strike on a refugee camp in gaza has killed at least seven people. an official said the dead included a woman and four children, who were inside their home in the al—shati camp. there was no immediate comment from israel. china's first mission to mars has succeeded in putting a spacecraft safely on the planet's surface. the tianwen—i lander touched down by parachute after surviving the treacherous descent known as the "seven minutes of terror." the next phase is to deploy a six—wheeled solar powered rover named zhurong. japan has declared a state of emergency in three more regions hit hard by the pandemic — casting further doubt over whether the olympic games in tokyo a petition has been submitted to the capital's governor, calling for the entire event to be cancelled. the democratic unionist party

has a new leader — he is edwin poots, and he takes over from arlene foster, who stood down after criticism of her handling of brexit. mr poots narrowly beat his opponent, the mp sirjeffrey donaldson today, in the first leadership election in the dup's 50—year history. our ireland correspondent emma vardy has more. the new leader of northern ireland's largest unionist party has made one thing clear — opposing the new brexit arrangements for northern ireland, the northern ireland protocol, will be one of his biggest priorities. edwin poots beat his rival, sirjeffrey donaldson, by 19 votes to 17. this party has been the authentic voice of unionism and will continue to be the authentic voice of unionism under my leadership. the northern ireland protocol has proven to be a massive challenge for us.

and if we are to fight this, to ensure that everybody in northern ireland is not worse off as a consequence of the protocol, then it's for us to do that together. edwin poots had been viewed as the more hardline of the two candidates. as agriculture minister, he's already been responsible for moves to block the implementation of the brexit arrangements, the new checks on goods coming from great britain to northern ireland, the border in the irish sea. his socially conservative views have previously attracted attention. he's a creationist who said he doesn't believe in the theory of evolution and opposes gay marriage, same—sex adoption and abortion. he's been there at the beginning, his father was one of the founding members of the party and his heartbeat would be in those rural traditional sections of the party. the problem is i think, in terms of having to make difficult decisions and move the party forward, he may not be the best person because he is bound to them, his roots are in that party and he doesn't

want to unsettle them. lisburn, in his constituency, is a proudly unionist area. but many voters think the dup is at a crossroads. i think the union need to be a wee bit more inclusive, so they do. they'd attract more voters, i think that's why a lot of people have gone off them. i think they should get rid of the irish sea border. can they, though? i think at the moment we've got the worst of both worlds, we are cut off from ireland, we are cut off from england to a degree. you won't get rid of that protocol, _ not in a month of sundays. so we can't get rid i of it, we can't stop it. so you don't think the tough talk isn't realistic? they know they can't win that. in a break from tradition, while edwin poots will lead the party, it's understood he won't take on the role of first minister, and it's not yet clear who that will go to. 50 years ago my father helped form this party... many unionists feel their british identity has been weakened by the brexit arrangements. edwin poots will be hoping he's the man to strengthen northern ireland's place in the uk.

emma vardy, bbc news, belfast. now on bbc news: nigeria's pensions system is in a mess. it leaves some elderly people penniless after decades of hard work, but it grants some politicians generous retirement packages. you work hard, behave responsibly, save into a pension seem and have a happy retirement, right? wrong. after decades of saving into government pension schemes, when it's time to collect, many nigerians across the country get nothing unless they pay. but while some retired people sink into poverty waiting for their pension, others are raking it in.— their pension, others are raking it in. their pension, others are rakin: it in. , ., raking it in. he is entitled to 30096 of his _ raking it in. he is entitled to 30096 of his basic— raking it in. he is entitled to 30096 of his basic pension. i raking it in. he is entitled to l 30096 of his basic pension. he 300% of his basic pension. he is entitled to four cars,

replaceable every four years, one man. i'm yemisi adegoke, and i want to find out why some of our elders are having to fight for what is legally theirs. every year in nigeria dozens of nurses, teachers and other government workers retire, expecting to court swap their salary for a pension to support them in old age. my salary for a pension to support them in old age.— salary for a pension to support them in old age. my mother was a healthcare _ them in old age. my mother was a healthcare worker— them in old age. my mother was a healthcare worker for - them in old age. my mother was a healthcare worker for 70 - a healthcare worker for 70 years and paid into the pension plan. years and paid into the pension lan. ~ years and paid into the pension ian, ~ , ., years and paid into the pension plan. we started looking into claims of _ plan. we started looking into claims of corruption - plan. we started looking into claims of corruption around l claims of corruption around pensions when we will contact did by obaji akpet, a reporter

from cross river state.- from cross river state. when she retired — from cross river state. when she retired last _ from cross river state. when she retired last year - from cross river state. when she retired last year she - she retired last year she should have started receiving her pension, but she didn't. i had to step in to support her financially while she waited. she reached out to the pension office to find out why and she was told she would need to pay some money to get her papers moving. because she was anxious about her pension, my mother paid 6000 naira. find about her pension, my mother paid 6000 naira.— paid 6000 naira. and then, in october, _ paid 6000 naira. and then, in october, obaji _ paid 6000 naira. and then, in october, obaji got _ paid 6000 naira. and then, in october, obaji got in - paid 6000 naira. and then, in october, obaji got in touch i october, obaji got in touch with pension office. he too was asked to pay a bribe of 10,000 naira and that is when he got in touch with us. we asked him

to secretly film any further actions he had with pensions officials. a month later, he was asked to come to calabar by one of the officials, named angela etta. so one of the officials, named angela etta-— one of the officials, named anuela etta. ., , ., angela etta. so far my mother and i have _ angela etta. so far my mother and i have made _ angela etta. so far my mother and i have made two - angela etta. so far my mother and i have made two sets - angela etta. so far my mother and i have made two sets of l and i have made two sets of payments and we don't know when she will get her money. according to angela i need to pay another person in the department. hi. iamoff iam offto i am off to see angela again, this time wearing a hidden camera. angela tells me the

money i have already paid will help move things along. i still don't have a definite date or time when my mother will get her pension, but angela thinks she has done a good job, and wants another payment. she describes my visit to her office as a visit to a temple, and she wants an offering. temple, and she wants an offering-— temple, and she wants an offerina. ., ., ,, offering. no-one actually uses the word bribe, _ offering. no-one actually uses the word bribe, but _ offering. no-one actually uses the word bribe, but it - offering. no-one actually uses the word bribe, but it seems l the word bribe, but it seems that payment is expected. payment to a government worker whosejob it is payment to a government worker whose job it is to pay out pensions. obaji does what he is expected to do.

so obaji and his mum have now made three payments to angela, amounting to 21,000 naira. but apparently it is not enough. five weeks later, and with his mother's pension four months later, angela calls obaji who is now in lagos, asking for more money, it is for someone higher up, she claims. we have no idea if there really is another higher up person who needs to be paid, or if it is just more money for her. how much exactly does he want? what is the guarantee that mum

is going to have her papers processed... when we speak to margaret in january, one month later, she still hasn't received her pension. i feel so bad that my mum still hasn't received her pension yet. after being so much, having to go through all the process of by —— bribing her and her demanding so much from us, nothing. and her demanding so much from us. nothing-— us, nothing. delays in getting our us, nothing. delays in getting your pension _ us, nothing. delays in getting your pension or— us, nothing. delays in getting your pension or having - us, nothing. delays in getting your pension or having to - us, nothing. delays in getting your pension or having to pay|

your pension or having to pay to get it aren'tjust problems in cross river state. they are national. we have heard stories of pension corruption at all levels, and across nigeria, that pension funds are being emptied, leaving nothing to pay people with and in fact, in 2019, 400 billion naira was owed to pensioners across the country. we then heard of another way retirees are being denied their money. i am on my way to meet a man who is dead, according to the state. so tell me a little bit about what used to do for a living. when ogah gabriel retired in 2000 he received his pension regularly until 2020, when it suddenly stopped. cross river state had suddenly decided that mr gabriel, like thousands of others in the state, either didn't exist, or was dead. to get his pension he would have

to convince the auditor general, seen here at haw inauguration, that he was alive. despite his medical challenges, ogah gabriel made the trip to the auditor—general�*s office. even though he only had photocopies of some documents he was told he needed, he was confident. another reason he was confident was because he has known the auditor—general since he was —— she was a little girl. according to him, the auditor—general was furious.

and when his wife spoke up to support him, it made her even angrier. mr gabriel isn't the only retired person who claims they were denied their hard earned pension, because mrs inok took offence. so each time you went to the office you have to carry all this with you? this woman worked as a nurse for 22 years. she had been living off her pension for 15 years when suddenly in may last year it stopped. like mr gabriel, she had to

prove to the auditor—general, she was alive by going back again and again to calabar. she says six months after her pension stopped she finally got to speak to the auditor—general. but the auditor—general was not about to reinstate her pension. we heard stories like this over and overagain, we heard stories like this over and over again, from all across the state. pension is old, sick and out of money, waiting for the auditor—general. eventually

they had had enough, and on 3 november 2020, they started a protest.

you see we have been waiting for her. once the protest has quietened down, mrs ewa says she was taken into a room full of people, including the auditor general. this apology was filmed by someone in the room and put online. it's outrageous,

hearing the story of the 62—year—old woman who spent 22 years working for the state government, being denied her pension and being intimidated by the auditor general and security personnel. fake or ghost pensioners are a real problem in nigeria. adding fictitious names to the payroll is one way money is stolen from government funds. sometimes there are more fake pensioners than real ones. the state cannot have 3000 pensioners that have 10,000. this man doesn't think the culprits are ordinary people like mrs ewa. what happens is that somebody will add names of non—existent pensioners.

will add names of non-existent pensioners— pensioners. that one goes to him. pensioners. that one goes to him- the _ pensioners. that one goes to him. the people _ pensioners. that one goes to him. the people at _ pensioners. that one goes to him. the people at the - pensioners. that one goes to him. the people at the top. i him. the people at the top. it's not something at the grassroots. people at the top. they will pay those ghost pensioners, and the money goes into their pockets. it's not something a clerk can do. because it would be discovered. it's right up there. 50. because it would be discovered. it's right up there.— it's right up there. so, how can states _ it's right up there. so, how can states tackle _ it's right up there. so, how can states tackle the - it's right up there. so, how i can states tackle the problem of ghost pensioners? hello, nice to meet you. this man is a deputy director of an organisation that advocates for more transparency in government. he says technology should be available to identify them. ~ ., _ , ., should be available to identify them. ~ ., ., , them. we need a system that is robust and _ them. we need a system that is robust and covers _ them. we need a system that is robust and covers everyone. - robust and covers everyone. ways and it implemented? why does it have to be physical? this covers great distances.

but even if you don't have advanced technology, it still should not take weeks, months, or years to work out who is alive and who isn't. i am in hockey lead, a community, where last october, this list was published with over 300 names of people declared dead, and as a result, their pension stopped. a result, their pension stopped-— a result, their pension stoned. "' ., , stopped. 9996 of the people here are still alive. _ stopped. 9996 of the people here are still alive. a _ stopped. 9996 of the people here are still alive. a local— are still alive. a local community _ are still alive. a local community leader i are still alive. a local. community leader takes are still alive. a local- community leader takes me to meet some of those from the list of dead people. hello, mr cletus. . , list of dead people. hello, mr cletus._ and - list of dead people. hello, mr cletus._ and that l list of dead people. hello, mr| cletus._ and that is cletus. that is me. and that is our cletus. that is me. and that is your name _ cletus. that is me. and that is your name here? _ cletus. that is me. and that is your name here? your - cletus. that is me. and that is your name here? your name l your name here? your name is on this list, sir, that says you are dead. that is the list. i

am not dead, madame. i are dead. that is the list. i i am not dead, madame. i can are dead. that is the list. i - am not dead, madame. i can see that. i am not dead, madame. i can see that- i can _ am not dead, madame. i can see that. i can see _ am not dead, madame. i can see that. i can see you _ am not dead, madame. i can see that. i can see you are _ am not dead, madame. i can see that. i can see you are alive. - that. i can see you are alive. so, this is your national id card? and this is your name, this list of people that are supposedly dead, this is your idea, confirming you are who you say you are. mr cletus stopped getting his pension in june, last year. how have you been surviving? he has been to calabar five times. two weeks? so, you spent two weeks in calabar, even though you don't have anybody there?

you sleep outside? welcome. good evening. i can see your name is here on this list. it says you are a ghost pensioner, but here you are, alive. , pensioner, but here you are, alive-- id _ pensioner, but here you are, alive.- id card, - pensioner, but here you are, alive. yes. id card, though�* alive. yes. id card, though' makar. alive. yes. id card, though' makar- she _ alive. yes. id card, though' makar. she shows - alive. yes. id card, though' makar. she shows us - alive. yes. id card, though' makar. she shows us her . alive. jazz id card, though' makar. she shows us her voter's card, it appears to be the same person who is alive and standing in front of me. and it's been nearly two years since she last received her pension. while some pensioners are struggling just to get what they are owed, there is a group of nigerians who expect more from retirement. politicians.

because nigeria is a federal system, each state gets to decide a lot of its own laws, which is handy, if you run the state. like the former governor here, who sanctioned a law two months before he retired, which would give him quite a pension. he is entitled to 10 million naira every month for what? no—one knows. is entitled to 300% of a basic pension. and yet, this man whose gratuity and entitlement has been paid immediately after he left office, 10 billion naira in pension arrears. although the state might — pension arrears. although the state might not _ pension arrears. although the state might not have - pension arrears. although the state might not have the - pension arrears. although the l state might not have the money to pay ordinary pensioners the money it owes, there is or was money it owes, there is or was money to pay politicians. the government eventually repealed this law, but he's not the only ex— governor to benefit from preferential pension laws. the

covernor preferential pension laws. the governor is — preferential pension laws. iie: governor is entitled preferential pension laws. ti2 governor is entitled to preferential pension laws. ii2 governor is entitled to two houses, one in lagos, one in a location of his choice. that is what the law says. so, if the governor is greedy enough to demand a house here, by a land at $4 million per plot, then he is entitled to 300% of his basic pension, is entitled to four cars, replaced every four years. 1—man. and that is in some states. that is too much for 1—man. thousands of pensioners, three years, not paid. pensioners, three years, not aid. ., , , pensioners, three years, not aid, ., ,, . , , paid. protests recently erupted here, paid. protests recently erupted here. and _ paid. protests recently erupted here, and the _ paid. protests recently erupted here, and the house _ paid. protests recently erupted here, and the house of- paid. protests recently erupted l here, and the house of assembly tried to pass a law that would give ex— governors and their deputies and their ways and

outlandish amount of money and perks for their pensions. solidarity for ever!- solidarity for ever! cars, medical— solidarity for ever! cars, medical bills, _ solidarity for ever! cars, medical bills, even - solidarity for ever! cars, i medical bills, even funerals are covered eight according to one estimate, it would amount to 900% of the basic annual salary of a serving governor. this man has been trying to find out through the courts exactly how much politicians get when they retire, claiming these laws are illegal. so far, only one state has been willing to disclose any information on their pension in laws which should be available to the public —— pension. under laws, it should be available to the public. it should be available to the ublic. ~ ., , it should be available to the ublic. a, , ., _, public. monies that could otherwise _ public. monies that could otherwise have _ public. monies that could otherwise have been - public. monies that could i otherwise have been spent public. monies that could - otherwise have been spent on roads, water, infrastructure or health. . roads, water, infrastructure or health. , ., n roads, water, infrastructure or health. , ., ,�* , health. this doesn't 'ust affect older i health. this doesn't 'ust affect older people, h affect older people, it affects everybody. if you are working today and paying into a pension scheme, there is no guarantee

you will get your money when you will get your money when you retire. you will get your money when you retire-— you retire. it's 'ust basically takin: you retire. it's 'ust basically taking what _ you retire. it'sjust basically taking what should - you retire. it'sjust basically taking what should be - you retire. it'sjust basically taking what should be for i you retire. it'sjust basicallyi taking what should be for the people. it's sad, really. it really is so. the whole of nigeria should be concerned. it is too much. it is far too much _ is too much. it is far too much. ., ., , , is too much. it is far too much. ., ., , .., ,., much. not many politicians are willin: to much. not many politicians are willing to speak— much. not many politicians are willing to speak out _ much. not many politicians are willing to speak out against - willing to speak out against their pay. how are you? but this senator is openly critical.— this senator is openly critical. ~ ., ., , ., critical. what a typical state governor — critical. what a typical state governor takes _ critical. what a typical state governor takes home - critical. what a typical state governor takes home as - governor takes home as a can settle the _ governor takes home as a can settle the wages of over 3000— 4000 _ settle the wages of over 3000— 4000 teachers. so why should the state — 4000 teachers. so why should the state dedicate such kind of money— the state dedicate such kind of money to— the state dedicate such kind of money to former governor is? back— money to former governor is? back in— money to former governor is? back in calabar, where we started our investigation, mr gabriel, mrs ewa and others are finally receiving their

pensions, though not paid the thousands and thousands of naira they lost due to their pensions being illegitimately withheld for so many months. despite years of promises of change from the very top, we found the pension system still hampered by incompetence and corruption, causing devastation in the lives of elderly and vulnerable nigerians. we were the findings of our investigation to put ——we put forward the findings of our investigations did these people and ask for their comments. they have not responded. cletus died shortly after filming. he had not been paid any of his pension.

hello there. if you're waiting for a prolonged, dry, warm spell of weather, you'll have to keep on waiting because this weekend it is going to stay cool and there will be plenty more heavy, thundery downpours. now, on the atlantic satellite picture, you can see this big pipeline of cloud just ploughing its way from west to east. you can think of this line of cloud as something of a barrier. it's keeping the warm air away from our shores. that warm air will lift temperatures across parts of southern spain this weekend into the low to mid 30s. but for us, we are stuck in cool air and we are stuck under the influence of low pressure. this will bring showers or longer spells of rain through the weekend. a band of cloud with outbreaks of rain drifting north—eastwards across england and wales, clipping into northern ireland as we head through saturday morning. behind that, well, we revert to that mix of sunshine and showers. some of the showers will be heavy with hail and thunder.

not too many showers across scotland, certainly across the northern half of scotland as we go through the day, although for shetland, it will stay pretty grey and damp all day long. temperatures struggling for north—eastern areas — just 11 degrees. but even in the best of the sunshine, 15 or 16 — that is it. and then through saturday evening, the showers will try to fade but actually, i think through the early hours of sunday morning, the showers will pep up again down towards the south—west. that is the first sign of what is going to be quite a turbulent day of weather on sunday as this area of low pressure moves right on top of the uk. that means the air will be very, very unstable. so while most places will start with some dry weather and some sunshine, keep an eye on the skies — you will see big thunder clouds developing. some really intense downpours with frequent lightning, some hail, some very squally, gusty wind and some particularly strong winds down towards the channel islands. there will be some sunshine between the showers but temperatures below par, 11 to 15 degrees. and as we head in to the start of next week, low pressure will still be close by.

that means we will see further showers or longer spells of rain through the week ahead. some of those showers always with the potential to be heavy, possibly thundery. some sunshine in between, but no sign of anything warm on the horizon.

this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. palestinian officials say at least seven people, including four children, have been killed in the latest israeli air—strike on gaza. britain's prime minister warns that the new indian variant of coronavirus could pose a serious disruption to tackling covid. as the countdown continues to the tokyo olympics, fresh concerns over whether the games will actually go ahead. and china makes space history, becoming only the second country to land a rover on mars.