delivered until 2028. and17—year—old darts sensation luke littler hopes to make history tonight if he can beat three—time former world champion michael van gerwen. hello, i'm annita mcveigh. we start on the latest on the attack from new orleans which killed 1a people on new year's day. the white house has confirmed president biden will visit the city on monday. it comes as the brother of the man behind the attack says he's struggling to understand how shamsud—dinjabbar could have committed such an attack. the fbi say the army veteran acted alone and had declared his support for the group calling itself islamic state. in videos he made before the

deadly attack, the 42—year—old talked about killing his family as well. speaking to our us partner, cbs news, 24—year—old abdurjabbar said he had no idea why his older half brother was in new orleans, and spoke of his shock at hearing the news. i'm still shocked by the whole thing. it still doesn't seem like it actually happened. ijust dropped my phone and crawled into a corner somewhere and started crying. this is completely out of character for him, you know, these actions. and they are also not any type of representation of what it means to be a muslim. we've also been hearing from some of the families of the 14 victims of the new orleans attack. one of them has told the bbc his family were given �*zero information�* about the death of 21—year—old tiger bech. tiger bech was a former all—ivy league kick returner, playing for the princeton tigers from 2016 to 2018. his brotherjack has been speaking to my colleague sumi somaskanda.

obviously it's pretty tough, you know, losing somebody like my brother, he was such a great person. he had so many friends. um, if i were to put an announcer, stand up, if you were tiger's best friend, hundreds of hundreds of people would stand up. it hurts, you know? that was my best friend. uh, looked at him, looked at him, looked up to him for everything. he was my role model, my inspiration. uh, all i ever wanted to do wasjust make him proud. um, he was so selfless and kind, resilient. and my, uh, my parents and my sisters are just have been pretty, pretty emotional as you could think. and, you know, ijust try to been there to be that rock for them. um, it's definitely been pretty tough, though. jack, you've been talking a little bit about the fact that you spoke to your brother on the phone just hours

before new year's eve. can you tell us a bit about that conversation? yeah. uh, you know, it wasjust another phone call. like i said, that's my best friend, my inspiration, my role model. um, we talked every day. he was the first person i told about, you know, whatever it was, good, bad and different. you know, talked to him so much. yeah, it'sjust, we thought it was going to be another regular conversation. i was just showing him i was at my uncle's house in dallas, and he was in new orleans with my parents eating, and i was showing him what we were eating, and he was showing us what he was eating. um, but the last words that we ever told each other was, i told him to be safe and that i loved him. and he told me how much he loved me, hung up the phone, and that was the last time i ever spoke with him. tell us a bit more about your brother. you said he's your role model, your best friend. quite the football player,

as you are as well. oh, yeah. he was a beast in every, in every way in life. uh, you know, his name was tiger, and it was very, very fitting. um, you know, he was a go—getter. you know, he was a smaller guy, five, eight, five, nine. and from a young age, hejust fought. he was always a fighter. whatever it was, whether it was in sports, whether it was, just wherever it may be, in every facet. he's touched so many lives and impacted so many lives. and, um, you know, me and my family, this is something that we're going to have to deal with. you know, every time we wake up and every time we go to sleep, it's going to be something, you know, every holiday there's going to be an empty seat at the table. um, but he wouldn't want us to grieve and mourn. you know, he'd want us to keep attacking life. to go and do what he did. be resilient, charismatic, um, loving, kind.

he'd want us to go, um, be there for each other in all our different endeavours. and, um, he wasjust, like i said, my role model. my family's role model. i miss him so much. um, my mum and my dad have done such an awesome jobjust raising me and my three siblings. um, you know, we're so close, us three. um, so many people always tell us they've never seen siblings so close like this ever before. and, uh, the first thing i told my parents and my family was because, like i said, he lives up in new york, and we're just all scattered across the country. and i told him instead of, you know, instead of only seeing him a couple of times a year, um, now he'll be with us in every moment, you know, in every part of our lives.

earlier, we heard from billy nungesser, the lieutenant governor of louisiana, who explained his concerns about keeping new orleans safe. i continue to pray for those families who lost loved ones and those recovering, and looking ahead and making our city safer. we have a super bowl coming and mardi gras. but i'm angry. i'm angry that to learn these balusters was taken out and being repaired for super bowl and not in place for the sugar bowl with the large crowds we saw in new orleans. and then you just reported that they had other barriers in storage to block the sidewalks, that are now being installed. and i'm angry that those were not in place for such a big event, like the sugar bowl in new orleans. our new orleans police and state police do an incrediblejob. you know, we have mardi gras where it goes off without a hitch every year. and this terrorist was hellbent on causing... and he was going to do this anywhere. unfortunately, our city

let their guard down by not having those barriers out. he still would have caused major, major havoc. but to know that we could let our guard down by not having those barriers in place made it a little easierfor him to harm more people and take more lives. but our governor surely will be on top of this and make sure we get every protection in place prior to super bowl and make new orleans probably the safest city in the country going forward. it's just unfortunate that it took this incident to shine light on what i call the lack of leadership in new orleans, to have these things in place prior to that major event. we can show you these pictures coming to us live from new orleans where flowers, candles, messages have been left, along

bourbon street, the seed of that attack in the early hours of new year's day —— seen of that attack. a football jersey as well the commercial people coming by pay their respect. these pictures just coming coming by pay their respect. these picturesjust coming into us lie. —— live. a big day for us politics as house speaker mikejohnson�*s bid to retain his post looks to be on a knife edge — that's despite president—elect donald trump giving him his endorsement. lawmakers are converging on the capitol to kick off a new congress. republican senatorjohn thune has been selected without a hitch as the new senate majority leader but in the house of representatives, mrjohnson is trying to persuade a handful of sceptical republican lawmakers to back his leadership. johnson can only afford to lose just one vote from his own party, but around half a dozen hardliners are reported to be holding out for promises to rein in spending. mikejohnson has been

speaking to reporters as he walked to the speaker's office. this election is not just about one person. it's about moving forward with the america first agenda that the mandate was given by the american people, by the electorate. president trump got 77 million votes. the house republicans got almost 75 million. it's a record number. they are expecting us to get to work and we don't have time for drama. so my simple message to my colleagues is make suggestions about process improvements. we're open to that at all times, but i don't make deals with anyone. there's no quid pro quo here. i don't do anything in exchange for a vote other than commit to make this institution work as effectively and efficiently as possible. a short while ago, i spoke to audrey fahlberg who is a political reporter at the national reporter in washington. she described how big a test this is of the republicans�* control of congress. republicans are really looking forward to their trifecta in washington. obviously, trump won this landslide victory. and republicans, of course, have majorities in the house and the senate.

but that optimism about their agenda this year and this new congress is, of course, tempered by this very slim majority that they have in the house. recall that trump's initial pick to lead the justice department, matt gaetz, the initial attorney general designee, resigned after he withdrew from consideration from that role. that brings them to a 219, 215, uh, majority heading into the new congress. and, of course, that will grow slimmer still, as two other congressmen will head to high—profile roles in the trump administration. today's major task for speakerjohnson, there has been frustration brewing with his leadership for quite some time. thomas massie, one of the biggest fiscal hawks in congress, he threatened to oustjohnson last year over frustrations with the costly foreign aid bill. he never followed through on that threat. but after pre—christmas government funding, negotiations looked pretty sour forjohnson.

he, of course, ended up coming to a solution that ended up funding the government through mid—march. but there are a lot of frustrations with the length of the initial bill and the costly provisions and a bipartisan deal with democrats. and, of course, the second attempt, at the urging of trump, johnson tried to muscle through a debt limit extension, which infuriated fiscal hawks even more so, as you mentioned, a lot of hardliners in addition to massie. it's unclear what the vote will look like today, but a lot of hardliners are really hoping for promises for spending cuts and payfors in legislation this cycle if they want to give him the gavel. they want the spending reigned in, is it down to horse trading or will it be trickier than that, more fundamental? it will it be trickier than that, more fundamental?- will it be trickier than that, more fundamental? it is tricky because recall _ more fundamental? it is tricky because recall when _ more fundamental? it is tricky because recall when kevin - because recall when kevin mccarthy took multiple rounds, multiple ballots of counting on

the house floor to secure the gavel last congress. and he did that after, he eventually won the gavel after a lot of behind closed doors deals with republicans start one of those agreements he agreed to is lowering the motion to vacate the speaker to just one vote, which ended up leading to his undoing. speakerjohnson is aware of that, that is why he is telling reporters he will not agree to any closed door deals, a lot of hardliners are talking about urging johnson to make chip roy the chairman of the rules committee, something they want him to agree to, unclear if he will follow through on that but the major consideration is whether johnson will agree to spending cuts but we will have to see what the vote will look like. briefly, does this potentially give more power than expected to the minority leader in the house, the democrat, who

speakerjohnson has worked with on a number of occasions to get votes through? he on a number of occasions to get votes through?— votes through? he has worked with him in _ votes through? he has worked with him in the _ votes through? he has worked with him in the past, - votes through? he has worked with him in the past, as - votes through? he has worked with him in the past, as i - with him in the past, as i mentioned, they worked together on a government funding deal of bipartisan 15117 page bill, but that ended up falling through and has frustrated jefferies. today democrats are expected to vote forjefferies on the house floor and are not expected to save johnson floor and are not expected to savejohnson in this vote. but next year he may need help to get big ticket items across the finish line because he will have such a slim majority. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

us president, joe biden has blocked a $14 billion

takeover of us steel by its japanese rival, nippon steel. let's go to our north american business correspondence for more. you were suggesting last hour that there is legal action might happen, we now have confirmation of that, tell us more about what nippon steel order lawyers are saying. bath order lawyers are saying. both companies _ order lawyers are saying. both companies have _ order lawyers are saying. ezrrit'i companies have condemned today's decision. they said this was a good deal for workers, that they would invest in the plant, and they really are going to go after the us government and challenge this decision. and part the ground, the legal grounds for this is that you have a federal body that you have a federal body that reviewed the deal and had toissue that reviewed the deal and had to issue a report on whether or not there were grounds to block it on national security concerns. ultimately they referred the decision to president biden and at the

heart of the complaint they will argue that the administration placed undue pressure on the review process and skewed the findings that led to today's decision. so this is by far, we are nowhere near the end of what is happening in this saga, from the get go it has drawn opposition from steelworkers in the us and also politicians across the aisle, democrats and republicans alike. the key question is what does donald trump do but all of this, will he intervene when he returns to the white house onjanuary 20? the white house on january 20? a the white house onjanuary 20? a point the white house on january 20? a point of the white house onjanuary 20? a point of transition, the white house on january 20? a point of transition, lots the white house onjanuary 20? a point of transition, lots of questions around that, in turn support the biden white house is saying, what are its concerns minute talks about security and supply chain concerns? tell us more. it is all about— concerns? tell us more. it is all about preserving - concerns? tell us more. it 3 all about preserving domestic production of us steel. if you

look at what nippon steel has been saying, they have pointed to, we will run decisions past you first, we will invest lots of money to grow the plants which are now looking pretty outdated and in need of substantial investment, they had bent over backwards to try and allay the administration because my concerns but it landed on deaf ears. the biden administration clearly felt that because this was a global company that ultimately market forces would dictate what the company did in the future. so thatis company did in the future. so that is the argument they have put forward in blocking this, saying they need to protect domestic steel production. steel is a key component in all sorts of production, including national security defence, is thatis national security defence, is that is why the us is taking this action today, that is white has become such a hot issue both now and also during the campaign trail leading up to the election.—

adult social care in england is unlikely to be reformed for at least three years. the government has confirmed that an independent commission on long—term funding will start work in april, but won't deliver its report until 2028. the health and social care secretary wes streeting has promised "to finally grasp the nettle on social care reform". but councils and care providers say it's too long to wait, with vital services already on their knees. our social affairs editor alison holt reports. yeah, so hopefully we'll be able to make a real difference. for the health and care secretary wes streeting, an early visit to a care home in carlisle today to meet residents and staff. a place for him to announce the independent commission that he has asked to draw up a plan for a future national care service. the current system is under huge pressure, juggling increasing demand, underfunding and staff shortages. mr streeting says they are already tackling current problems but also need a blueprint for the longer term. we are gripping the social care crisis that we are looking

to stabilise the sector over the next 12 to 2a months. but also to deliver the reforms we need for the medium to long term to make sure that we have got a national care service that is fit to meet the needs of older and disabled people in our country. the new care commission will be led by baroness louise casey, who has led past government inquiries and has a reputation for getting things done. the commission will start work in april. it has been told it must build political and public consensus to avoid the arguments that have led to the failure of past plans. proposals for medium—term reforms will be published by mid—2026. but the final report with its plans for how care services will be organised and paid for in the long term is unlikely to be delivered before 2028. care providers say they need a plan for the future much sooner. the announcement about an independent commission led by baroness casey looks, to many in the sector, as

a government delaying tactic. it is not going to report for two to three years, as i understand, and it feels like fiddling while rome is burning. if the government wants to make this work at scale, we need a completely different approach, not ignoring social care but drawing it in and funding it properly. family carers who support older or disabled relatives say change is needed but agree it needs to happen as soon as possible. actually, you know, we were very pleased to hear the announcement about social care reform but i think some anxieties about the timeline for it. because there is a crisis now. the government says it is also setting out plans to train more care staff to carry out health checks and providing an additional £86 million before april to make home adaptations that help people with disabilities remain under their own roofs. alison holt, bbc news.

south korean anti—corru ption investigators have appealed to the acting president to intervene, after an attempt to arrest the impeached president, yoon suk yeol, was foiled by his security team. mr yoon is wanted over his botched declaration of martial law last month. the investigators — accompanied by police — had their way blocked by some 200 security staff as they arrived at the presidential compound. the crisis has plunged south korea into political chaos after a long period of stable democratic government, asjean mckenzie reports from seoul. the standoff started before dawn. police blocked the roads around the president's home, pushing back his incensed supporters. as the sun rose, officers moved in on his house to make the arrest, but they were unable to get in, blocked by the president's security team, who formed a human chain

to keep them out. at lunchtime, they gave up. an arrest was impossible, they said, and they were concerned for their safety. it's been exactly a month since president yoon plunged his country into crisis, imposing martial law, ordering troops to storm the parliament. he was soon suspended and is being investigated for starting an insurrection, but he's refused to cooperate. he's ignored all requests to come in for questioning. through this, mr yoon�*s supporters have stayed loyal, surrounding his home — they, too, trying to block his arrest. this is totally unchartered territory for south korea. it is the first time a sitting president has ever faced arrest and there is no rule book for this. the president has supposedly been stripped of his power, but the fact that you have law enforcement officers trying to carry out

a legal arrest warrant, and yet they're being blocked by the president's security team, well, it raises serious questions about who is in charge here. victorious and emboldened, they chant the same unfounded conspiracy theories mr yoon himself has alluded to — that the last elections were rigged and the country has been infiltrated by pro—north korea forces. if they come again, i will come again, and i will stop them. they have to kill me first before they arrest president yoon. i'm ready to lie down and be killed by the communist elements. mr yoon swore he'd fight this to the end, and this is exactly what he, his security, and his supporters are now doing.

jean mckenzie, bbc news, seoul. germany's and france's foreign ministers are visiting syria to meet its new, de facto leader ahmed al—sharaa. they are the latest western officials to visit syria since the fall of the assad regime. the ministers have visited the notorious saydnaya prison and are holding talks on behalf of the european union with the new syrian leader. it is the highest level visit by western powers since the rebel group seized power. she said she had made clear that women's rights are essential for improving human rights in syria. here she is speaking a short time ago. fix, syria. here she is speaking a short time ago.— syria. here she is speaking a short time ago. a better future for s ria short time ago. a better future for syria means _ short time ago. a better future for syria means an _ short time ago. a better future for syria means an inclusive, . for syria means an inclusive, peaceful transfer of power,

reconciliation and reconstruction. this requires political dialogue, involving all ethnic and religious groups, involving men and equally women. they almost be involved in the constitution process and in the future syrian government. stay with us here on bbc news. hello there. some very cold air with us at the moment. lows of —8 degrees celsius earlier on this morning in parts of oxfordshire. and tonight we're expecting another frost and ice risk and freezing fog patches into tomorrow morning. disruptive snow for some of us, too, through the weekend, notably within these two amber weather warning areas issued by the met office. snow towards the north. snow and ice further south, and some of the snow is likely to be drifting snow with strong, gusty winds. so do check before you travel this weekend. cold air still spilling down from the north—west as we head through the rest of today.

and that's going to be driving some showers, that northwesterly wind, into parts of the cheshire gap, down through north sea—facing coasts, northern scotland, northern ireland. it's feeling cold out there. temperatures in low single figures, some sunshine, though, towards the south and then overnight tonight as the winds tend to lighten then we'll see some freezing fog patches develop again across the south of england and south wales, some cloud out towards the north and west. still one or two wintry showers. watch out for some icy stretches here. and temperatures once more will be dipping below freezing, but not quite as cold towards the south as it was last night. now, that freezing fog where we see it form is likely to linger on. there will be some areas of cloud out towards the north and the west, but some sunshine towards the north and the east, clouding over towards the south with our approaching weather system, and feeling very cold. now, as this rain bumps into the colder air, it's likely to turn to snow, fleetingly for many, towards the south. but as that snow pushes its way further northwards, then it's likely to be heavy and disruptive. strong, gusty winds. you can see that squeeze on the isobars as we head

through saturday night and into sunday, but by the time we get to sunday, this is all falling as rain towards the south. but heavy snowfall across parts of the pennines, into the southern uplands, stretching up into eastern scotland as we head through sunday. some snow, too, for northern ireland very likely, and a sharp contrast in temperatures — cold in the north, much milderfurther south. and these are the snow depth amounts, so, particularly over the higher ground, we could see as much as 30 to 40cm of snow, and some of that will be drifting. into monday and tuesday, our low moves away, but we start to draw down a northerly wind again and we could see further wintry showers, perhaps, as we head through next week. another drop in temperature, but some sunshine around at times, staying very cold. bye— bye.

this is bbc news. the headlines: president biden will visit new orleans on monday following the new year's day attack which killed 1a people. the new us congress sits for the first time today to vote for the house speaker. an arctic blast hits the uk — temperatures fall to nearly minus 8 celsius with snow warnings

for the weekend. former deputy prime minister sir nick clegg is stepping down from his role at social media giant meta. and 17—year—old darts sensation luke littler hopes to make history tonight if he can beat three—time former world champion michael van gerwen. hello, i'm annita mcveigh. amber warnings for snow and ice have been issued for large areas of england and wales this weekend, after an arctic blast pushed temperatures to nearly minus eight degrees celsius overnight. the uk health security agency has warned that vulnerable and elderly people will be at risk. gritters were out through the night and into the early hours making sure the roads were clear and safe. back in october when the winter season started here, this whole area was full of salt, and it was as high as the top of the pile you can see there. here, they are constantly monitoring the situation on the roads and the weather forecast, to see how much salt they need to use each day.