of activity here in downing street and the northern ireland minister and prominent brexit hasjust been ireland minister and prominent brexit has just been seen in the last hour or so leaving number ten and as you have been reporting we have got that meeting tomorrow with rishi sunak and the eu commission president ursula von der leyen and thatis president ursula von der leyen and that is of course hugely significant. we don't know when or where that is going to take place whether that will be here in downing street. it does seem that all machinery of government is here in

number ten working flat out at the moment to try and get this deal over the line and we are alljust waiting for the actual announcement. flit for the actual announcement. of course, in terms of understanding the significance of this, it is about goods going from great britain and northern ireland but the political significance is much wider because it has led to political deadlock and breakdown in northern ireland. there are also wider implications about the whole relationship between the eu and the uk going forward resting on this. yes, that is absolutely right. we don't know the nuts and bolts of any deal. we have heard that this'll be a talk in terms of trade and this is the real sticking point. a green lane for goods going into northern ireland only by a so—called traders and then a red lane for goods going to the republic of ireland and going

on to the republic of ireland and the european union. that would be the european union. that would be the essence of what this agreement, if it is an agreement, would constitute. and as you say, then, if thatis constitute. and as you say, then, if that is over the line then huge implications for power—sharing and more than ireland and that of course depends on the democratic unionist party in northern ireland, whether they give that their seal of approval and the leader of the dup, all eyes will be on him and conservative mps, brexit are mps, eurosceptic mps whether they approve it as well and give it their endorsement. there is still an awful long way to go. rishi sunak might get a deal but it depends on the level of opposition or potential opposition it gets in parliament and in northern ireland itself. ben brown outside _ in northern ireland itself. ben brown outside downing street there. thank you very much indeed. we'll be back to you for more very soon. let's move on.

at least 59 people, including a baby, are reported to have died after a boat carrying migrants sank in rough seas off the southern italian mainland. dozens of bodies were found on a beach near a seaside resort in the calabria region, with others found in the waters nearby. these pictures from the italian coastguard were filmed in darkness, early on sunday morning — and you can see the wreckage of the boat. one local official has suggested as many as 150 people had been onboard. rescuers are still searching for survivors, after the vessel — reportedly broke apart near the coastal town of crotone. the coastguard says 80 people are known to have survived but a large search and rescue effort continues on land and at sea. the president of the european commission, ursula von der leyenm urges eu asylum reform after italy migrant deaths. richard galpin reports. this is all that remains of the wooden boat in which so many people died last night as they tried to reach the southern coast of italy. according to survivors, up to 150

people had been on board. 45 migrants had died while 81 survivors had reached the shore. most of the survivors were from afghanistan. emergency services have continued the search for more survivors at sea in the daylight, using boats and jet skis. but conditions have been bad, making the search difficult. but some bodies have been recovered. italy is one of the main landing points for migrants trying to enter europe by sea. the so—called central mediterranean route is known as one of the world's most dangerous. the pope has expressed his sorrow at the loss of life, which he said included many children. and he added he would pray for them. 12,000 migrants have arrived by sea into italy since the start of the year.

there were more than 100,000 arrivals last year. lord griffiths, leslie griffiths, is a labour peer in the uk's house of lords and a member of the council of europe migration committee. thank you forjoining us. terrible news. we are seeing these repeated disasters in the waters around europe, what are your thoughts today first of all on this tragedy?— first of all on this tragedy? words can't possibly _ first of all on this tragedy? words can't possibly explain _ first of all on this tragedy? words can't possibly explain the - first of all on this tragedy? words can't possibly explain the sorrowl first of all on this tragedy? words i can't possibly explain the sorrow as the pope says in the sense of horror at the pictures that we are seeing. and all that it represents. the imagination of the challenges, the seas, those last moments with the boat, the body is unsure. it is catastrophic. it is humanely difficult to put into words. 0ur

difficult to put into words. our hearts go out to any survivors and the families of those who have died. many people put all the blame on the traffickers but it is not as simple as that, is it? what sort of reform do you think is needed?— do you think is needed? across euro -e do you think is needed? across europe we _ do you think is needed? across europe we are _ do you think is needed? across europe we are bound _ do you think is needed? across europe we are bound by - do you think is needed? across europe we are bound by the - do you think is needed? across. europe we are bound by the 1955 do you think is needed? across - europe we are bound by the 1955 un convention of the eu has been quoted on this that we do need to look of the asylum laws and ask ourselves whether they are serving the purpose. i have to say that migration is such a top topic everywhere in europe in different ways we have seen governments really struggling to cope with the demands that have been making whether it is building fences or outside borders in denmark or trying to evolve new

laws in the english channel. everybody wants a better way of doing things and resorting sometimes, i have to say, to legislation and practice that will themselves bring problems in their own way. themselves bring problems in their own wa . ~ ., ., themselves bring problems in their ownwa .~ . ., themselves bring problems in their ownwa . ~ . ., ., , themselves bring problems in their ownwa . ~ . ., ., own way. what are your thoughts on the italian government's _ own way. what are your thoughts on the italian government's measures i own way. what are your thoughts on | the italian government's measures at the italian government's measures at the moment and their treatment of asylum seekers and what they are doing in the waters, how they are handling the small boats question? i have to say that recently the italian government have said they are going to crack down on asylum seekers as hard as they can and already we know of this example the pupil taken to the sea to rescue migrants has been ordered that once they have picked up survivors from one boat even if there are other

boats in the vicinity where people are a difficulty they are not allowed to go to the other boats and they must then take the ones they have got to a port designated by the italian government which may be hundreds and hundreds of miles away. and there are huge fines for those who defy that legislation. that is leaving people at sea. amnesty this is not right. we have got to look at it but we have got to look at the problem as humanely as possible in the spirit of the 1951 convention. the 1951 convention is very clear that there is some space that will always be front line space, they faced the countries from which people are fleeing and the rest of us should rally to their support and

should be generous in supporting them both financially and in turn shouldering some of the burden. enter legislation, this is part of our law after all. losing that potential area. the laws we have got at the moment and this is very serious and threatening. thank you for our serious and threatening. thank you for your time _ serious and threatening. thank you for your time and _ serious and threatening. thank you for your time and apologies - serious and threatening. thank you for your time and apologies for - serious and threatening. thank you for your time and apologies for the | for your time and apologies for the quality on that signal but we thought it was important to hear him nonetheless. two israelis have been shot dead in the occupied west bank. the israeli army said a palestinian gunman opened fire at an israeli—owned car and then fled the scene. it comes as a high—level security meeting between israeli and palestinian officials is being held injordan, following a wave of deadly violence. a statement from the talks said israel and palestinian officials pledged to work towards reviving

efforts to reach a "just and lasting peace" deal, adding they would work closely to prevent "further violence". elsewhere, tens of thousands of people have held demonstrations across israel against planned legal reforms. the changes would give ministers the power to appoint supreme courtjudges, and end the court's ability to review or annul legislation on constitutional matters. prime minister benjamin netanyahu insists his government is carrying out the will of the people. earlier our middle east correspondent, yolande knell spoke to us. well, this statement has just come out from the aqaba summit, that's a summit that's been taking place in thejordanian red sea resort. it's an unusual one, the first in many years, that has brought together israeli and palestinian security officials, as well as political ones, as well as other officials who come from egypt, jordan and then the us has got the white house most senior person on the middle east present there, brett mcgurk as well. it's all happening

under his watchful eye. the statement after the talks broke up, that started earlier in the day, has just come out saying that both sides, the palestinians and the israelis, are committed to de—escalating further violence. they have committed to maintaining what's known as the status quo rules regarding the holy sites injerusalem. and that's very important because, going forward, we're looking at in april having the islamic holy month of ramadan coinciding with the week—long holiday of passover forjews and that will put a lot of pressure on the contested holy sites, particularly injerusalem, meaning the al—aqsa mosque, as it's known to muslims, temple mount as it's known tojews. in addition to that, we're hearing that the palestinian and israeli sides have committed to stopping what are being called unilateral measures. now, from the palestinians, we understand that means that they will not go to the un and other international forums at this stage to press for action against the israelis.

israel is committing specifically, we understand, to stopping the establishment of any new settlement building for a period of four months and not retroactively legalising unauthorised outposts, settlement outposts, for the next six months. the palestinians have agreed to support confidence—building steps to address outstanding issues through direct dialogue. and we understand that that will mean a meeting in sharm el—sheikh in march, similar to the one that happened in aqaba, so that the next meeting to take place in egypt. and this statement has been welcomed by those other players, by the us and egypt and jordan. votes are being counted in nigeria's most competitive presidential election in decades. the process has been largely peaceful, but there've been some reports of violence in lagos. i spoke to my colleague peter 0kwoche, who's in abuja and peter told us more about the election.

especially in nigeria, they've had two parties that have dominated the political scene. but this year there was a game changer in the third contestant, peter 0bi, who out of nowhere used social media to galvanise the youth of this country. the youth make up 70% of the electorate and they want change. so, yes, it's now a three horse race for those elections. as you mentioned, they did go rather peacefully in most of the country, but there were pockets of violence in lagos, in bayelsa state, which is in the oil producing niger delta. but we've just heard from the head of the electoral commission here in nigeria, mahmood yakubu, he acknowledged that there were some problems, but that counting has begun. and hopefully by tomorrow or early tuesday we should begin to get an idea of who the next president of nigeria is.

we will be keeping you updated across all of those stories in the coming hours do stay with us. see you soon. good evening. the weekend brought us a fair amount good evening. the weekend brought us a fairamount of good evening. the weekend brought us a fair amount of dry weather with a call e3 blues for sun. in other areas there was plenty of sunshine. the sun was about to set a little earlier on. as we had during the coming week, the weather isn't changing in a hurry. looking mainly dry for most places and some sunshine. the amount of cloud around at night time frosts too. there is the reason for all of the settled weather, a big area of high pressure keeping weather at bay. down to the mediterranean storm bringing you disrupted weather. we have still got this breed is rotating around the high pressure, more cloud across northern and eastern england. that

will drift southwards overnight bringing one or two sours for central areas. mostly frost free by dawn at least where you have got that cloud but it could be quite a cold start to monday morning. parts of scotland “4 —5 first thing monday. quite a bit of cloud you can see drifting westwards, could 102 light showers. lighter winds and more sunshine further north of scotland, northern ireland seeing sunny spells too. top temperature is about seven to 10 celsius and that is quite typical for where we should be by the end of february. it is going to feel colder during monday afternoon, quite a brisk breeze drifting through the english channel. the channel islands, look at that feeling only around three celsius. then as we move through monday evening and overnight into tuesday. most of us dry, just cast your eye towards the south—east and your eye towards the south—east and you can see these blue colours. a line of more persistent showery range are starting to form early tuesday and affecting the far

south—east of england. elsewhere a cold night and a touch of frost for many of us and they could be the odd misty patch in the north as well. on tuesday, that showery rain is likely to affect parts of kent and sussex towards the channel islands. stella breeze on tuesday. further north, you could catch one or two showers especially in northern england. the best of the brightness of either scotland and northern ireland. further ahead, scotland and northern ireland. furtherahead, it looks scotland and northern ireland. further ahead, it looks mostly settled in quite a good deal of dry weather. a little bit of showery weather. a little bit of showery weather across northern areas. the best of the sunshine towards the west. goodbye for now.

this is bbc news. the headlines: president of the european commission ursula von der leyen will travel to the uk tomorrow to meet prime minister rishi sunak. earlier the bbc learnt that an announcement about the new deal between the eu and the uk on post—brexit trading rules for northern ireland is imminent. at least 59 people, including a baby, have died after a boat carrying migrants sank near the coast of southern italy. 0ne local official has suggested as many as 150 people had been onboard. counting is under way in nigeria's most competitive elections in decades — with three candidates still hopeful of becoming president. and — blizzard conditions in unexpected places in america — as a cold weather front hits

california and other southern states.