and prince harry's legal battle against british tabloids for allegedly unlawfully intruding into his life goes to trial. hello, i'm rajini vaidyanathan. in breaking news, prime minister sir keir starmer has announced a public inquiry into what he called the "senseless, barbaric" murders of three schoolgirls at a taylor swift—themed dance class, in southport last summer. on monday, 18—year—old axel rudakubana pleaded guilty to stabbing the girls. in the wake of his plea it emerged he'd had contact with a range of different state agencies throughout his teenage years, including the police, social services and mental health services.

speaking in downing street, sir keir said the failure of state institutions leaps off the page but the tragedy -- sir —— sir keir starmer said the public inquiry into the killings would seek to answer difficult questions. the responsibility for this barbaric act lies, as it always does, with the vile individual who carried it out. but that is no comfort. and more importantly, it is no excuse. and so, as part of the inquiry launched by the home secretary yesterday, i will not let any institution of the state deflect from their failure. failure which, in this case, frankly leaps off the page. for example, the perpetrator was referred to the prevent programme on three separate occasions — in 2019 once and in 2021 twice. yet on each of these occasions,

a judgment was made that he did not meet the threshold for intervention, a judgment that was clearly wrong and which failed those families. and i acknowledge that here today. throughout this case to this point, we have only been focused on justice. if this trial had collapsed because i or anyone else had revealed crucial details while the police were investigating, while the case was being built, while we were awaiting a verdict, then the vile individual who committed these crimes would have walked away a free man, the prospect ofjustice destroyed for the victims

and their families. i would never do that, and nobody would ever forgive me if i had. that is why the law of this country forbade me or anyone else from disclosing details sooner. nonetheless, it is now time for those questions. and the first of those is whether this was a terrorist attack. the blunt truth here is that this case is a sign britain now faces a new threat. terrorism has changed. in the past, the predominant threat was highly organised groups with clear political intent. groups like al-qaeda. that threat, of course, remains. but now, alongside that,

we also see acts of extreme violence perpetrated by loners, misfits, young men in their bedroom accessing all manner of material online, desperate for notoriety, sometimes inspired by traditional terrorist groups, but fixated on that extreme violence, seemingly for its own sake. now, it may well be that people like this are harder to spot, but we can't shrug our shoulders and accept that. we can't have a national security system that fails to tackle people who are a danger to our values, our security, our children. sir keir starmer speaking not too long ago at downing street. our chief political correspondent, henry zeffman was listening to the

prime minister's speech. what the prime minister said was pretty significant, i think this was one of the big moments of his six or so months in downing street so far in downing street so far because he started with because he started with addressing the horrific, brutal, he called them, murders addressing the horrific, brutal, he called them, murders committed by axel rudakubana committed by axel rudakubana to which he pleaded guilty in to which he pleaded guilty in liverpool yesterday, but then liverpool yesterday, but then he broadened it out much more, he broadened it out much more, talked about the changing talked about the changing nature of terrorism, said that nature of terrorism, said that where once you might�*ve where once you might�*ve terrorist activities committed terrorist activities committed by people with a clear by people with a clear allegiance to a terrorist group allegiance to a terrorist group such as al-qaeda, he said you such as al-qaeda, he said you have loners, misfits, young men have loners, misfits, young men in their bedrooms and he broadly about the changing in their bedrooms and he questions whether the kind of questions whether the kind of legal architecture of the state legal architecture of the state has kept pace with that. has kept pace with that. lord anderson kc, previously lord anderson kc, previously an independent adviser an independent adviser to the government on terrorist to the government on terrorist legislation, it was announced, legislation, it was announced, will look at the prevent will look at the prevent counterterrorism system which counterterrorism system which as we now know failed to pick as we now know failed to pick up axel rudakubana after he was up axel rudakubana after he was referred. referred.

then he talked much more

anguish of the families of the three young children. the victims of axel rudakubana. they were questions about axel rudakubana's past answered. rudaku ba na's past answered. they rudakubana's past answered. they were listening to the prime minister to see what changes were made and what would be put in place. a public inquiry is a place to start for many because hopefully for then that will provide some of the answers. we have already heard from the town's mp has welcomed the comments of the prime minister and acknowledged with the changing nature of some of the changing nature of some of the attacks that are taking place. of course, here there was concern about the failures of some of the agencies and the fact that police, youth justice systems, social services and mental health services all knew about axel rudakubana. we also have been told about the three

referrals to the prevent programme. the government's counterterrorism programme. despite that he remains a risk and remain dangerous. it is an emotional time, and remain dangerous. it is an emotionaltime, i have and remain dangerous. it is an emotional time, i have to say, for many people in the town, it brings back what happened, it is very much a seaside resort trying to move on from what happened and we have had a lot of attention on southport itself which has gained a reputation as a place where this tragedy occurred, though a lot of support has been put in place, emotionaland place, emotional and psychological support and millions invested in the town itself. so really now the focus will be on thursday when axel rudakubana will be sentenced for his crimes.— for his crimes. yunus mulla in southport. — for his crimes. yunus mulla in southport, thank _ for his crimes. yunus mulla in southport, thank you - for his crimes. yunus mulla in southport, thank you very - for his crimes. yunus mulla in i southport, thank you very much for the latest. yunus mentioned the member of parliament for southport, patrick hurley. i spoke to him a short while ago.

i'm really pleased the prime minister has so forcefully got a grip of this issue. for too long we have been unable to speak, at risk of prejudicing the trial. i was very clear back on the 29th ofjuly and in the weeks and months afterwards that any speculation as to the motives or the background of the murderer could have raced to the trial collapsing. —— could have risked the trial lapsing. i was imploring people, please, do not go on social media and post your thoughts because the families deserve justice. we are now at the stage where the families and the communities are starting to receive justice. the sentencing will take place on thursday, that is the next stage in the process, but i'm really pleased that now the prime minister is at liberty to be able to make these plans and set this inquiry in train that he has done so at pace. i am very clear that the failures of the prevent programme specifically

but other agencies in other realms of the state more generally need to be investigated. the inquiry needs to be no holds barred and make sure we get to the root causes of why this merger, this vile —— this murderer, this vile individual, as the prime minister said, was free to commit to his act of murder, and make sure that never happens again. you mentioned the number of referrals. prevent is meant to be a flagship anti—terror programme, do you think it is time for it to be scrapped? what is your take? it certainly needs to be reformed and brought up to date. the threat from extremism is not maybe as it was 20 or 30 years ago, the threat from extremism is much more distributed and non—organisational in the mid—20205. we have people actively self—radicalise an online, this is notjust the murderer who

pleaded guilty yesterday but these are others, there is kind of a parallel issue with some of the rioters we saw back in the summer who themselves seem to have self—radicalised through the internet, through social media, finding other like—minded individuals without necessarily being part of a large formalised organisation or institution. i don't think that prevent specifically but the law enforcement and social services more generally have yet got to grips with the fact that that nature of the threat to the uk. the mp for southport, patrick hurley. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

donald trump has started his second presidency by signing a series of sweeping executive orders.

sitting behind his desk in the oval office, mr trump declared a national emergency on the us—mexico border, designated drug cartels as terrorist organisations, and withdrew the us from the world health organisation. mr trump has also pardoned more than 1,500 of his supporters who stormed the us capitol four years ago when they tried to overturn his 2020 election defeat. the senior democrat nancy pelosi has called the decision "shameful. " one of the riot�*s organisers was among the first to leave prison. stewart rhodes was serving an 18—year prison sentence after being convicted of seditious conspiracy. last month, thejudge who presided over rhodes' trial said it would be "frightening" if rhodes and other members of his oath keepers group were pardoned and released. nomia iqbal reports on donald trump's return to power. president trump is back to business, and always in front of a crowd. the first item that

president trump is signing is the rescission of 78 biden—era executive actions. cheering. he signed executive orders rolling back biden—era policies, including pulling out of the paris climate change deal and the world health organization. could you imagine biden doing this? i don't think so. laughter. it's been a long road back to power for donald trump. he's overcome two impeachment trials, several criminal indictments and an assassination attempt. it seems only a hat can hold him back. he described his win as a divine intervention. just a few months ago, in a beautiful pennsylvania field, an assassin�*s bullet ripped through my ear. but i felt then — and believe even more so now — that my life was saved for a reason. i was saved by god to make

america great again. as well as god, it seems he has the world's richest men by his side. the so—called tech bros were guests at his inauguration. one even went viral. but to some on his own social media site, x, elon musk was accused of throwing a nazi salute. my heart goes out to you. four years after he was evicted from the white house, donald trump is back inside. he has long portrayed america as a country with huge problems only he can solve. but now is the time for him to prove it. approximately 1,500 for a pardon. and he's making a big show of it. full pardon. he's pardoned nearly all the pro—trump rioters who stormed the capitol four years ago... full pardon. ..including those convicted of trying to overthrow the us government. it's a reminder of how radical donald trump's presidency is likely to be once again. nomia iqbal, bbc

news, washington. chinese officials have expressed concern after mr trump signed more than 200 executive orders on monday night. citing issues ranging from a us withdrawal from the paris climate agreement and the who, personalsanctions paris climate agreement and the who, personal sanctions which have been placed on secretary of state marco rubio and potential tariffs. our china correspondent stephen mcdonnel went over some of the key concerns china has with the new administration. not surprisingly there were plenty of questions for the chinese government today following donald trump is my first day in office, and foreign ministry spokesperson went through various areas of potential tension between the two countries and i will take you through some of them. on climate the chinese government has said beijing is concerned that the us has pulled out of the paris climate agreement. this enables china to sort of

take the high moral ground, actually, it is a bit of a benefit in one way for xi jingping. it is also a potential benefit for china because it is making so many electric cars, so many solar panels, selling them all over the world. but it can also say, you know, which government is the progress one when it comes to sorting out this crucial massive problem for humanity? on trade, at the moment beijing is taking a bit of a wait—and—see approach because donald trump has threatened all these tariffs but no clear indication as to when they might come, or if, or how much etc, despite the fact there has been a bit of a threat to impose tariffs if they change is not agreed to a new tiktok deal. but the comment from the foreign ministry spokesperson is beijing is willing to strengthen dialogue and communication with the us, and he said there is a huge space for cooperation between the world's super powers when it

comes to trade.— world's super powers when it comes to trade. they are trying to be positive _ comes to trade. they are trying to be positive at _ comes to trade. they are trying to be positive at least - comes to trade. they are trying to be positive at least at - comes to trade. they are trying to be positive at least at the i to be positive at least at the moment. stephen mcdonell in china. mr trump was very vocal during the election campaign about the war in ukraine, saying he could end it within 2a hours. our correspondent sarah rainsford has more from kyiv. ithink, you know, we're basically in a waiting game here. lots of big words, big promises about ending the war here in ukraine by donald trump when he was on the campaign trail. but, of course, that 2a hour clock started ticking already. and clearly, you know, ending this war in a day is not going to happen. i think there's a lot more realism now in the white house now that donald trump has returned to office. and it was interesting, i think, for people here in ukraine to notice that, in fact, in his speech, his big inauguration speech, he in fact made no direct reference to this country at all. he simply talked about america being a peacemaker, and he pledged to end all wars, which presumably includes the one here in ukraine. although, as i say, absolutely no direct reference to ukraine. i think it's interesting

looking at how the ukrainian leadership is responding. i think president zelenskyy is trying to look to the positive, trying to be optimistic, to be hopeful, trying a little bit to flatter donald trump, talking about him as a decisive and as a strong leader, and talking about his inauguration as a moment of hope and opportunity for the world, but also for ukraine. but i think, really, for ukraine, the biggest hope is that donald trump will realise that ending this war quickly isn't going to happen. and as far as kiev�*s concerned, that it can't end in ukraine's capitulation. sarah rainsford in kyiv. there is great nervousness about discussions that are due to begin in two weeks' time on the next stage of the deal. us president donald trump says he is "not confident" that the gaza ceasefire deal will be upheld. here's our middle east correspondent yolande knell, injerusalem. president trump didn't really allay those fears when he was asked by reporters

in the oval office if he thought that all three phases of this ceasefire and hostage release deal that he has been taking credit for would be implemented. he said to reporters, "it is not our war, it is their war, i am not confident." war, i am not confident." but at the same time but at the same time we have been hearing we have been hearing from his new special envoy from his new special envoy to the middle east, to the middle east, steve wheatcroft, who was also steve wheatcroft, who was also very much involved in those very much involved in those indirect negotiations indirect negotiations between israel and hamas, between israel and hamas, and he was indicating his and he was indicating his ongoing commitment to this ongoing commitment to this deal being implemented, deal being implemented, outlining what he says outlining what he says was president trump's bold was president trump's bold vision for the middle east vision for the middle east and seeking to ultimately build and seeking to ultimately build new relations between israel new relations between israel and other arab countries, and other arab countries, dangling out there dangling out there the possibility that there the possibility that there could be a normalisation could be a normalisation between israel and saudi arabia between israel and saudi arabia down the road. yolande knell in jerusalem

yolande knell injerusalem on the latest reaction to president trump down the road.

between israel and saudi arabia down the i prince harry will the doors. prince harry will not be here today, he does not have to be, but we will expect to see him because he is expected to give evidence at his trial. with me to discuss what we can expect a bit more is our media correspondent david silitto. david, what is this all about?— this all about? this is a fascinating _ this all about? this is a fascinating trial. - this all about? this is a fascinating trial. prince j this all about? this is a - fascinating trial. prince harry in a — fascinating trial. prince harry in a recent_ fascinating trial. prince harry in a recent interview to new times— in a recent interview to new times event was asked, what is this, _ times event was asked, what is this, why— times event was asked, what is this, why are you going to this trial? — this, why are you going to this trial? he — this, why are you going to this trial? he said one word, accountability. there have been 1300 _ accountability. there have been 1300 people over the last 15 years — 1300 people over the last 15 years or— 1300 people over the last 15 years or so who have brought claims — years or so who have brought claims against news group newspapers, saying they were hacked — newspapers, saying they were hacked. all of those claims about — hacked. all of those claims about two have been settled out of court — about two have been settled out of court. there have been 14 trials — of court. there have been 14 trials that— of court. there have been 14 trials that have begun that have — trials that have begun that have never reached this point so far— have never reached this point so far because each time news

group — so far because each time news group newspapers has made a settlement. the question is why do you _ settlement. the question is why do you accept a settlement? if you go— do you accept a settlement? if you go to _ do you accept a settlement? if you go to trial afterwards and the compensation offered in the trial is— the compensation offered in the trial is less than you were offered _ trial is less than you were offered before, you have to pay the legal— offered before, you have to pay the legal fees, so it is a massive, _ the legal fees, so it is a massive, massive gamble and everyone _ massive, massive gamble and everyone so far has realised they— everyone so far has realised they have been advised, hugh grant — they have been advised, hugh grant recently was bringing a case — grant recently was bringing a case and _ grant recently was bringing a case and realised that the last minute — case and realised that the last minute there was no way financially even he could take that risk _ financially even he could take that risk. so we are now down to the — that risk. so we are now down to the last _ that risk. so we are now down to the last two out of 1300, we have _ to the last two out of 1300, we have prints hurry and we have lord _ have prints hurry and we have lord watson, the former labour ministeh — lord watson, the former labour minister. essentially this is about— minister. essentially this is about having your day in court, where — about having your day in court, where they can question the bosses _ where they can question the bosses of news group newspapers that what they want is a bit of tight— that what they want is a bit of light shone on what was going on inside _ light shone on what was going on inside these organisation ——

this organisation. on inside these organisation -- this organisation.— this organisation. very briefly. _ this organisation. very briefly, many - this organisation. very briefly, many will- this organisation. very briefly, many will see | this organisation. very i briefly, many will see this this organisation. very - briefly, many will see this as harry taking on rupert murdoch who owns the newspapers he is suing? who owns the newspapers he is suina ? , . , who owns the newspapers he is suinu? , . , ., suing? very much so. it is no secret, there _ suing? very much so. it is no secret, there has _ suing? very much so. it is no secret, there has been - suing? very much so. it is no secret, there has been a - suing? very much so. it is noj secret, there has been a long animosity— secret, there has been a long animosity between prince harry and the — animosity between prince harry and the media over many years and the media over many years and for— and the media over many years and for him, he has said this many— and for him, he has said this many times, this is about essentially revealing what he believes was widespread wrongdoing inside news group, which _ wrongdoing inside news group, which they had denied all along _ which they had denied all along. they admitted there was along. they admitted there was a problem with the news of the world. — a problem with the news of the world. it — a problem with the news of the world, it was closed down in 2011, — world, it was closed down in 2011, they said there was nothing _ 2011, they said there was nothing wrong with the sun so this has— nothing wrong with the sun so this has always been the issue about— this has always been the issue about the _ this has always been the issue about the allegation of widespread wrongdoing under a cover-up. — widespread wrongdoing under a cover—up, which is what they believe — cover—up, which is what they believe will be revealed and what — believe will be revealed and what they hope will come out of this trial, — what they hope will come out of this trial, all of which has been _ this trial, all of which has been strongly denied by news group — been strongly denied by news group newspapers.— been strongly denied by news group newspapers. thank you very much. — group newspapers. thank you very much. the _ group newspapers. thank you very much, the hearing - group newspapers. thank you very much, the hearing gets i very much, the hearing gets under way at 10:30am and it will be fascinating. we will bring you the latest

updates from court. helena wilkinson at the high court in central london. we have more on developments from the court on the bbc news website and on all of the other day's stories. i'm rajini vaidyanathan, i'll be back after a short break. hello again. the weather for the next couple of days is very similar to what we had yesterday, but it is going to change towards the end of the week. so, today, we've got a weather front across the northwest of the country enhancing the showers here, and we've got another weather front draped across the central swathe of the country, which is producing all this cloud and outbreaks of rain. to the south of that, we could see one or two brighter breaks, but there'll be a fair bit of cloud around. the sunniest skies today, northern ireland and scotland, and later in northern england. but even so, there will be a peppering of showers across the north and the west, with top temperatures 8—9 celsius. through this evening and overnight, our weather front moves a little bit further south. we import more cloud

and some showery outbreaks of rain from the south. but as we push further north, with light winds and clear skies, here we could see some mist and fog patches forming and it's going to be a cold night with a touch of frost here and there. tomorrow, we do have a weather front very close to the south east. that will be moving away as we go through the course of the day. so this cloud and the showery outbreaks of rain will continue to drift southeastwards, but we will still be left with a fair bit of cloud in the southeastern quadrant of the country, whereas move north and west of that, we're into brighter skies, some sunshine and just a just a peppering of showers in the north and the west. temperatures 5—8c. then on thursday, after a dry start, a weather front coming in from the west will introduce some rain pushing west to east. there'll be some transient snow in the hills of northern ireland, also northern england and also scotland. and the wind is going to pick up in the west and the south through the course of the day. then things change. we've got this potent area

of low pressure coming our way, drifting northeastwards. look at the isobars. so we're looking at widespread gales. now, the position of this low pressure could still change. it ould be a bit further north, it could be a bit further south. but what we think at the moment is it's going to take all this rain, preceded by some heavy hill snow, as well, in the north of the country. we'll have widespread gales and as it moves away, things will dry up. temperature—wise, we're looking at 10—11c. but as it moves through, the temperature will actually drop through the course of the day. and then beyond that, it remains unsettled with the potential for another low pressure at the end of the weekend.

this is bbc news, the headlines. prime minister keir starmer announces an inquiry into failings that led to the murders of three young girls in southport last summer. donald trump uses his first hours back in the white house to tear upjoe biden's policies, issuing pardons for those who stormed the us capitol four years ago. and prince harry's legal battle against british tabloids for allegedly unlawfully intruding into his life goes to trial.

hello, i'm rajini vaidyanathan. more now on our top story, the breaking news that prime minister sir keir starmer has announced a public inquiry into the southport killings. he described the knife attack at a taylor swift—themed dance class as "senseless" and "barbaric". yesterday, 18—year—old axel rudaku ba na yesterday, 18—year—old axel rudakubana pleaded guilty to stabbing the young girls. it emerged he had had contact with a range of different state agencies throughout his teenage years, including the police, social services, years, including the police, socialservices, mental years, including the police, social services, mental health services and an anti—terrorist organisation. circularsaid services and an anti—terrorist organisation. circular said the public inquiry into the killings would seek to answer difficult questions. let's speak to councillor sean halsall, who grew up on the street where the attack happened in southport. good to talk to you under unfortunate circumstances. let u nfortu nate ci rcu msta nces. let me unfortunate circumstances. let me ask you first of all about your reaction to what we have

heard from sir keir starmer this morning.