this is bbc news — these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. pressure grows on the uk government to help businesses facing soaring energy bills as some of its own mps join industry bosses in asking for support. chinese president, xijinping, vows to unify china and taiwan as heightened tensions over the island continue. translation: if china can be unified, all— translation: if china can be unified, all chinese _ translation: if china can be unified, all chinese will- translation: if china can be unified, all chinese will enjoy | translation: if china can be | unified, all chinese will enjoy a happy life. if china can't unify, everyone will suffer. the united states and the taliban will hold face to face talks in their first meeting since the group seized control of afghanistan in august. women in the uk who are travelling home alone, could soon

be offered protection from a free mobile phone app. pope francis launches what catholics have described as the most ambitious project of church reform in six decades. and the british teenager, emma raducanu, loses herfirst match since winning the us open, beaten in straight sets by the world number 100. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. there's growing pressure on the uk government to support businesses struggling with rising gas prices. a number of conservative mps have joined the leaders of industries with heavy energy consumption in calling for ministers to intervene.

representatives of the sector say their talks yesterday with the uk business secretary, kwasi kwarteng, ended with no immediate solutions. here's our business correspondent, katie prescott. stoking the white heat of furnaces is burning a hole in the finances of industries that need vast amounts of energy, as prices to keep the wheels turning soar. they've asked the government to step in or see jobs lost. we in the energy intensive users group, we have chemicals, steel, ceramics, paper, industrial gases, glass, mineral products, so making products like lime that goes into water treatment and air pollution control, really essential materials and essential businesses and supply chains that supply the everyday goods that we need. the government says it is in regular contact with business groups to explore ways to manage the impact of rising global prices and this

underscores the importance of building a strong home—grown renewable energy sector to further reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. meanwhile, it is no playground for smaller businesses. without a price cap to protect them, most fix their energy contracts years in advance. the unlucky ones are having to renew now, just as costs are bouncing. the next contract on our second venue is due up on the 1st of january and we're looking for places now, you are looking, of january and we're looking for prices now, you are looking, at the moment, energy�*s selling eight times higher than it was when that contract started. eight times higher. that is just, like, that's crazy. while households might be directly protected by the energy price cap, when it comes to business bills, we're all in it together. if the energy prices are not lowered, only one thing will happen. light switch flicks. katie prescott, bbc news.

we'rejoined by paul richards — chief executive of together energy. and bristol energy, which have 300,000 customers combined. formerly at british gas. thank you for your time today. give us a sense of the current situation first of all for your businesses and customers. from a business perspective _ your businesses and customers. from a business perspective it _ your businesses and customers. from a business perspective it is _ your businesses and customers. f'rr�*n a business perspective it is hugely challenging times. the larger suppliers and indeed the regulator have been propagating a story that small suppliers just haven't purchased well enough for this environment. that is categorically untrue. together and bristol, we have access to all the trading instruments and access to the wholesale market the same as the larger players, but as a small supplier in the perverse situation we are in this now, there is something which is known as the price cap, categorically the cheapest tariff you can get in the market, what we have as customers

are quite rail they are staying with us, who normally would roll away — quite rightly. in that scenario we are left buying gas and power for these customers at seven, eight, nine times the level that is allowed in the price cap. from a customer's perspective, they have been very anxious. we have had record numbers of calls asking if we are going to ride this out and if they should be moving to other suppliers. we are only good place, but it is an anxious time for customers and for industry. anxious time for customers and for indust . , , ., anxious time for customers and for indust ., , ., ., ., ., industry. just to go back to what ou said industry. just to go back to what you said at _ industry. just to go back to what you said at the _ industry. just to go back to what you said at the beginning, - industry. just to go back to what you said at the beginning, you i industry. just to go back to what i you said at the beginning, you said some of the larger companies had been suggesting smaller energy suppliers hadn't, i think the term is hedging, isn't it? insuring against fluctuation in the price of gas, but you have done that, have a new? that's what you are saying your instance? irate new? that's what you are saying your instance? ~ ., ., ., ., instance? we have done that for the customers- — instance? we have done that for the customers. there _ instance? we have done that for the customers. there are _ instance? we have done that for the customers. there are three - instance? we have done that for the customers. there are three things i customers. there are three things are good is a buyer has to do, keep their costs as low as possible, forecast a number of customers are

going to have and the energy those customers are going to use, and you have the service your customers the best of your ability. those three things are what makes a supplier successful. in the market we then just now, we have customers who are stating with those that we just would not have expected the staples that we would have expected them to move onto another more competitive deal, we have not been any position to head for those customers. that is leaving the business under huge pressure and putting it under constraints. be pressure and putting it under constraints.— pressure and putting it under constraints. �* , . ., constraints. be absolutely clear what ou constraints. be absolutely clear what you mean _ constraints. be absolutely clear what you mean when _ constraints. be absolutely clear what you mean when you - constraints. be absolutely clear what you mean when you say i constraints. be absolutely clear i what you mean when you say you constraints. be absolutely clear - what you mean when you say you have not been able to head for those particular customers. we not been able to head for those particular customers.— not been able to head for those particular customers. we were not ex-iectin particular customers. we were not expecting those — particular customers. we were not expecting those customers - particular customers. we were not expecting those customers to - particular customers. we were not expecting those customers to be l particular customers. we were not i expecting those customers to be part of our portfolio, so if you think about any given point, if you have 10,000 customers a year signing up to one year deals, typically 20% of those customers will go and find a more competitive deal at the end of their lifetime. there are no competitive products on the market so they are staying where they are. we did not expect to have these customers so we have not purchased the energy for them. {lila customers so we have not purchased the energy for them.— the energy for them. ok, you have exlained the energy for them. ok, you have explained that _

the energy for them. ok, you have explained that really _ the energy for them. ok, you have explained that really clearly - the energy for them. ok, you have explained that really clearly now. | explained that really clearly now. you mentioned the price cap. do you think, as a mechanism, the price cap is working, is helping, are not? we is working, is helping, are not? - categorically support the price gap, and it is enormously helping customers today. but the question a customers today. but the question a customer has to ask, any situation where we are inch and it is enormously helping customers today. but the question a customer has to ask, any situation where we are in over the wholesale price has risen to two or three times what we have ever seen historically, i was working in the industry in 2008 the last time this happened, if the reverse was tapping on the wholesale prices to drop as fast as it is written, customers would be getting a poor deal. the brands we are seeing failing at the moment is moving us toward situation where there will be ten or 11 suppliers in there will be ten or 11 suppliers in the real concern is you end up in some cam cartel mentality and the prices don't drop. the price you see dropping to a customer does not come as fast as a price you would see rising. there is no protection for the customer there. we rising. there is no protection for the customer there.— rising. there is no protection for the customer there. we began when this crisis emerged _ the customer there. we began when this crisis emerged talking _ the customer there. we began when this crisis emerged talking a - the customer there. we began when

this crisis emerged talking a lot - this crisis emerged talking a lot about the impact on domestic customers. 0bviously about the impact on domestic customers. obviously in the last few days we've been focusing a lot on the situation for industry and business, they are calling for the government to introduce subsidies to try to help them with these huge fluctuations and the dash in the price of gas. do you think the government should be doing more beyond the price cap for domestic customers the beyond the price cap for domestic custome - , . , , beyond the price cap for domestic custome - , . , customers the price cap is so frustrating — customers the price cap is so frustrating because - customers the price cap is so i frustrating because generators, there is no price cap cap on generators. there are examples of generation not being switched on in the uk, critically on the parasite, that would help some of the volatility in the market. — critically on the power side. the only person has been asked to cap is the supplier, — national grid distributor providers, generators, none of these people have been asked to exercise any type of price cap. if you had a price cap that existed right the way through the complexity of the supply chain, i think you would see an awful lot of pressure

being eased for businesses. looking ahead a little _ being eased for businesses. looking ahead a little bit, _ being eased for businesses. looking ahead a little bit, you _ being eased for businesses. looking ahead a little bit, you say _ being eased for businesses. looking ahead a little bit, you say you - being eased for businesses. looking ahead a little bit, you say you are i ahead a little bit, you say you are currently well housed for the run—up to christmas in terms of what you've prepared for with the fluctuations in the price of gas, but beyond christmas, what do you think the situation might bewe have access to strong trading relationships... it strong trading relationships... it is not an easy situation for us. between december and april, we are well backed have strong relationships, we will manage it, but we will be making losses next year. but we will be making losses next ear. . ~' but we will be making losses next ear. ., ~ , ., but we will be making losses next ear. . ~ , ., y but we will be making losses next ear. ., ~ i. , . but we will be making losses next ear. . ~' y . ., but we will be making losses next ear. ., ~ , . ., ., but we will be making losses next ear. . , . ., ., ., year. thank you very much for all of our year. thank you very much for all of your thoughts _ year. thank you very much for all of your thoughts on — year. thank you very much for all of your thoughts on this _ year. thank you very much for all of your thoughts on this today. - china's president xijinping has said that reunification with taiwan must be fulfilled. his comments come at a time of heightened military tension in the region. it also comes a day before taiwan which china views as a breakaway province celebrates its national day. mr xi added that unification should

be achieved peacefully but he didn't rule out the potential use of force to achieve that goal. in response, taiwan has said its future rests in the hands of its own people. here is a little of what president xi had to say: translation: unification is the hope of all chinese people. _ if china can be unified, all chinese will enjoy a happy life. if china can't unify, everyone will suffer. 0ur correspondentjohn sudworth has more from taipei. this was a very confident chinese president saying not only must unification with taiwan be achieved, but that it will be achieved. you know, underlining this idea of this inevitability behind this process. of course it is important to say this is the kind of thing we have heard from the chinese leadership many, many times before. i think it is coming under more scrutiny at the moment

because of the context. first of all, as you mentioned, these comments come around a couple of significant anniversaries, china recently celebrating its national day, taiwan's national day tomorrow, but also china upping the tension with these military sorties that it has been flying into the taiwanese air defence identification zone, acts seen as deeply provocative by taiwan and its allies. and of course a lot of that is kind of business as usual, linked to these sorts of anniversaries when we see an uptick in rhetoric, but there is something bigger behind all this as well and that is the sense that possibly the political and strategic balance is shifting as well. the politics, because of course taiwan and china in many ways have never been further apart, china growing increasingly authoritarian, taiwan today a modern and vibrant democracy, but also as china grows more authoritarian, it is growing stronger, more wealthy, more powerful, it is updating its military and there is a fear here in taiwan that the strategic balance is shifting, that the day might not

be too far off when for china, eyeing the possibility of taking taiwan by force, eyeing the possibility of an invasion calculates that finally the benefits outweigh the risks rather than at the moment what has kind of maintained the status quo some people suggested that at the moment invasion for china is a very risky option. an appeals court in the united states has temporarily reinstated the near total ban on abortions in texas. the ruling overturns the decision of a lower court earlier this week, which had blocked the bill. under the law, abortion in texas is prohibited after about six weeks of pregnancy and makes no exceptions in cases of rape or incest. the dispute could ultimately end up before the us supreme court. german police say they're investigating several cases of so called �*havana syndrome' at the american embassy in berlin. the illness first came to light in cuba in 2016. dozens of american officials have reported symptoms including nausea,

memory lapses and dizziness. police in berlin said they were looking into an "alleged sonic weapon attack". pope francis is launching what some catholics are describing as the most ambitious project of church reform in 60 years. a two year consultation exercise of every parish around the world begins this weekend and could tackle issues such as women's ordination, married men as priests and blessings for gay couples. 0ur religious affairs reporter harry farley has been giving me more details on the project. it's effectively a giant consultation exercise. pope francis is asking every diocese around the world to meet and to discuss solutions to the issues they are facing. and so, in terms of the processes, you say what's going to happen is those local discussions will then be fed through to national bishops who will then filter through those ideas next year before taking their suggestions, those solutions to the problems they face, to rome in 2023.

i think there are a couple of reasons why this is significant. first of all, the catholic church is a very hierarchical institution, so cardinals sit above bishops who sit above priests, and so this is a real shift towards consulting lay and ordinary catholics as to the church's future direction. the second reason why this is significant is it opens up the discussion all sorts of thorny issues that the catholic church faces. so, for example, as you mentioned, the possibility of women being ordained as deacons, a possibility of blessings for gay couples, it throws all those issues up into the air. and i suppose the big question is could this lead to change? i guess there's no guarantee of that, is there, in this process? no, well, as one bishop said to me this week, it depends on what the people say. i think what we'll find is very different solutions and very different opinions coming from different catholics around the world. remember, there are 1.3 billion catholics around the world.

so, for example, in areas like the amazon, where there is a drastic shortage of priests, i think we will hear calls for women to be ordained as deacons. and then in different parts of europe, on the other hand, we may hear calls for gay couples to receive a formal church blessing. i think the key thing, though, is that those local discussions, those local ideas, will then be fed through to national bishops, and i think the key question in terms of whether we will see actual change is whether the bishops feel able to take some of those more radical solutions to the vatican in two years' time. and has this been broadly welcomed in principle, or are there some opponents even at this early stage, harry? well, this is part of pope francis' wider reforming agenda, and it's certainly not universally popular. he wants the church to be less hierarchical, more, as he puts it, "synodal", more consultative, more listening to ordinary lay catholics, and that's certainly

not universally popular. i was speaking to one conservative this week who describes this process that we are just starting out on as a recipe for chaos. some conservatives really value the church's traditional hierarchy, and they worry that this process will throw into confusion some of the issues that the church has historically been very firm but very clear on. and, harry, moving away from this particular story to the subject of cop26 — of course, the hugely important climate summit that's happening in glasgow next month — we had thought that pope francis would be attending that, but it now seems he won't. what more can you tell us? yes, i mean, it was heavily rumoured that he would. pope francis himself said earlier this year that his speech was already being written, so i think he himself hoped that he would be going as well. i think it's obviously a huge disappointment not only for the organisers of cop26 but also for him. i think, to put it in context, obviously this is an 84—year—old man, he had colon surgery earlier this year, so while it's perhaps a disappointment to him as well, it's probably maybe understandable.

the united states and the taliban are to hold their first face—to—face talks since the militants seized control of afghanistan in august. the state department said the meeting would take place in doha on saturday and sunday. pressure grows on the uk government to help businesses facing soaring energy bills as some of its own mps join industry bosses in asking for support. chinese president, xijinping, vows to unify china and taiwan as heightened tensions over the island continue. the united states and the taliban will hold face to face talks in their first meeting since the group seized control of afghanistan in august.

women in the uk who are travelling home alone, could soon be offered protection from a free mobile phone app. the app was developed provisionally, and will allow users to opt into a remote tracking mechanism which would activate an alert if they did not reach their destination in the estimated time. the home office says it is reviewing the proposal. nhs england is planning to roll out a scheme that will get people living with severe mental illness back into work. more than 4000 people found jobs through the scheme last year but missed his long—term target after being disrupted by the pandemic. charities say working regularly can often have a significant mental and physical health benefit.— significant mental and physical health benefit. , ., , , health benefit. there is absolutely no reason with _

health benefit. there is absolutely no reason with the _ health benefit. there is absolutely no reason with the right _ health benefit. there is absolutely no reason with the right support i health benefit. there is absolutely i no reason with the right support why we can't help people back into work, and also help them stay in the workplace. and it is thanks to all of us would recognise about the value of having a job. it gives you structure, it allows you to make a contribution, you have an income. it is very good for yourself respect. it lets you socialise as well. buckingham palace is being handed a petition asking the royal family to �*rewild' their vast estates. the petition signed by campaigners, scientists and environmentalists is part of a campaign to ask the uk's largest landowners to rewild. men says they are constantly looking at ways of improving biodiversity and public access — a spokesperson says. 0ur correspondent simonjones is in central london and can tell us more.

campaigners have brought their message directly to buckingham palace. they say they want the royals to re—wild, to use more of their estates to return to their natural habitat. there have been songs, a petition that's about to be handed into the palace that has been signed by more than 100,000 people. let's talk now to an environmentalist and organiser here. in layman terms, what is rewilding and what difference would that make on the royal estate? thea;r and what difference would that make on the royal estate?— on the royal estate? they occupy a [an e on the royal estate? they occupy a lane art on the royal estate? they occupy a large part of— on the royal estate? they occupy a large part of the — on the royal estate? they occupy a large part of the uk, _ on the royal estate? they occupy a large part of the uk, 1.4% - on the royal estate? they occupy a large part of the uk, 1.4% of - on the royal estate? they occupy a large part of the uk, 1.496 of the i large part of the uk, 1.4% of the land surface, 800,000 acres, a lot more than we have a nature conservation is, so they have the ability to make a significant contribution and change, change is what we need at this point. we are facing our climate and environment emergency, and we need a toolkit to be exercised. part of that toolkit for change is rewilding, which essentially means allowing the habitats to go closer to their natural state. habitats to go closer to their naturalstate. if habitats to go closer to their natural state. if we take back morrow for instance, a very large estate in scotland, largely given

over to deer stalking and grouse shooting and very few trees. it really would be a temperate rainforest filled with a much richer diversity of life! rewilding isn't just about wildlife, let's be clear about that, i like it from that point of view, but it is about people say. it offers new opportunities for a green economy in the rural economy, which is always in trouble. given the amount of power the royal family have, in trouble. given the amount of power the royalfamily have, if in trouble. given the amount of power the royal family have, if they did change their mind here, it would send a very powerful message out before cop26, notjust the people of the uk but all of the world that they are taking this climate and environment emergency very seriously indeed stop environment emergency very seriously indeed sto_ . environment emergency very seriously indeed sto ; ., ., ., . indeed stop what would a direct messaie indeed stop what would a direct message he _ indeed stop what would a direct message he to _ indeed stop what would a direct message be to the _ indeed stop what would a direct message be to the queen? i indeed stop what would a directi message be to the queen? this indeed stop what would a direct i message be to the queen? this is a olite message be to the queen? this is a polite request. _ message be to the queen? this is a polite request, the _ message be to the queen? this is a polite request, the most _ message be to the queen? this is a polite request, the most polite i polite request, the most polite protest had been on for ages. children singing and banners, fantastic headgear, one of which i have appropriated. please consider our request. you have the ability to make an enormous and positive difference for the climate and biodiversity in the uk, but more importantly i think because of their global celebrity, and they laid

another people follow, if they were to do this then it would be a fantastic gesture — if they were to lead to another people follow. we are tired of people talking the talk and we need them to walk the walk, we need meaningful positive action. the people living behind me could make that if they listen to our request today.— make that if they listen to our request today. you mention the climate summit _ request today. you mention the climate summit coming - request today. you mention the climate summit coming up, i request today. you mention the i climate summit coming up, starting later this month in glasgow. your view is that is a real time to make a stand. it view is that is a real time to make a stand. . ., view is that is a real time to make a stand. _, ., , , ., a stand. it could potentially be our last stand- — a stand. it could potentially be our last stand- it _ a stand. it could potentially be our last stand. it is _ a stand. it could potentially be our last stand. it is extremely - last stand. it is extremely significant. every time we have a conference are tired of people talking the talk and we need them to walk the walk, we need meaningful positive action. the people living behind me could make that if they listen to our request today. you mention the _ listen to our request today. you mention the climate _ listen to our request today. you mention the climate summit coming up, starting later this month in glasgow. your view is that is a real time to make a stand. it glasgow. your view is that is a real time to make a stand.— time to make a stand. it could potentially _ time to make a stand. it could potentially be _ time to make a stand. it could potentially be our _ time to make a stand. it could potentially be our last - time to make a stand. it could potentially be our last stand. l time to make a stand. it could| potentially be our last stand. it time to make a stand. it could i potentially be our last stand. it is extremely significant. every time we have a conference our scientists tell us that we are closer and closer to the precipice, this time they have given us some very stark warnings. we really do need some meaningful change out that conference. i would love to see the royals take the stage and say they will rewilding 800,000 acres, full of bears and lynx and maybe one day

we fantasise long enough, maybe even wolves as well. we fantasise long enough, maybe even wolves as well-— wolves as well. thank you and i will let ou wolves as well. thank you and i will let you get — wolves as well. thank you and i will let you get back _ wolves as well. thank you and i will let you get back to _ wolves as well. thank you and i will let you get back to the _ wolves as well. thank you and i will let you get back to the polite - let you get back to the polite protest, as you have described it. the royal estates of the royal family have a proud history over 50 years of getting involved in conservation issues, and are constantly looking at new ways they can improve and change biodiversity. simon, thank you very much for that. simon, thank you very much for that. simonjones they are in central london. voters in the czech republic have just a few hours left to decide whether to return the controversial prime minister, andrej babis, to power for a second term. it's the second day of voting to choose a new prime minister and parliament. the ruling populist party maintained a slight lead during the election campaign despite accusations of corruption and criticism of its handling of the pandemic. it's being challenged by two opposition blocs which have been gaining support. results are expected later on saturday. 0ur correspondent in prague rob cameron told us more about the obstacles facing mr babis

as he bids for a second term: he's caught between a rock and a hard place, if you like. on one hand, these two centre—right centrist opposition coalition is ranged against him, but he is also facing the far right nipping at his heels, so he has to attract both voters from both sides of the electoral divide here in the czech republic. and the centre—right opposition are hoping to corner him, to deprive him of that parliamentary majority, those 101 seats that he could assemble in any coalition, to deprive him of the chance of power. but it all depends on what the president milos zeman will do. he's already said he will appoint the leader of the largest party in parliament to form the next government. that will almost certainly be mr babis. but now there are questions about president zeman's health — he is unwell, he is sequestered in his presidential retreat — and it's unclearjust what role he will be able to play in the post—election talks.

france has threatened to reduce electricity supplies to the british crown dependency of jersey amid fresh tensions over post brexit fishing rights. lucy williamson reports from paris. questioned about the row over british fishing licences on a morning news programme, clement beaune said reducing electricity to jersey was no idle threat. we are not talking about cutting power to eachjersey resident, he said, but reducing the delivery of electricity to the island is possible. resentment has been piling up on this side of the channel over covid vaccines, post—brexit border checks for northern ireland, and a secret british—american submarine deal in the pacific. fishing rights have been a source of tension for years, but brexit has sharpened divisions, with european fishermen asked to prove their connections to uk waters. some small french

boats say they are not equipped to provide that proof. france has accused britain of not living up to its own post—brexit agreement. next week, eu ministers will meet in luxembourg to discuss their response as politicians on both sides of the channel point to the waters that separate britain and france. you are watching bbc news. i do beg your pardon, we havejust pre—empted that report. to allow me to read the introduction to first of all. 16 specialist centres looking at the effects of long covid in children and young people will be opening across england from monday. the paediatric hubs will bring together experts on common symptoms like chronic fatigue and respiratory problems. fiona lamdin has been to meet 10 year old taylor, who'll be benefitting from the treatment. ten—year—old taylor in the pool

for her weekly hydrotherapy session. since having covid nearly 20 months ago, this is now the only place that she can be without behing in pain. when you wake up, your symptoms will already start to kick in. i wake up with a bad headache, and normally everything aches and i don't want to get out of bed. but when i do, i still feel that pain. it doesn't really go, and then i go to school tired, and ifeel like my hands are going to collapse and not work. and the same with my legs. my back can hurt a few times, but it's not the same as my arms and legs. but my head can hurt a lot, and i always feel tired. and that goes on for the whole day. and it's notjust the physical pain — her mum also worries about her daughter's mental health. she used to do things like cheerleading and horse riding and enjoy those things, but she wouldn't be able to do it now, and obviously while she's not been at school even

with the lockdowns and then not going back last year because of the pain, she's become quite isolated and then that's obviously affected her as well. the world's first study into children with long—covid suggests that one in seven still suffer symptoms 15 weeks after contracting coronavirus. and so now 16 hubs are opening across the country, looking at long—covid in children, and one of the pilot's is here in bristol. long—covid is essentially a new condition, and there are symptom clusters or groups of symptoms that we don't understand completely and we need to develop treatments for. the outcome for children in general is much, much better than the outcome for adults. so what the hub is going to do is to bring the top specialists at bristol children's hospital together and discuss cases. i feel really strongly that what we need to do is offer treatment quickly, because the kids are sick and they're missing school right now.

how does it feel to know you're going to have access to a specialist team of doctors who are hopefully going to get you better? i feel better because they can properly help and not... well, other doctors can help, but these ones are made for long—covid. taylor's being seen on monday. after months of pain, she and her family hope she can get the help she finally needs to get better. fiona lamdin, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with susan powell. hello. we will see some rain around this afternoon across eastern scotland, northern england and for north wales. elsewhere there should be some bright or sunny spells, but rain or shine it is still going to feel rather on the warm side. that's because we've been streaming our air up from the south, a long way south, from the atlantic, in fact, and sitting in tropical air. here's the front through the afternoon. ahead of it, some sunshine across eastern england could take

us up to 20 degrees. we are looking at the mid to high teens when we see some sunshine across northern ireland and western scotland. through the evening, some patchy rain gets down into the midlands, but by the time the front sets across southern and eastern england by the end of the night, perhaps just a little drizzle really at most. clear skies behind the front, a little chilly perhaps in some of the sheltered scottish glens first thing on sunday. but, ifanything, sunday offering more widespread sunshine than saturday, cloud in the south—east eventually drifting away. a few showers on a blustery wind, though, for western scotland. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines: pressure grows on the uk government to help businesses facing soaring energy bills are some of its own mps join industry bosses in asking for support.

chinese president xijinping support. chinese president xi jinping vows to