this is bbc news. the headlines... the met office has issued a red weather warning covering northern ireland and part of scotland as storm eowyn approaches, warning of gusts of up to 100mph, and danger to life. the teenager who murdered three girls in southport last summer will be sentenced later. he's also admitted attempting to murder eight other children and two adults. the new eu trade chief says a new customs area could be up for discussion in future talks between the uk and eu. the world's biggest iceberg has broken away from antarctica and is approaching the island of south georgia — home to large penguin and seal colonies. the wait is nearly over. we look at some of the frontrunners of this year's oscar's nominations.

hello. let's bring you more on the breaking news form the met office now. a rare red weather alert covering northern ireland and scotland on friday has been issued for storm eowyn warning of gusts of up to 100mph and flying debris resulting in danger to life. with me is our weather presenter matt taylor. good to see you. what are the net off the same? let good to see you. what are the net off the same?— net off the same? let us start with the areas _ net off the same? let us start with the areas covered, - net off the same? let us start with the areas covered, the i with the areas covered, the whole of northern ireland, the whole of northern ireland, the whole of northern ireland, the whole of the island of ireland under red warning on friday, northern ireland valid from 7am until 2pm, northern ireland valid from 7am until2pm, covering northern ireland valid from 7am until 2pm, covering the crucial friday morning rush hour, the warning is also a shoot across parts of western dumfries and galloway, ayrshire, argyll and pete, but more importantly the central belt from glasgow to edinburgh, that comes into play

attorney on friday morning until 5pm —— bute. attorney on friday morning until5pm —— bute. quite a dangerous situation, the met office very rarely is red warnings, only if they are confident there will be high impact from the stone and danger to life. the wind speed, generally quite widely around 70-80 generally quite widely around 70—80 miles an hour, maybe 80-90 70—80 miles an hour, maybe 80—90 and a few spots, but the winds could top 100 miles an hour, the north coast of northern ireland especially, and around parts of argyll and bute and the western coasts and firth of clyde and parts of dumfries and galloway. huge geographical— dumfries and galloway. huge geographical area, _ dumfries and galloway. huge geographical area, large - dumfries and galloway. huge geographicalarea, large number geographical area, large number of people could be impacted, what is the advice, but to suggested when they issue the red weather alerts?— suggested when they issue the red weather alerts? huge area, laruest red weather alerts? huge area, largest population _ red weather alerts? huge area, largest population area - red weather alerts? huge area, largest population area i - red weather alerts? huge area, largest population area i have l largest population area i have known covered by red warning, take it seriously, make preparations now, including securing outdoor furniture,

anything loose outside including trampolines, that can have a big impact, especially on any potential travel. heed the warnings, the advice as well. if you do not need to travel, do not travel. it could be quite dangerous, you do not know when there will be trees down, power lines down, communications could be cut off, this are the sorts of things the met office are concerned about and why they haveissued concerned about and why they have issued the red warning. quite rare for red warnings to be issued. what do we think will happen with the storm? will it spread? what further impact could it have? storm eo n impact could it have? storm eowyn is _ impact could it have? storm eowyn is still _ impact could it have? storm eowyn is still in _ impact could it have? storm eowyn is still in the - impact could it have? storm eowyn is still in the atlantic| eowyn is still in the atlantic going through deepening, luckily for us, the worst of it will be over open sea. the west coast of ireland could see winds of 120 miles an hour potentially first thing in the early hours of friday morning. the storm system slowly pushing across the uk on friday, we have mentioned the red warnings, but across parts of

northern england, north wales, damaging gusts of 70—80 miles an hour quite easily, potentially more in a few spots, and across the uk, some form of wind warning, yellow, and there, red, just about all parts will be affected, least departs further south away from the centre of the storm which will cross scotland during the day. will cross scotland during the da . . ~' at the start of the summer holidays last year, children in the seaside town of southport, in the north west of england, were taking part in a taylor swift themed dance class when a teenager armed with a knife began his attack which was described as a meticulously planned rampage. six—year—old bebe king, seven—year—old elsie dot stancombe and nine—year—old alice aguiar were all killed with eight other children and two adults also seriously injured. earlier this week, 18—year—old axel rudakubana unexpectedly

pleaded guilty to murder, attempted murder, and terror—related offences. he will be sentenced later today. the government has announced there will be a public inquiry into what happened. our reporterjayne mccubbin has been to southport to meet those whose lives have been changed by the attack. three young victims will never be forgotten here in southport. life is returning to normal for many in this small town, but for some, it is changed forever. ah! all: ah! ooh! all: ooh! people stopped doing things. i think that was what it was. you know, when do you start to laugh? | when do you start to smile? when you know what these families are and will- always be experiencing. and i think that's it, - it's a little bit of respect. this atrocity has hit us so hard. # broke my heart...# but it has—

brought out the best in us. beyond today's sentencing, people know there will be a reckoning about where else the blame should lie. yeah, ijust feel that we cannot keep up with the internet. i mean, i think it's desperately difficult for people in social services because they get the blame for it, but you cannot be everywhere. the owner of southport�*s pleasure land is desperate for normality. the impact on the town has been devastating. from within one hour of it happening, a lady came to the gate, her husband was a policeman, saying, "close the gate, close the gate." within one other hour, we had people cancelling.

and that's the same for everything in the town. while norman wallace has huge sympathy for the victims, his business needs visitors to return. it's been called southport pleasure land since the 1920s, but today he is rebranding. from this day, it is adventure coast. and the impetus for this has been these awful events? that is drawing a line in the sand. we have got to draw another line in the sand now and move forward. the media keep saying the bad word i won't say. southport is a great place. what's the word? stabbing. southport is a great place. we do need to let them... we need to let them grieve and we need to move on as a town. many businesses, like graham's barber shop, were already struggling before the atrocity. you're just banging your head against the wall. and many like him have struggled more since. had a meeting how to get southport back on track after this. but never had any solutions whatsoever. we've got no money. not getting no help. get on with it yourself. there is very real anger here towards the killer but also authorities. had a policeman come

in telling me they'd been to see this lad before, so it should have been dealt with. but because we've got the nonsense woke stuff what we've got now, won't go near them. you sympathise with some of the rioters? not damaging stuff, but in principle, you say anything, you are far right or something, probably have me carted off, far right. i'm not. we are normal people. i work six days a week, but i don't earn a six day a week income, so what's that about? # every long lost dream...# this is a small town badly shaken. divisions do exist, but the desire for everyone here to heal is real. i see a lot of growth, personal and community growth. the only place i would want

to move to is southport. you'll be in walking distance. and i've met such lovely... caroline the choir leader has taken the decision to leave her home of 25 years and move to southport. a town which she believes has shown real heart in terrible times. they are wonderful people. you cannot wait to move? i can't wait to move. jayne mccubbin, bbc news. a european union trade commissioner says the bloc could consider allowing the uk tojoin a pan—european customs scheme. maros sefcovic said the ball was in britain's court, adding post—brexit relations between london and brussels were in a better place. mr sefcovic was speaking to our economics editor, faisal islam, we are ready to work on the offer of cooperation and we hope that this message will be well received in washington, dc. but if the americans

were to levy tariffs on the eu, is europe, are you prepared to retaliate? first and foremost, let's see what is really happening, so we wouldn't really like to go to hypothetical responses right now. it doesn't seem very hypothetical, it seems pretty plausible. i mean, yes, this is what we hear from the campaign, but first we would like to discuss it with our american partners, as i said, to check the facts and figures, and then we would consider a response. of course, if we will see that our legitimate interests are under pressure, of course, we are ready to take our positions. now, you retain the brief for relations with the uk, are they in a better place right now? definitely, yes. we are also waiting for ideas from our british friends about the reset, how concretely they would like to do it. is there scope for a much better relationship, perhaps not totally frictionless trade but far fewer frictions than have existed with a good deal? and particularly in terms of food and farm exports via a veterinary agreement?

i think that we discussed this already with our uk friends, absolutely, i think that i would say in this moment the ball is in the uk court. they have ruled out rejoining or applying to rejoin a customs union, but there are other steps on the way, things like the pan—european—mediterranean accumulation area, could the eu, could your side envisage that as a sort of stepping stone towards fewer customs regulations? i think that it might be one of the ideas, at the same time as we concluded also after these very strenuous negotiations, these free agreements, that even the best free—trade agreement cannot simply replace participation in the single market. but we respected the choice, we respected of course how the uk government approaches this and this pan—european area is something we could consider, but i haven't heard it say

precisely formulated from our uk counterparts. and you mentioned fisheries, in order to get this process going and some of these barriers lifted, you are asking to extend the fisheries agreement beyond next year, which expires next year? i think it is very important for the certainty of our fisheries, fishermen and fisherwomen in the eu, and i think this was 2026, it is very important there for the eu. are you and your members now more keen to hug the uk a little bit more tightly? maybe there is more so—called cake on offer. if it comes to the concrete offers, concrete deals, i think we have very good, conducive atmosphere in our discussions, and now we are waiting how the uk wants to balance their reliance with the reset process, and i will be very happy to discuss it with our uk partners in good faith and look for constructive solutions.

later today, president trump will be addressing global leaders at davos, virtually, and many are unsure what to expect. president trump is clear his policy is america first and has already threatened to raise tariffs for his country's major trading rivals and partners. let's speak to our economics editor faisal islam who's in davos. good to see you. start first of all with the eu — uk relations, what potentially do you think would be acceptable for both sides when it comes to a different trade deal? in the context of— different trade deal? in the context of this, _ different trade deal? in the context of this, there - different trade deal? in the context of this, there is - different trade deal? in the context of this, there is a l different trade deal? in the l context of this, there is a lot of talk and work being done privately by the uk and the eu on this reset of the brexit relationship, quite a distant deal the previous conservative government did, and that led to trade barriers being established. what we know is that newish labour government want to lower some of the barriers and you could hear from the interview that he is

interested in doing that, quid pro quo and that sort of negotiation. lots of options are being looked at by now, a bit of a phony war in terms of people not wanting to say what they will go to but i know businesses are being consulted. on the example of the convention which is about qualifying for free trade status, it turns out lots of carrots are being paid between the eu and uk —— lots of carrots. this could help textiles industry, car industry. lots of british businesses are asking for it. seen as quite a low hanging fruit, but the significant thing is the home from the european union, very warm and engaging. it fits together, we are hearing from the uk delegation in davos, they want to send a message growth trumps everything, they have talked about changes to these rules,

changes in terms of runways, and this is another area where some businesses at least would like to hear aboutjust how ambitious the uk government is going to be. but it is a very interesting geopolitical context because he has a situation where the us is going in one direction, should the uk potentially tempted in that direction? but they want to reset with the eu, maybe there is a grand strategy where you do that for goods in europe and may be full services and ai and technology, go closer to the us. big currents notjust affecting the uk but picked decision that could affect the reset. ,., , ., decision that could affect the reset. , ., ., reset. the parents of donald trump later— reset. the parents of donald trump later at _ reset. the parents of donald trump later at davos, - reset. the parents of donald trump later at davos, albeit| trump later at davos, albeit virtually, what is your sense of what we could hear from him? —— quite the appearance. i am -- quite the appearance. i am at the tap _ -- quite the appearance. i am at the tap of _ -- quite the appearance. i am at the top of the _ -- quite the appearance. i am at the top of the mountain - -- quite the appearance. i am at the top of the mountain in l at the top of the mountain in davos, snowy davos, because the legendary was giving a concert

appear to try and re—double efforts around climate change. we know what is happening in the states, we know various corporate leaders have taken their cue from what the us president underjoe biden was saying about climate change. there has been some degree of erring back here and some concern from campaigners about that. most focus in europe as regards the us has been on the fear about a tariff trade will, it does seem as if the rhetoric from the us is focused on canada and mexico for now. but in my interview there, you heard him try to make an argument that, well, yes, we have a good surplus, basically sending lots of cars over to the us, donald trump thinks it is the us being ripped off. hang on, the us has a services surplus with the eu, we need to

look at the figures. they are preparing for that, very warm, even when i slightly provoke the eu commissioner with the nation, this is not normal trade negotiations, you have a us president saying an eu member might need to give up territory, with the eu do the reverse as regards louisiana? half humorously, in very strange times where policies are changing in real time. people are not entirely clear how to read the runes as to what is happening in washington and that is why there address, albeit video address, live from the white house, it will be very carefully watched. there is a duality and opinion, concerns about the global system and some of the norms and cooperation, you see that at davos, do not know where it will land, but there is an excitement about things like ai, massive technology investments, exactly where it will go, but who will win the battle? big question. people are betting on the us with some of it but many conversations,

much uncertainty, some threats, some opportunities too.- some opportunities too. faisal islam in davos, _ some opportunities too. faisal islam in davos, thank- some opportunities too. faisal islam in davos, thank you. - families who lost thousands of pounds after the collapse of a company that offered pre—paid funeral plans could receive some of their money back within the next six months. more than 116,000 customers across the uk were affected when safe hands plans limited went bust three years ago. more details from natasha turney. angry. disappointed. sick. a whole raft of emotions that go through your head. i will never buy another one. and i would never encourage anybody else to buy- a funeral plan again. anything could happen tomorrow. and to find that all your arrangements have been dashed. it... it's gut wrenching, really. just a few of the 130 people who got in touch with us

to share their plight after our story on safe hands plans limited aired last september. it's made us very wary of a lot of things. sandy and david lost faith in the funeral—plan industry after losing more than £3,500 following the collapse of the company. your blood pressure goes up when you see these adverts on the television for various plans, you know? and you think... what's the catch? yeah. because there's got to be a catch in it somewhere. trust is also a problem for nhs worker amy, who bought her plan for around £3,000, aged just a0. i was thinking, do you know what? i'm on my own. who would know what i'd want? i could choose my songs. i could choose whether i wanted a car or not, what sort of coffin i wanted. that was all part of the plan. now that burden will fall to relatives. so i will pass on the plan to my niece and nephew to say, "look, you know, you're going to have to pay for it, but this is what i want." it's just sad that you've tried to plan for something and then it's just been taken away from you. getting some of that money back in the next five months

is a welcome start, but for some people, that could come too late. we paid over3,500 each for the policies, so it was quite a loss when you're only on a pension. when they realised their plans were now worthless, heather and mike paid more money to make other arrangements — a comfort to the couple where mike recently fell ill. now he's on palliative care, obviously, it's brought it to a head. and that's why we've drawn out the life insurance policy ready for his death. they've managed to put the misery of safe hands behind them and live for the moment — this christmas, celebrating a wedding to remember. she has this message for the former directors. it's terrible to do this on particularly elderly people. i hope you can sleep at night. neither of the former directors responded to our request for comment. the serious fraud office told

us it's progressing an active criminal investigation into safe hands plans limited and its parent company, shp capital holdings limited. but it's little consolation for those who are thousands of pounds out of pocket and have lost trust in the industry. natasha turney, bbc news. the world's biggest iceberg has broken away from antarctica and is approaching the british territory of south georgia, home to large penguin and seal colonies. fishermen and authorities are bracing for impact. georgina rannard reports. this is the world's largest iceberg and probably the laziest. for decades, it loitered, stuck in antarctica. but one day in december, a23a finally broke free. now captured in satellite pictures, it is speeding into iceberg alley, a place where icebergs go to die. but here, right in its path lies the british territory of south georgia. i will take you out the door.

ice is a way of life for sailors and fishermen there. but they can't ignore something the size of a23a. there's an iceberg over that way. you have to have a very healthy respect for the ice. because if you don't, it will get you. it can come out of nowhere and you get something the size of a23 when it comes along, and it deposits these thousands of tonnes of ice. theyjust kind of hang around the island. and it does make things a lot more tricky. the chunks could also block coves where these go to feed, putting half the world's king penguins and millions of seals at risk. but in danger, there is opportunity. last year, british researchers on this ship seized the chance to visit a23a. it's a really amazing experience. it's unlike anything that i've ever seen before, you just kind of see a massive wall that is way higher than you are. it's really difficult to get up close to the world's largest iceberg, but i think i found

the next best thing and i have to handle these really carefully. but in here is water that melted straight off the giant iceberg. in this lab, scientists are finding out how icebergs affect the ocean's carbon cycle. it's unlikely that a23a was caused by climate change because it calved a long time ago in 1986. but as climate change progresses and the ice sheets become more unstable, more giant icebergs will form. so, being able to see icebergs like this giant iceberg and study them allows us to understand the impact that they're going to have on the ocean and everything around them, the wildlife, the islands, and kind of the earth as we know it. in south georgia, the battle with the ice rages on, and there on the horizon, the big one lurks, closing in on the fragile island. georgina rannard, bbc news. let's get more on the oscars now, as for film fanatics, the wait is almost over. in a few hours, we'll find out who's in the running for this

year's academy awards. but things might be different than usual this time due to the recent devestating wildfires in la. our entertainment correspondent, colin paterson, went through some of the runners and riders. the names you are going to hear a lot. let's start with one that people have been to the cinema to see in their droves, wicked. this adaptation of a more than 20—year—old broadway show has been a box office phenomenon. i'm expecting a nomination for the british lead of the film, cynthia erivo. that will be her second oscar nomination. and in best supporting actress, ariana grande will get an oscar nomination. and surely someone is going to make sure they sing defying gravity on the oscars stage this year. then look out for conclave. it is a papal thriller, not often you say that phrase, starring ralph fiennes, who i think will get his first oscar nomination for 28 years, his first since the english patient. it did very well at the baftas, will do well here. and then let's talk about amelia perez.

it is a french film, in spanish, set in mexico, and it is a musical, one about the boss of a drug cartel who is wanting to become a woman. and today, the lead of that film, karla sofia gascon, will become the first ever trans acting nomination. and that is very interesting time, given what president trump spoke about in his inauguration speech. colin, those are the front runners. any surprises to watch out for, do you think? well, one amazing story to look out for today. demi moore, at the age of 62, is going to get her first ever oscar nomination. she was snubbed for ghost, snubbed for a few good men back in the �*90s when she was arguably the biggest film star on the planet. today, she's going to be nominated for the substance, and it's not the type of film the academy normally rewards. it's a body horror. quite a shocking film. look out for that.

as i say, all the nominations will be at1.30. you can get them live on the bbc website. and you can watch a special programme on the oscar nominations here on bbc news. we have a live stream bringing you the announcement in full and all of the reaction from one o'clock gmt. you can find that on the bbc news website. now it's time for a look at the weather with carol. the met office has issued two red weather warnings for wind for northern ireland and scotland courtesy of storm eowyn. they went through the course of tomorrow, we could have gusts with exposure up to 100 miles an hour. storm eowyn is currently developing in the atlantic, rapidly moving to our shores, bringing gales and even severe gales and heavy rain and full sun some transient snow. we have a weather front

crossing us with squally winds pushing from west to the east. some winteriness on the hills in scotland. righteous guys behind with some sunshine and showers. feeling cold, 5—8 widely. this evening and overnight, the rain moves to the north—eastern clears, clear spells behind it, and incomes storm eowyn with rain, transient snow to lower levels for a time across scotland, severe severe gales or gales. the met office has these two red weather warnings. in northern ireland, the first one kicks in at seven until 2pm in the afternoon. in scotland, it starts at 10am and lasts until 5pm. damaging gusts of wind and as well as the red warnings we also have some amber warnings lasting a little bit longer and they cover a wider area as well, so here are also mature some damaging gusts of wind.

expect disruption and delays if you are travelling —— and here too. the rain moving north—east, curling around the low pressure of the storm. moving south, we have some brighter skies. wherever you are, it will be windy tomorrow because the wet office —— the met office has yellow weather warnings for the whole of the uk for wind. saturday, the low pressure pulls away, and another system coming and bringing more wet and windy conditions. very windy with tales, far north of northern england and scotland to start the day, easing from the south, and then the next system coming in from the west.

i'm sarah campbell in liverpool. where families have been gathering throughout the morning for the sentencing on axel rudakubana is to be sentenced today for the murders of three young girls in southport. we will be here throughout the sentencing to bring you all the live latest news from inside liverpool crown court. and i'm catherine byaruhanga in london. in other news... the met office has issued a red weather warning covering northern ireland and parts of scotland as storm eowyn approaches, warning of gusts of up to 100mph, and a �*danger to life'. president trump sends 1,500 troops to the us—mexico border, in a move — he says — to crack down on illegal immigration.