good morning, welcome to breakfast with nina warhurst and jon kay. our headlines today. bad weather and flooding continues to affect large parts of the uk, with a severe flood warning issued for part of the river soar in leicestershire. but it is an improving picture today. many of us having a drier day. there will be some snow in the north and west, still cold, but getting colder through the week. on thursday overnight we could see —20 in some parts of the country. the home secretary promises a new law targeting those who fail to report, or cover up, sexual abuse of children following a row

about how to tackle grooming gangs. could having a tattoo stop you getting job? we look at the rules around ink in the workplace. in sport, it's six straight premier league wins for nottingham forest. another clinical victory — this time against wolves — taking nuno espirito santo�*s side to within touching distance of the top of the table. and, apprentice required to learn how to hand repair the world's most widely used braille machine. good morning. it's tuesday, 7th of january. major incidents have been declared and dozens of people rescued by emergency crews as the uk continues to deal with extreme weather conditions. almost 200 flood warnings have been issued in parts of england, including a severe warning in leicestershire, where some residents had to be evacuated. graham satchell has the latest. large parts of the leicestershire and lincolnshire countryside

are under water this morning. in both counties, fire services have declared major incidents. my friend is coming. dozens of people have been rescued from cars and houses, as heavy rain and melting snow caused rivers to burst their banks. there are almost 200 flood warnings still in place across england, and one severe warning, meaning danger to life at this caravan park near barrow upon soar in leicestershire. east midlands ambulance service has for the first time declared a critical incident, saying flooding has significantly added to existing pressures of patient demand and a lack of beds in local hospitals. 50 children at ednam primary school in lincolnshire had to be driven to safety by volunteers, after their school was cut off by the rising water. two inches of water in here. this is everything we'd bought from last year's flood that still hasn't been fitted yet. for many, like tom, who has

twin three month old daughters, today will be about assessing the damage and starting to clean up. although the forecast is for drier, calmer weather in the coming days, there are new warnings for snow and ice in some parts, which could lead to more travel chaos. despite the pleas from emergency services not to drive in flooded areas, some couldn't resist the temptation for some inland rural water skiing. graham satchell, bbc news. our reporter natasha turney is in leicestershire, which has seen some of the worst flooding, including a severe warning in barrow upon soar. natasha, what's the situation there this morning? well, we're here in a village this morning where there is quite a lot of water. you can see behind me the streets flooded. for some vehicles for some vehicles streets flooded. for some vehicles

it is impossible. a few bigger it is impossible. a few bigger vehicles are getting through. but the buses turning around and re—routing because of this. on my way here this morning you can see the fields that you would normally see to the right of you, look like ponds as you drive past. a lot of the area still very waterlogged and a lot of flooding nearby. this is one of the areas worst hit in the country, leicestershire. many flood warnings out yesterday. that has slightly reduced today. but we do have a severe flood warning in place for barrow upon soar. you will know if you are in the area because your phone will suddenly start going off, sounding a large alarm, to tell you that you are in an area of severe flood warning and you do need to be alert. now there is still a lot of disruption on roads and rail. there was yesterday a lot of warnings of

disruption on roads and rail. there was yesterday a lot 0 a larnings of disruption on roads and rail. there was yesterday a lot 0 a number of applies with schools. a number closed yesterday. there will be a few that remain closed today. in areas like this though it is still reasonably waterlogged. a lot of local flooding. reasonably waterlogged. a lot of localflooding. the reasonably waterlogged. a lot of local flooding. the area reasonably waterlogged. a lot of localflooding. the area is reasonably wet. check before you go out and be careful. good advice, natasha. thank you. john has a round—up of the other stories. ——jon. beginning with how to address child sex abuse. that's right. home secretary yvette cooper has said those who cover up, or fail to report child sexual abuse, could face professional or criminal sanctions, under a new offence to be introduced this year. the announcement came amid mounting pressure to implement recommendations made after a child sex abuse inquiry more than two years ago, to a previous conservative government. our political correspondent hannah miller reports. from rotherham to oldham, oxford, rochdale and telford, the children who were sexually abused and raped by grooming gangs,

have been promised change before. but more than two years after a public inquiry that was described as a watershed by the previous government, its recommendations are yet to be implemented. now labour say they'll do it. but these crimes have not been taken seriously for too long, and far too many children have been failed. that is why this government is determined to act, strengthening the law, taking forward recommendations from independent inquiries, supporting stronger police action, and protection for victims. there is no excuse for anyone not to take these crimes seriously. the government says it will introduce mandatory reporting. that's professional and criminal sanctions for anyone working with children who fails to report, or covers up, child sexual abuse. grooming will also become an aggravating factor in child sexual offences, which could lead to longer sentences.

and there are plans to improve data collection around child abuse and protection. but the conservatives say there needs to be a new national inquiry. and if the government will not order that statutory national public inquiry, we will table an amendment to the children well—being bill later this week to put the matter to a vote. it will be the fastest to 100 miles an hour. the issue was thrown into the spotlight following a series of incendiary social media posts by the multi—billionaire owner of x, elon musk, who has produced no evidence for some of his claims. a former greater manchester police detective who exposed failings in investigating grooming gangs accused the government of a knee—jerk reaction. we need a thorough, honest, deep dive into the reasons why, and an honest acknowledgement that we have failed generations of children. it isn't a local problem, it's a national problem. this is not going to go away, and i, for one, am going to carry

on telling the truth until this is solved and children's lives are safer. the government insists it's been working on its response to child sexual abuse behind the scenes for months. but the issue has now been thrown into the spotlight once again. and there are victims and survivors who wantjustice, and to know that others won't have to go through what they did. hannah miller, bbc news. henry is live for us in westminster where this issue continues to dominate politics. the first week back after the new year. henry, this question about whether the government will hold a national public inquiry into these gangs, is there any chance they will change their minds? i there any chance they will change their minds?— their minds? i think keir starmer has staked _ their minds? i think keir starmer has staked a _ their minds? i think keir starmer has staked a lot _ their minds? i think keir starmer has staked a lot of _ their minds? i think keir starmer has staked a lot of personal- has staked a lot of personal responsibility and the answer is that being no. it was a big deal yesterday, perhaps his most impassioned moment as prime

minister, when keir starmer used a speech after the nss minister, when keir starmer used a speech after the n55 to lash out against the lies on his record as dpp and more generally how he and various labourfigures dpp and more generally how he and various labour figures have approached this issue. his view is that the government cannot allay the concerns in sections of society about the grooming gangs issue by implementing the recommendations of the independent inquiry which reported in 2022, rather than triggering a new process which might result in new or different recommendations. that is what you heard from yvette cooper, the home secretary, in the house of commons yesterday. one of the bigger recommendations, as hanauer was describing there, now going to be cemented by this government, where it wasn't by the previous government before the general election injuly 2024. a before the general election injuly 202a. a couple of other things worth noting. the conservatives have really now picked up on this. it has had a slightly surrealjourney really now picked up on this. it has

had a slightly surreal journey to the top of the news agenda, especially by elon musk, the richest man in the world, bludgeoning it there. the conservatives very much now running with this. they say they want to force a vote in the house of commons tomorrow to push for a new national inquiry. i think that a vote tomorrow, if it happens, could become the most divisive moment yet of this story. become the most divisive moment yet of this story-— of this story. henry, for now, thank ou ve of this story. henry, for now, thank you very much _ of this story. henry, for now, thank you very much indeed. _ of this story. henry, for now, thank you very much indeed. another - of this story. henry, for now, thank. you very much indeed. another crime story. creating sexually explicit deep fake images is set to become a criminal offence. culprits could face up to two years in prison if they make sexual images using artificial intelligence tools, without the consent of the person depicted. ministers said the new law will help protect people from online abuse. police investigating allegations of preventable deaths and harm at an nhs trust have doubled the number of cases they are examining. detectives were initially looking at 105 cases at university hospitals sussex nhs trust, but have expanded this to more than 200. the trust says it's

co—operating with police. chinese media say at least 53 people have been killed after a powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck a remote area of tibet, close to the border with nepal. strong aftershocks have damaged buildings and could be felt in nepal's capital kathmandu and parts of northern india. the chinese military have begun rescue efforts, sending drones to the remote area. president biden has paid tribute to the victims of a terror attack in new orleans. mr biden visited a memorial, alongside first ladyjill, to lay flowers before he spoke at an interfaith prayer service dedicated to those killed or injured in the incident last week. we'll support everyone who lives there, all the people of new orleans, as they heal. and if there's one thing we know, new orleans defines strength and resilience.

you define it. whether it's from this attack, or hurricanes, or super storms, this city's people get back up. that's the spirit of america as well. the crucial christmas trading period failed to give retailers the boost they wanted after a difficult year. that's according to new figures from the british retail consortium, showing a marginal increase in december sales compared to the previous year. here's our business correspondent, emma simpson. a new year on the high street. the sales are in full swing as retailers try to shift all the old stock. but what's the christmas story on spending? i gave more token things rather than big things to people. yeah. because everybody�*s got enough, that's why, i think, and it's the cost of living. everybody, from the rich

to the poor, are poor. i didn't buy anything crazy, but ijust want to spoil people i love. because it's christmas, you're just spending . a whole heap of money, and i don't believe - in all of that. i am worried about that, but it was christmas, so ijust spent what i had. the all important christmas trading got off to a slow start, but it did deliver some sales growth last month. beauty, advent calendars, jewellery and electricals did particularly well. but december�*s retail figures included a big weekend of black friday sales, numbers which are usually in the november figures. according to this survey, if you look across the quarter as a whole, the growth was minimal, just 0.4% higher than the previous year. it was a really sluggish period for retailers. we were hoping for a good set of sales figures, and unfortunately, we didn't get those coming through, so it's a real concern leading into the year ahead. consumers are still spending,

but these figures suggest households were still cautious over the festive period, a time when retailers are banking on us to splash the cash. emma simpson, bbc news. coming up to a quarter past six. how do you celebrate after your team score? you wouldn't know, would you? we did on sunday, thank you very much! well, take a look at this. sweet, cuddly mayhem! this is how fans at an american hockey league celebrated after their team scored their first goal of the game. the teddy bear toss at the hershey bears hockey club in pennsylvania takes place every year. but this year was a record—breaker according to the team, with more than 100,000 stuffed toys thrown onto the rink. the bears will be distributed across a total of 35 local charities. there are only a couple of thousand in the crowd. they must have taken

100 each. goodness me. hopefully nobody was injured. it is one way to celebrate. and they do get distributed to local charities. they don't get wasted. if only carol was with us in the studio, we could have chucked our bears at her. i would have caught it as well. good morning. we have been seeing the pictures of the terrible flooding we have got. still that severe flood warning in force from the environment agency and parts of the river soar in leicestershire. the river levels are expected to remain high until tomorrow at least. and of course the severe flood warning means imminent danger to life and also disruption as we have seen. what we have got for the rest of the week is staying cold, sharp overnight frosts, bitterly cold overnight frosts, bitterly cold overnight wednesday to thursday. but there into friday night, we could have temperatures of —20. you did hear that correctly will stop that will be in parts of the north of hear that correctly will stop that will be in parts of the north of

scotland. —17 in scotland. —17 in parts of northern ireland. something to bear in mind. there is also the further risk of snow and ice. an improving picture today. you can see on the radar where we have got some rain showers and also some snow showers. it is a cold start to the day. the risk of ice once again on untreated surfaces first thing. there will be a lot more in the way of drier conditions today with some sunshine coming through. the snow showers largely across the north of scotland being blown in on the wind. at times... snow showers in northern ireland, wintry showers in north wales, north—west england and the midlands as well. they will become more isolated. temperatures today, three in the north to five in the south. especially if you add on the wind chill in the far north of scotland. thank you, carol. we are discussing the extreme

thank you, carol. we are discussing the extr any chance it will be is there any chance it will be heading our way?— is there any chance it will be heading our way? is there any chance it will be headin: our wa ? . _ , , ., heading our way? that system is now in the atlantic. _ heading our way? that system is now in the atlantic. it — heading our way? that system is now in the atlantic. it is _ heading our way? that system is now in the atlantic. it is coming _ heading our way? that system is now in the atlantic. it is coming our - in the atlantic. it is coming our way. probably by friday. but nothing like you saw in the states. it will come in as a weakening weather front. it will introduce some rain. we may see some snow and its leading edge. but behind it, less cold air, so nothing like the states. so, it deluded version. thank goodness for that. let's look in a bit more detail and for this happening in america right now. the uk isn't alone in facing treacherous weather conditions, as a winter storm has hit the united states. many regions have declared a state of emergency, and more than 20,000 flights have been delayed or cancelled, as our north america correspondent david willis reports. across central and southern states, all the way to the east coast, america is experiencing some of its heaviest snowfalls on record. dumps of up to 16 inches in depth led seven states to declare a state of emergency, and left nearly a quarter of a million people without power,

as the temperatures plunged. blizzard conditions caused thousands of flights to either be cancelled or delayed. and at least five people have reportedly died in the storm. and so treacherous are the driving conditions, particularly at night, that officials are urging residents to stay at home. fresh powder, right? yeah, it's fresh. improvisation, the name of the game for those determined to travel. the storm left the us capitol building in washington dc cloaked in a veil of snow. schools cancelled lessons, boosting attendance at the city's annual snowball fight. participants take part at their own risk. you may not believe it from these pictures, but no casualties were reported. i did not come here to make friends, that's for sure. there's no tiring of it for those with a fur coat. pandas bao li and qing bao were pictured frolicking in the winter wonderland

at washington's national zoo. sent from china in an attempt at warming relations between the two nations, this was their first snowfall in the us, and both were clearly determined to make the most of it. david willis, bbc news. well, somebody is enjoying it at least. not those people at the airport. teddy bears at the ice hockey, panda bears in america, loads of berries already. let's take a look at today's papers. the prime minister's response to attacks on him by tech billionaire elon musk over grooming gangs leads many of the papers. sir keir starmer accused mr musk of spreading "lies and misinformation", reports the guardian. it adds that he also criticised the last government and accused conservative politicians who are now calling for a national inquiry, of "jumping on the bandwagon". we will speak to robertjenrick of the conservatives in just a moment.

the daily telegraph carries a picture of a teary—eyed justin trudeau, who announced his resignation yesterday after a decade as canadian prime minister. following his announcement, the paper says that he was taunted by his old rival and us president elect donald trump, who called for canada to become america's "51st state". that would have gone down well. and back home, the times says the uk is on the cusp of an electric car charging point revolution. the paper says more than 120 planning applications worth more than £500 million have been granted in the past 18 months by local councils. people say, if i get one, where will i charge it? if you haven't got access to power, its a nightmare. i love this story in the guardian this morning, which is talking about an area of eastern in nottinghamshire. thejunction of abbey area of eastern in nottinghamshire. the junction of abbey road and

windsor avenue where every week there is a mystery. 15 to 20 bananas appear outside the church on a plate and nobody knows who is bringing them or why. are they peeled? they are not peeled. the peels are left and somebody takes them. some people