some world class journalists bring programs to enforce and inspire you need to have a media ensuring that for voice to the hood, barnowski 0 african stories from african perspective. i'm the marine by the just a business with short documentary from african peel. i'm going to do this from south africa, ethiopia, and nigeria. we've been robust from stuff in this class who she saw this as my, and my role africa direct on al jazeera. ah us fighter jets shoot down a suspected chinese surveillance balloon. it's been drifting across american, aerospace for days. aging has condemned the move.

ah, hello, i'm how much room this is algebra alive from door. ha. also coming up. i said, i'm ticked in quito, ecuador, where on sunday, people will vote on a number of possible constitutional reforms. the many here see as a referendum on the government, the viet molasses. pope frances meets children in south sudan who've been displaced by a years long conflict plus the big fries hits north america more on the arctic blast . that is seen record low temperatures in parts of the us and canada. ah, the u. s. military a shot down a chinese balloon, which it says was a surveillance craft. off the coast of south carolina bay, jane condemned the move. they maintain it was

a civilian weather balloon that had blown off course. article hand reports from washington. a clear shot as it happened, a missile hit the high altitude balloon and it begins its descent in end 2 days of long debate about what to do about this massive air balloon. the u. s. as china was trying to spy on its territory, as it moved from the north west to the southeast traveling the entire country was controversial enough that you, a secretary of state postponed his schedule, trip to meet with china's president. over the weekend. china claimed it was a weather balloon that was blown off course. president biden says he gave the order to shoot it down. last wednesday, i did a down. the pentagon says in f $22.00 fighter jet launched

a single missile to bring the balloon down into us territorial waters, pentagon officials, they now they're turning their attention to recovering the balloon. they think it's going to be a fairly simple operation. they are already several, u. s. navy, an u. s. coast guard ships on the scene. they planned to use u. s. navy divers at unmanned submersible to bring it to the surface in the next few days. and then the u. s. will decide if they want to publicly and the debate offering proof of what this was. it's still an open debate is huge. balloon was in fact of following the air streams of the area and that it has attracted it is not loitering over a montana rashad off the eastern seaboard. so at this juncture, this idea that this is somehow a spy ship that was deliberately sent by china seems a little bit far fetched. but you, as analysts say, the fact that they believe a similar balloon is traveling latin america makes this theory more likely. so 1st

of all, i believe the chinese statement, sergeant solicitous. i do believe that it was just a weather balloon loan. of course it would be quite a coincidence if we have this loon going into u. s. air space, while apparently there's another one of processing latin america a simultaneously infringing upon other countries here space another strain in an already frayed relationship which was supposed to take steps toward improvement on saturday. instead taking a step back. particle haine, al jazeera washington, ari katrina. you joined us now live from beijing via skype. katrina, so chinese officials are expressing outrage over the us, shooting down this balloon. what more have we been hearing from them? well, john has condemned the as trying to take down the airship, saying that it was an over reaction and

a violation of international practice. and on saturday, john, his foreign ministry also re, is rated. it stands at this is not a spy. boy learned that this is a survey, a civilian ashley that was born. of course it was a force maria accident. and it also at the beginning started off with what quite a progressive all time. but now it seems have shifted to more defensive one as saying that the u. s. and some of its politicians, we taking advantage of the situation to attack and discredit china. now we also had from aging that, talked to matt while he has spoken to and to be thinking over the foreign saying that communication channel should be kept open to avoid this judgment that he hopes on both sides can maintain who heads are this issue. and he also, again, quote, these accusations that this is a spy balloon groundless. and now on the weekend, we've also seen a number of state media editorials try megan, essentially cooling this issue, hot air and accusing at u. s. media outlets of sensationalizing. a supposing threat

from china and early further working soon further damage these ties between the u. s. and china. and as we heard, the flow bar from cassie is, is definitely a major blow to us china relations. their relationship was already under a severe strain under him, of from a growing list of disagreements, everything from taiwan to technology, to the south china sea. it is just as another tense topic to that list. and it was hoped that anti aid lincoln's visit would improve. and stabilizes vakio relationship at a time full of aging when they're looking to focus on reducing economy coming out of carbons 0. so definitely bad timing for aging. and also very embarrassing as well for china. all right, that's alger is katrina you in beijing for us. thanks so much for breaking it all down for us. katrina people in ecuador will be heading to the polls in the coming hours to elect local officials and vote unconstitutional reforms. many observers see this referendum as a test for president key or my last. so who's approval rating sits at less than 20

percent of us on the run p t has more from the capital. kito, apathy and frustration are on the rise among voters in quito ahead of sundays, wide ranging referendum, promoted by embattled precedent. yet more last or to address the countries deteriorating, social and economic conditions. we have no faith in politicians for all the scandals that happened recently. people has lost trust in politics. if that goes on with an approval rating below 20 percent, a hostile congress, mounting government corruption allegations, and dramatic rising gang related crime. conservative president lasso has been left with little space to maneuver, thought that the 8 referendum questions which cover security issues, reducing the number of lawmakers in congress, environmental protection, and the possible extradition of ecuadorian could help him regain initiatives in

balance with us. popular popular consultations usually become a referendum on the current administration. but in this case, despite the president's major last and political capital, the referendum has strong support because it addresses funded mental issues for the people. that critics argue that last was hoping to use the referendum for a personal political when a way to try to boost to port for his failing presidency, to the detriment of the countries democracy was politic. the former president of ecuador, the constitutional assembly, says the reduction of assembly members will reduce representation of remote areas and strength in the hands of the most powerful parties. the stomach free. don't want to confront up a lot of, you know, not that far from solving problems. this referendum could exacerbate some of them. it's like a poisonous apple that shines on the surface. but if you read the questions and an x as carefully you see, it won't solve the security issues or democratic instability even less the environment. it's a tricky and deceitful referendum, unfortunately, on of course,

into last, so barely survived than impeachment vote after 2 weeks of cost of living, indigenous lead protests that brought the country to a halt. the indigenous leader lay only thus isa is leaving. been no campaign. he says the government should instead comply with the agreements that ended the demonstration. it will be everyone that the government strategically avoided simply mentoring the agreement and comes out of district random to confound tanks. all it really wants is to get some oxygen to continue trying, implementing policies that have not worked until now. both polls showed the referendum, results could be very close. and on sunday, ecuadorian will also elect more than $5000.00 local officials, with the opposition expected to gain seats across the country. even the passing of the referendum might end up being a short lived victory for lesser ellison that impunity and jesse quito,

pope francis has met people affected by the conflict in south sudan. the head of the catholic church is on a 6 day trip to africa, which will end on sunday. more than 4000000 south sudanese had been forced to flee their homes because of a civil war that's been going on since 2013. the pontiff spoke to displaced people in the capital about his hopes for peace in from census, and had you bear the burden of a painful past, yet you never stopped dreaming of a better future in our meeting today, we would like to give wings to your hope earlier we spoke to the right reverend doctor in green shields the head of the church of scotland. he's in south sudan alongside the pope and says he's optimistic the visit will help lay a path for peace justified. the 3 of us being there together was quite amazing at that and that sales, i think was a credible statement of unity. you can speak to people about peace if you don't live in yourself. so i think that in itself was,

was very powerful real. but at optimism around that maybe this is the time when things will begin to start to turn and change. and certainly all the services today with the political leaders were present and the big service for unity and for peace. later on in the day there was quite a straight talking from everybody to the political leadership. yes. support was quite firm in for he was saying expecting that not much of happened in the 40 years 5 years and they had trying to get things rolling. and i real same, so unless you have a country that's a piece you know, good to have other countries providing inward investment. and you're going to find people continue vulnerable because of the continued violence. and you're not going to better at the prosperity of the people or the $22.00 people are now confirmed

dead and wildfires that are sweeping across chile firefighters. say there are now more than $250.00 different active fires covering almost 500 square kilometers. the government has extended an emergency order to cover 3 regents and southern chile. the fires have been sparked by an unusually hot summer heat wave to handle working on multiple sources of forest size that added to the weather high temperatures and a lot of wind of cause great destruction, both in vegetation and building sullivan, almost half a 1000000 people in ukraine's odessa region, or without power, after a fire at an overloaded electrical substation officials warned that repairs could take weeks. the government said it would appeal to, to kia, to help restore power to the black sea port city, the high voltage substation and the power infrastructure around odessa had been damaged by repeated russian missile air strikes. russia and ukraine have carried out a prisoner exchange broker by the united arab emirates. the ukrainian government says

116 of its soldiers have been allowed to return home. while 63 russian service men have been released. thousands of israelis had been out protesting against their government for a 5th successive saturday. benjamin netanyahu coalition is the most right wing and israel's history. and there's widespread anger about his proposals to weaken the powers of the supreme court and run hon reports from west harrison. o, again, tens of thousands are out on the streets across israel, protesting against that government here in western islam or outside the president's house, hoping to be heard. however, the numbers are far smaller than in previous weeks. every saturday they gather, calling this right when government a threat to democracy in the rule of law because it's a coalition built around openly for right parties. it's worth noting these protests, a, just about israel. not many here are talking about the palestinians, the still peace process, o continued occupation. although the numbers are significant,

they don't appear to represent the majority of israel society. i think right now it is a vocal minority. we don't know what the majority of his release believe because the issues we're dealing with a very complex and the people we seeing protesting are people in the economic world . high tech lawyers, a journalist, people who feel the threat to understand what this means for the change of israel's legal regime. a and the demise of israelis, of israel's democracy, of moving on the path of hungary and poland. and perhaps other countries that have moved into an, a or system of weakening our democracy. the governments less than 2 months old and therefore too early for polling data. but it would seem, the majority of the electorate still supports the government of benjamin netanyahu . i need on there, but she knew it. i am supporting the changes this government makes this country isn't moving or people who aren't letting it move. they must give this government

a chance to change. thanks. honey will. i'm right wing. the government should be a right wing one as well. even the protesters know they're in a minority right now, but they all hoping that will change and will become more mainstream. but here that still means hardline conservatives the end game for the protest and is to force a new election. now, they may well succeed in doing that and they may well even get rid of some of the far right elements that make up the current coalition. however, it previous governments all anything to go by than that hard line. conservatism will still remain around, come out, 0, west or islam still had on al jazeera feeling unsafe people in pakistan. call on their government to take action against armed groups and sri lanka, march independence day with a parade. but many people say there's little to celebrate. ah

the severe colon windshield saturday by sundays, almost a thing of forgotten memory temperature so much different so much higher. the real cold air is a long way north encounter when he pegs minus 7 is not extraordinary. for the central part of canada, there is still snow falling, but it's just gentle snow for toronto, maybe, or 2 or more likely, the star would be melting on the ground. and he still sitting freeze up in boston and new york with that certainly breeze. most the central states are looking fine. there is winter in the west. once again, rain's coming down the california coast and easily tends to snow in land. and that's true in the rockies to where that snow is maintained. in fact, the code it produces a bit more snow in the midwest. this is nothing extraordinary. no excessive, extraordinary bearing caribbean, the steady trade winds mean frequent,

but fatty light charged the most part, some heavy stuff, i think round the nose, bahamas, at least to start sunday. in south america, there are showers extending all the way from valley staff in crew and bolivia. down towards the southeast, brazil really looks relatively dry south of that. the problem is not so much been rain as the heat is produced, forest fires south of santiago and given there's no real change out of the wind or the rain. there's a light continue. ah, oncology, the coast to europe's population is aging, should pension schemes be reformed. egypt and pakistan's economic crises, the deeper they will, i m. f, loans, fix their problems, and we explore the implications of tumbling value of india, a donnie empire. counting the cost on al jazeera, we don't simply focus on the politics of the conflict. if the human suffering that we report time, we brave bullets and bomb,

and we always include the views from all sites. ah ah, welcome back. you're watching al jazeera reminder of our top stories. the sour people in ecuador are preparing to head to the pools on sunday to vote in a referendum on constitutional reforms. the vote is seen as a major test for president guillermo la, so was approval rating sits at less than 20 percent. oh, francis has been meeting people affected by the conflict and south sudan. the head of the roman catholic church called for an end to the decade long civil war that's displaced. 4000000 people. us fighter jets have down a chinese balloon off the south carolina coast, which the pentagon described as

a surveillance cramped aging has condemned the move. they maintain, it was a civilian weather balloon that had blown off course. david de roche has a professor at the national defense university. he explains why china may have used a balloon for surveillance. instead of modern drone technology, what it could gather would be higher resolution imagery than you could get from a satellite that lags for a longer period that hovers for longer period over the target. so, you know, you can get a lot of visual information from a satellite, but something as far north, this montana you only have a few seconds of time over the target. whereas a balloon has more time. the 2nd thing a balloon would be capable of doing would be gathering electronic signals, so it could intercept communications. and then finally, because it's in the sovereign airspace of the united states and canada, you would expect it to probably gather information on what kind of signals were

using to track it. so we could identify possibly identify in classify, you know, radar hits or something like that. which would be of interest if the chinese wanted to, you know, actually launch an attack and not just the capabilities. but i think we'll also look for the origins of different electronic parts. and if there's any western electronics or if they can identify any manufacturers of this, you know, there's a possibility that they will close down the pipeline to parts to china, or possibly even sanction companies that may have been providing technical equipment to chinese. i think it is embarrassing for the chinese, i think, you know, if we do recovered and it does prove to be surveillance stuff, i think that there will be some public display of that which will be further embarrassment for the chinese. but on the other hand, you know, the chinese right now seem to think that they have the upper hand in international negotiations. they think that the west and the united states, in particular,

is preoccupied with the war and ukraine. so they may feel they have an advantage, and they impressive people in the northern pakistani city of the shower have been protesting to demand authorities take action to prevent attacks by armed groups. more than 100 people were killed in the city when a suicide bomber targeted a mosque on monday. i said big spoke to protesters on the streets of the shower. ah, they came from across the province, demanding peace from the focused on the government. after monday, suicide attack on a mosque that killed 101 people, and injured many more political parties were asked not to flight the flags. instead, white flags were raised. many people here in the northern city of pasha ver say they don't trust box dance military establishment for some reason, have been suffering from friend be here for this is the need of the time that government for provide us southeast and our own. and our last and our demo demand is based on the city, and this protest is seen as a popular uprising, similar to the one that followed the killing of 134 students in 2014 natalie bon

attack on a military school. the movement starved boxed under taliban of supporting towns and villages in the region. and along with military operations. attacks by the taliban drastically reduced your spot that these kind of incidents are happening, but no one is taking responsibility on women and children are suffering. we want bes, we want education, we don't want state sponsored federalism. every house in this room is leading and we can take any more bodies blue the chant. we will never accept terrorism. the threat is still very real. security was higher on the protest. on saturday morning police carried out operations against armed groups. they say to tell you, bon commanders were killed and a cache of weapons confiscated, and others were taken into custody. the dog is so just at a room which we are unable to district. so bobby, were policemen, p security installations and some high profile persons industry engine?

prime minister shabbots sharif asset focused on is facing an unimaginable economic challenge. the killing of over 100 people seems to be a real turning point in buckets done. for years they struggled suffered with militancy and they don't want to see it make a return. but unlike before economic conditions, now the worst country has ever faith, which would make it even more difficult to get the vital resources, the police so desperately need that for people here, they don't have a choice that live on the front line of this battle. i thought vague, i'll just show buckets on thing in pakistan where the government has band access to wikipedia for failing to remove what it calls sac religious content. the pakistan telecommunication authority says the online encyclopaedia, fail to comply with the 48 hour deadline to remove and block the content. which media says the move denies the 5th most populous nation, access to free knowledge was aw mckee, g as a columnist and digital rights activists, he says the ban has wide range and consequences for people in pakistan. i think

it's quite vague and to be honest, there's no transparency on what exactly the content is because of which they're requesting, you know, take down an entire blockage of the entire website. there's 6600000 articles and we can pdf in the english language, but because it's one or 2, it's completely disproportionate to you know, block access to it and the impact of that is really wide ranging. so i think there needs to be more transparency, but also the realization that this is a crowd sourced platform. so anyone can edit articles that so maybe the regulator themselves can edit the article that they have a problem with. instead of blocking the entire platform, i think it's a preposterous man because it's a basic source of knowledge and information that i could do me education student, you name it, any information and it's available on wikipedia. it's updated in real time. but there's also the economic impact focus on starved of flooring reserves and for an

investment. and at a time when you need more for an investment in our sector and industry is really growing and booming. when that censorship and bands come in place, it impacts investor confidence and it impacts the ability of pocket needs to do business and that sector when tomorrow you don't know what other essential platform or website will be blocked. so i think it really raises economic questions as well . sri lanka has marked the 75th anniversary of its independence from britain with a parade that cost half a $1000000.00 in public funds. the government has been criticized for spending that amount of money on the event as the country is facing a crippling economic crisis. minot verandas reports from colombo. this was how many shall athens could participate in the 75th independence day celebrations. then money paid for from the sidelines, watching as the military bands and marching squads left the parade area approach

roads and the venue were locked down, hours ahead to ensure the celebrations were not disrupted by protest is people here are angry at their government for spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to put on this event at a time when the nation is struggling to pay for essential supplies. but present running vicar missing insists. the celebration is important. addressing the nation, he said, the corrupt political gangster is em. which sheets people into being eternally poor and dependent must be defeated. he said this was the system change. the younger generation has been demanding for a long time. yes and are muggy rather now, but my government has entered a new reformist path in order to do this. even though the decisions made towards the city seem painful, these have to be taken in order to get out of this crisis permanent equity madison at many like wasn't moodily gay. don't believe vicar missing his promises. the

student leader has been released on bail after being detained for 167 days in what many see as political persecution for his role in the 2022 anti government protests that i would be at the back of the calling like the freedom struggle to liberate the country from the imperialist 75 years ago. we now have to struggle to free the country from the robbers or the thieving gangs that corrupted this society for more than 70 years. though, oh, hundreds of university students and activists joined to litigate to protest against the government crackdown on descent and spending this despite a peaceful sit in being violently broken up by police on friday night. who said the protesters were violating a court order banning the protests acclaimed lawyers disputed many good faith. the government should not be spending the money to put on military parade,

while millions of schoo luncheon struggling to feed themselves those organizing protest like this, they would continue their campaign until the country is truly free of corruption. menendez, a 0 for number. an award winning iranian filmmaker has been released from a different prison after starting a hunger strike to demand freedom pending a retrial java pena. he was detained in july to serve a 6 year prison sentence. originally issued in 2010, amid a crackdown on descent, he had been charged over inciting opposition protests amid months of turmoil that followed the 20, the 2009 election. an arctic blast has hit parts of the united states and canada with fierce winds, pushing temperatures down into the negative double digits. gabriel alexander has more from the city of boston. scenes captured from a live camera show, the coldest temperature ever recorded in the continental united states. at the

mount, washington observatory and research center in the state of new hampshire, where the windshield dragged the mercury down to an incredible minus 79 degrees celsius. on saturday. the arctic glass has brought sub 0 temperatures to large parts of the northeastern united states and canada temperatures across the region. plunging to dangerously low levels in boston, massachusetts, where it hit minus 33 with wind chill. the biting wind made the cold at times. downright painful. if you're really into masochism and whatever. yeah, it's actually great. otherwise people say what the hell am i doing here? people are used to cold weather here in boston this time of year. but this is unusual. the last time had got this cold in boston, was 1957 in parts of maine, it was so cold. there were frost quakes. small earthquakes caused by sudden cracks

in frozen soil. elsewhere the brutal, cold, complicated the emergency response to a massive fire after train derailment overnight in ohio, freezing the water being pumped to fire fighters. icey roads have made for hazard is driving in some states like here in oklahoma. but back in boston, temperatures began to creep up slightly in the afternoon, reaching negative 12. people began to come out and brave the elements having some fun. but this is certainly a deep freeze that people here won't forget any time soon. gabriel's hondo al jazeera boston ah, i for a quick check of the headlines here on al jazeera.