this is bbc news — these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. china urges calm after the united states said it's tracking a suspected chinese surveillance balloon seen over sensitive sites in recent days. it would be ridiculous if the government didn't retrieve it. i mean, obviously i think that's the first course of action, is to get it out of the sky. the partner of a woman who vanished while out walking her dog in north west england a week ago says he's living in a �*nightmare�* and wants her home. we are never going to lose the hope, of course not. but right now, it is as though she has vanished into thin air. as european union leaders prepare

for a summit on ukraine — president zelensky says he believes his country deserves talks on joining the eu this year. deserted railway stations as train drivers in england stage their second walkout this week. australian tennis star nick kyrgios admits assaulting his ex—girlfriend but avoids a criminal conviction — we'll have the latest from canberra. # falling in our hearts # here again, hawai'i # aloha, aloha # and could this song by the former sex pistols by the former sex pistolsrontmanjohn lydon written about his wife's alzheimer's — be chosen to represent ireland at the eurovision song contest? it's very hard to be away from her. but i have to do this. i have to bring awareness to this problem.

hello, and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. the us department of defence says it's tracking what's believed to be a chinese surveillance balloon that entered american airspace two days ago. the military considered shooting it down over the state of montana but was concerned that falling debris could hit someone. the canadian authorities have also released a statement about a high—altitude surveillance balloon and say they are working with us partners. this is the first image we've received believed to be of the balloon but it's not been independently verified. the department of defence says it was "most certainly launched" by china. the chinese government has called for calm and warned against what it called "hype" about the balloon. our north america correspondent, peter bowes, has more. this is an unusual but not unprecedented situation. what the pentagon believes is a chinese surveillance balloon

hovering over the northern united states after previously hovering in a similar way over canada. and we're hearing similar statements from the ministry of defence in canada, as well as the pentagon, and that is that there is no danger posed to members of the public on the ground. indeed, civilian aircraft are not in any danger either, given the high altitude of this balloon — it is in the stratosphere. given its high altitude, it might therefore be surprising to hear, but apparently some pilots of civilian aircraft have actually seen it. and moving forward, it looks as if the strategy is wait and see. there was some consideration given to shooting it down and there was some manoeuvres involving military aircraft to try to make that happen. but it was decided against it because of the threat of debris falling from the balloon and potentially hitting people on the ground. it was just considered too dangerous. so moving forward, it is still somewhere, the pentagon believes,

over the united states. they're not saying where. and clearly, given the current tensions between the united states and china that have been going on, of course, for many months now, in many respects concerning security issues, this is another awkward situation, perhaps even more awkward with the visit of anthony blinken, the us secretary of state, to china. he's planning to go to beijing to meet president xi in the next few days. chase doak has seen the ballon above his home in billings in southern montana. i was actually at work and i was getting ready to leave for the day, and just a few minutes earlier, i had seen news reports of some airspace restrictions here in billings, so i thought that was a little suspicious and i was looking out the window like i normally do and ijust happen to spot it out of the corner of my eye.

at first i thought it was a star, but i thought that was kind of crazy because it was broad daylight and when i looked at it, it was just too big to be a star. here's more analysis from our china correspondent, stephen mcdonell. it's a strange new point of tension which becomes days before the us secretary of state is going to be in china which is designed to ease tensions. the chinese government has said they are still trying to ascertain what is going on, we had the foreign ministry spokesperson

here warning against artificial hype. in terms of how this is to be considered because she said that that would not bring about a solution to this current problem, but who knew that spy balloons were even a thing at the moment. you have satellite technology, you have advanced aircraft, why still use these balloons, what they bring to these balloons, what they bring to the table i'm not quite sure. yet, although, according to officials in the us, this balloon isn't posing any danger because it's flying at an altitude above commercial aircraft. so they are saying, at the moment, it can't hurt anyone or hurt anything, and yet there must be great temptation in the us to bring it down and have a look at it, however, you'd love to be a fly on the wall when antony blinken meets senior chinese officials, including potentially even the president, what

will be said about this? it seems incredible that you would, if you are china, you would launch such a bloom at this time. but perhaps because of the technology it's been floating around for a long time. all of these questions are being asked right now. certainly, not something you would welcome if you were either from the chinese or us side, hoping for more relaxation over the coming days. well, to understand how china behaves and conducts its intelligence operations, we can now speak to charles parton, a senior associate fellow, a career british diplomat for nearly a0 years, 22 of which he spent in china, hong kong, and taiwan. did you know that spy balloons were a thing? did you know that spy balloons were a thin ? ., , , did you know that spy balloons were a thin ? . , , ., did you know that spy balloons were athina? . , , ., a a thing? certainly news to me. as far as i understood, _ a thing? certainly news to me. as far as i understood, satellites - a thing? certainly news to me. as. far as i understood, satellites were able to do a far better and more accuratejob done able to do a far better and more accurate job done balloons. able to do a far better and more accuratejob done balloons. it seems accuratejob done balloons. it seems a very strange decision. fine accurate job done balloons. it seems a very strange decision.— a very strange decision. one would assume that _

a very strange decision. one would assume that a _ a very strange decision. one would assume that a spy _ a very strange decision. one would assume that a spy balloon - a very strange decision. one would assume that a spy balloon of - a very strange decision. one would assume that a spy balloon of this l assume that a spy balloon of this size and shape would be rather obvious, wouldn't it? thea;a size and shape would be rather obvious, wouldn't it?— size and shape would be rather obvious, wouldn't it? they say it is as bi as obvious, wouldn't it? they say it is as big as three _ obvious, wouldn't it? they say it is as big as three buses. _ obvious, wouldn't it? they say it is as big as three buses. i _ obvious, wouldn't it? they say it is as big as three buses. i think- obvious, wouldn't it? they say it is as big as three buses. i think what| as big as three buses. i think what is most extraordinary is what your corresponding alluded to, the timing of it all. i am always one that goes more for clock up rather than conspiracy, so i think what probably happens was a lack of coordination and the military side, the military is going away and experimenting with some form of surveillance, not really taking into account the fact that secretary of state blink and is about to go to china on sunday potentially to meet xi jinping. that's an enormous embarrassment. another thing that underlies it is just how hostile china is. it sees america as an enemy, it talks about the struggle the whole time, so i think this is further evidence of the way it sees america. it think this is further evidence of the way it sees america. it may well be evidence — the way it sees america. it may well be evidence of— the way it sees america. it may well be evidence of how _ the way it sees america. it may well be evidence of how it _ the way it sees america. it may well be evidence of how it sees _ the way it sees america. it may well be evidence of how it sees america, j be evidence of how it sees america, but surely, americans are doing

similar things. but surely, americans are doing similarthings. i but surely, americans are doing similar things.— but surely, americans are doing similar things. i don't know if they are sending _ similar things. i don't know if they are sending balloons _ similar things. i don't know if they are sending balloons over - similar things. i don't know if they are sending balloons over china i similar things. i don't know if they i are sending balloons over china and if they did i would be certain that the chinese would shoot it down immediately and make a very large fuss about it. however, i would expect if i was and american, if that balloon is over the place that is not heavily populated, bring it down as gently as one can as a bloom from that height and see what it was doing. from that height and see what it was doinu. ., from that height and see what it was doinu. . ., ~ from that height and see what it was doinu . ., ., " .,, from that height and see what it was doing. having worked as a diplomat for many years _ doing. having worked as a diplomat for many years also _ doing. having worked as a diplomat for many years also in _ doing. having worked as a diplomat for many years also in china, - doing. having worked as a diplomat for many years also in china, what l for many years also in china, what you think is happening behind the scenes ahead of that visit by antony blinken? i scenes ahead of that visit by antony bfinken? , ,,. scenes ahead of that visit by antony blinken? , , , . , ., blinken? i suspect there will be two contrastin: blinken? i suspect there will be two contrasting things, _ blinken? i suspect there will be two contrasting things, one _ blinken? i suspect there will be two contrasting things, one is _ blinken? i suspect there will be two contrasting things, one is maybe i blinken? i suspect there will be two | contrasting things, one is maybe the military is getting it in the neck, what on earth are you doing at this particular time? what on earth are you doing at this particulartime? but what on earth are you doing at this particular time? but on the other hand,it particular time? but on the other hand, it is also in line with the hostility and struggle that is part of the communist party's thinking on america. it sort of in line with that so there will be a dilemma there. certainly, we will probably not see any of the ramifications of

that, should we say, heated debate within china, on the wisdom of sending this balloon over. goad within china, on the wisdom of sending this balloon over. good to net ou in sending this balloon over. good to get you in the _ sending this balloon over. good to get you in the programme, - sending this balloon over. good to get you in the programme, given l sending this balloon over. good to - get you in the programme, given your wealth of experience and diplomacy. thank you forjoining us. a summit between ukrainian and european leaders is getting under way in kyiv — as ukraine tries to push forward with its bid tojoin the eu. president zelensky said his country deserved to start talks this year, and that closer ties would inspire his forces to resist the russian invasion. but eu officials say much still needs to be done before ukraine is ready for accession. instead, they're likely to offer more arms and money and better access for ukrainian products to the eu market. the meeting comes as russian forces step up their offensives in the south and east of the country. here's our correspondent, james waterhouse. this summit is about substance as it is symbolism for ukraine. the head of the european commission, ursula von der leyen,

was having meetings with president zelensky yesterday. you can hear the sirens on what is a significant day. it's a reminder of the threat which kyiv and most of ukraine faces on a daily basis with this invasion. nevertheless, eu officials are in the city. they've already discussed continued russian sanctions, economic punishments, help with ukraine's infrastructure as russia continues to strike power stations across the country. and it's also talked about ukraine's european path. now, what president zelensky is saying is that his country deserves to start negotiations with the eu on possible membership. last year it became an official candidate. butjoining the european union takes years, if not decades. it also takes the approval of the 27 member states. but the very subject of the european union for ukraine is so loaded because it's about ukraine demonstrating its sovereignty despite it becoming under continued attack. and it's also about ukraine's political will to lean further to the west and further away from the clutches of moscow.

it's been almost four months since russia began a systematic campaign of targeting ukraine's energy infrastructure — its power stations and distribution network. ukraine's state and private energy companies have been working round the clock to repair the damage and keep electricity flowing during the tough winter months. and they seem to be succeeding. the bbc�*s paul adams has been granted rare access to the network and the teams involved. ukraine's energy war. a constant battle for heat and light. a race to keep up with russian attacks. siren wails for a week, we follow the teams fighting this war. what the missiles

destroy, they rebuild. in places where people are living on the edge. for months, russian missiles and drones have rained down on ukraine's civilian infrastructure, causing untold damage all across this vast country. so what happened here? this power plant in central ukraine has been hit repeatedly. it's a huge place, but this is what well—aimed russian missiles have done to its transformers. vital links to the world outside. for security reasons, we've been asked not to identify the plant or its manager. these. everywhere across here. translation: every time | the equipment is damaged, it gets all of us right here in our soul. because it's our life. it's our second family. millions of people depend on this

coal fired power station. built in the soviet era. fantastic machine! its great turbines churning away at the heart of ukraine's sprawling power grid. but the staff here know they're in russia's sights. siren wails so there's the siren. we have been expecting it this morning. we have to get out of the turbine hall and head straight for the shelter. on days like these, hours are spent underground. anxious moments as news comes in of a fresh wave of attacks. their colleagues at a power station in the west have taken a direct hit. they know this could have been them. and closer to home, word is spreading of something much worse. sirens across town, a tragedy is unfolding. a missile almost certainly aimed

at the power station has struck an apartment building instead. the rescue effort is frantic. 46 people have died here. we travel south towards communities under fire. ukraine's army of engineers racing from one repairjob to the next. "this happens all the time", vladimir tells me. we're on our way to a village shelled just last night. the power lines are down again. the repairs won't take long, but the men know they'll be back. translation: this is pure terror, terrorising the population, - causing maximum damage to the infrastructure. this is a tactic of the russians on the other side of the reservoir. explosions in the village, the sound of artillery has the mayor

ducking for cover. how long do you think you can carry on living here in this situation? translation: those who wanted to leave left already. _ those who can't leave stay. as long as we have even a bit of electricity and water, we'll carry on living. russia thought it would break ukraine. but this energy war isn't working. half the grid may be in tatters, but in helmets and body armour, these men are keeping it alive. paul adams, bbc news, eastern ukraine. oleksandr kamyshin, the ceo of ukrainian railways, is also in kyiv. thank you for taking the time to speak to us. i guess viewers at home will be wondering how do you keep those railways safe and running in times when often they are targeted

or even accidentally on purpose targeted by russian missiles? thanks for invitin: targeted by russian missiles? thanks for inviting me. _ targeted by russian missiles? thanks for inviting me. first— targeted by russian missiles? thanks for inviting me. first of— targeted by russian missiles? thanks for inviting me. first of all, _ targeted by russian missiles? thanks for inviting me. first of all, the - for inviting me. first of all, the whole country stands, the president stands, the engineer stand, railway man stand as well. second point, we are living almost threw that 145th day of the war so we can finally find a way that we can fix the damage and make it work and make the railways keep running. finally, the harvest time was when they just started shelling. now we have gotten used to this kind of damages and we know what to do, and it takes us really not much to fix it. that sounds incredible, _ really not much to fix it. that sounds incredible, given - really not much to fix it. that sounds incredible, given what you have gone through. i know it's been difficult especially because so many of the railway workers working on those lines, a number of those have been killed as well, tell us more about the tragedies. that

been killed as well, tell us more about the tragedies.— about the tragedies. that is the hi . hest about the tragedies. that is the highest price — about the tragedies. that is the highest price we _ about the tragedies. that is the highest price we pay _ about the tragedies. that is the highest price we pay in - about the tragedies. that is the highest price we pay in this - about the tragedies. that is the | highest price we pay in this war, 771 highest price we pay in this war, 77i injured and 339 killed as of today. we have got 9.2 thousand railway men fighting in the army so that's the largest single company impact in the country, and i will remind you that we are the largest employer in the country. so finally, peoples lives and peoples health at the most high price we pay in this war. ., , the most high price we pay in this war. . , ., ,., the most high price we pay in this war. . , ., ., ., war. tell me a bit about rail travel in ukraine — war. tell me a bit about rail travel in ukraine given _ war. tell me a bit about rail travel in ukraine given the _ war. tell me a bit about rail travel. in ukraine given the circumstances, do people still use the railways? do a lot of people use the railways? actually, that remains the main public transport in ukraine and daily we have 50,000 — six 2000 people travelling with us on trains and it is the most reliable and most safe transport and yes we keep running them. we've got 95% plus

departure and arrival on—time performance, and the average figures for the last year were 85% plus. that would put the railways in a lot of other european countries to shame. let's talk about president zelensky because is it true that he travelled by train when he went to meet president biden? yes travelled by train when he went to meet president biden?— meet president biden? yes that's true. tell meet president biden? yes that's true- tell me _ meet president biden? yes that's true. tell me more. _ meet president biden? yes that's true. tell me more. well, - meet president biden? yes that's true. tell me more. well, he - meet president biden? yes that's true. tell me more. well, he is l meet president biden? yes that's l true. tell me more. well, he is one of our most — true. tell me more. well, he is one of our most welcomed _ true. tell me more. well, he is one of our most welcomed passengers, | true. tell me more. well, he is one - of our most welcomed passengers, and we're happy to accommodate him, and actually that was the first time when he was flying next the train, and trust me, i was nervous when i knew that he was not travelling on something goes on the rails but something goes on the rails but something that flies with the wings. finally, everything was fine, we got him back, we successfully got him

back home, and again, railways are the official carrierfor back home, and again, railways are the official carrier for the president. the official carrier for the president-— the official carrier for the president. the official carrier for the resident. , ., ,, ., , president. lets talk about blackouts because ukraine _ president. lets talk about blackouts because ukraine has _ president. lets talk about blackouts because ukraine has suffered - president. lets talk about blackouts because ukraine has suffered a - president. lets talk about blackouts because ukraine has suffered a few| because ukraine has suffered a few of those, how does the railway keep going in those times? we of those, how does the railway keep going in those times?— of those, how does the railway keep going in those times? we keep light and we keep — going in those times? we keep light and we keep illuminated. _ going in those times? we keep light and we keep illuminated. back- going in those times? we keep light and we keep illuminated. back to i and we keep illuminated. back to summer we started preparing for the blackouts. we got a number of generators that support us with donations, blankets, tea, all the rest, when we were ready to make all of our stations, we have 92, ready to close and accommodate people. so people can come, they can get free tea, blankets, they can charge their phones, get wi—fi and spend a few hours in the station. we've got 5000 people daily visiting our stations just to get warm, charged, connected. the company itself paid

enough attention to that and our stations never switch off. we have several rows to make levels of resolutions and we and our trains keep running. resolutions and we and our trains keep running-— resolutions and we and our trains keerunninu. , , . , keep running. absolutely incredible. i'm so keep running. absolutely incredible. i'm so grateful— keep running. absolutely incredible. i'm so grateful to _ keep running. absolutely incredible. i'm so grateful to you _ keep running. absolutely incredible. i'm so grateful to you to _ keep running. absolutely incredible. i'm so grateful to you to taking - keep running. absolutely incredible. i'm so grateful to you to taking the i i'm so grateful to you to taking the time to come and speak to us on the bbc. thank you once again, and the best of luck. bbc. thank you once again, and the best of luck-— best of luck. thank you for inviting me. the partner of a woman who gone missing while walking he dog in north west england say he can't get his head around her disappearance. nicola bulley, who is a5, vanished a week ago in st michael's on wyre in lancashire. david guest reports. seven days of searching, but still no sign of nicola bulley. the wait for news is as agonising as it is frustrating for her family. people don'tjust vanish into thin air, there's got to be somebody that knows something and all we are asking, no matter how small or big, if there's anything that you can

remember that just doesn't seem right, then please, reach out to the police. please, just get in touch and get my sister back. 45—year—old nicola dropped her children at school last friday morning, went for a walk with her dog by the river wyre, and hasn't been seen since. her springer spaniel was found wandering on its own near the place where nicola was last seen. her phone was abandoned on a park bench, still connected to a business conference call. the police have been looking for her since she was reported missing last friday. this is a very beautiful rural area with lots of wooded areas and the river, clearly. so there's a lot of complex terrain to search. back home, nicola's two little girls and partner paul are left bewildered. paul says they're living in a perpetual hell. friends, neighbours, fire and rescue and mountain rescue teams have joined the police in searching for nicola. nicky's got two beautiful children at home, wanting to know- where their mummy is.

and as anybody would, - we've had so many, many offers of support and help, _ which is amazing, and we thank you and i know the family thank you very much _ yesterday, the police asked for a dog walker dressed in a red coat to come forward as a possible witness. they traced her last evening, but so far, no sign of nicola. detectives say they're keeping an open mind about what's happened to nicola bulley. and for now, speculation about what might have happened remains just that. we can speak now to our reporter, dave guest, who joins us from that area. dave, how extensive has the search been so far? of course, they have been searching in the river, in the surrounding area, but so far, no sign of her. you can probably see behind me people with placards which are bearing nicola's face. these are friends, neighbours, who have come out here to try and jog memories. it

is exactly one week since this woman put her dog for a walk and is not seen since. the mystery we are told is the dog and her mobile phone were found, still connected to a teams call, to her business, but no one knows what happened to nicola after that. her partner, paul, we mentioned in that report, he is of a sea devastated, as are her two little girls, he has been speaking just a few moments ago. i do not really have anything to say apart from what the family said yesterday. my focus is on the two girls, staying strong for them. i am scared that if i put any focus into anything else, it's going to take my focus of that so i've got to be very careful. just hoping to goodness that anything comes out from the interview yesterday, no matter how tiny. just say a massive thank you to the community, friends, for everything that they are doing, absolutely incredible.

ijust cannot believe that we are a week on and as yet, it seems like we are no further on, itjust seems, just seems absolutely impossible. just, just like a dream i cannot get my head around any of that. you're left trying to make sense of the senseless, it'sjust a mystery. yeah, it is. every single scenario comes to a brick wall, and then all we are doing is sitting there going around and around and around, going— through every scenario and then going back to the first scenario again and do the whole thing again and it'sjust all day long, that's all you're doing, we are doing. how are you coping?

it must be so difficult, you say your focusing on the girls and it has to be but it must be so difficult? i do not know how i'm coping, i do not want to actually think about it. just like i say, it is about the girls, that is it, i am there for them. i do not want to elaborate on that. i do not want to take my eye off that. it must be heart—warming to see the public response, hundreds of people trying to help. it is amazing, it is the only thing we can take, that level of support is out of this world. it gives us a great amount of comfort knowing that that is going on. we do not have anything else, do we? there is hope. we are never ever going to lose the hope, of course we are not, but right now, it is as though she has vanished into thin air. yeah. just insane.

as paul said there, the family are great very grateful to the local community for support such as this, trying tojog peoples memory, trying to get people to come forward who may have seen nicola exactly one week ago down by the riverside. a short time ago, i spoke again to emma white, a good friend of nicola, she has known herfor ten years, she was saying. this is what she had to say. seven days on, such a tough milestone day for all the family and friends. and we're out in force today. so we've had banners made made, placards of her face. so the idea from our thought process is seven days on, there might be someone that's passing today that passed last friday that mightjust be able to shed that glimmer of hope that we need. just a bit of information. you've been in touch, obviously, closely with paul, her partner and the family. how are they bearing up? just put yourself in their shoes.

i mean, the journey they're going on, as paul described, a perpetual nightmare. you saw nicky's mum and dad yesterday. and lou. and they are the most closeknit family. you heard dad say, every single day they speak to, speak to or see his daughters, seven days on it, not be able to do that. and then we relate to, she's mummy and those poor girls asking questions, where's mummy? how is mummy? even today, the little one, daddy didn't quite do her hair right. "mummy does it this way." put yourself in paul's shoes. he's got this underlying worry going on. sadness, heartache. but for those two little girls, he has to be so strong. isaid in i said in my report earlier that any speculation is at this stage pure speculation. the police are advising people against that, what they want our hard facts. information from people who may have seen nicola a week ago today because that is the

only way they are going to solve this mystery and bring some peace to that family. this mystery and bring some peace to that famil . . ., this mystery and bring some peace to that famil . ., ,, this mystery and bring some peace to that famil . . ~' ,, , . this mystery and bring some peace to that famil . ., ,, i. , . . that family. thank you very much. we have some breaking _ that family. thank you very much. we have some breaking news _ coming to you now at the bbc. it is that the disgraced pop star gary glitter has been freed from jail according to the pa news agency. he has been freed from jail after serving half of his 16 year sentence for sexually abusing three schoolgirls. just to reiterate, gary glitter has been freed from jail, the rock singer, of course, enjoyed a string of chart hits in the i970s, but was jailed in 2015 for sexually abusing three schoolgirls. his real name is paul gad, and at the time, he was found guilty of one count of attempted rape, unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under the

age of 13, and four counts of indecent assault. he was of course one of the first people to be arrested under operation you tree, that was the investigation launched by the metropolitan police in london in the wake of thejimmy savile scandal. just to reiterate, what we know so far coming into us from the pa news agency is that he has been freed after serving only half of his total of 16 years for sexually abusing these three young girls between 1975—80. we will try and get more information here on the bbc and if we do we will bring it to you. just to reiterate, gary glitter has been, according to reports, release. today. the uk's energy regulator 0fgem has asked suppliers to pause the forced installation of prepaid metres. it follows revelations that a debt collection company working for british gas broke into the homes

of vulnerable people to install the metres. prepayment metres require customers to pay for their energy in advance. it's more expensive than paying by direct debit, but are sometimes the only option for people who have struggled to pay and are in debt to a supplier. ben king has more. an undercover reporter from the times newspaper joined a team of debt collectors, entering the home of a single father with three young children. they count as vulnerable. but, these workers from arvato financial solutions, working for british gas, opened the door and installed a prepayment meter anyway. installing prepayment meters by force is legal, but it's meant to be a last resort, and should not be done

to vulnerable households. if people cannot afford to top up the meters, they will be left without power. the boss of british gas has apologised, suspended arvato, and paused forced installations. arvato said it respected and adhered to the rules. the energy regulator 0fgem has now stepped in. the chief executivejonathan brearley said in a statement... suppliers need to reassure us that all the processes for customers being moved on to prepayment meters are compliant with all 0fgem rules, and until the system this is done, we have asked them to a pause forced installations. i would also ask them to look at their relationships with any third party contractors and examine incentives that could give rise to poor and unacceptable behaviours. there are clear rules. they have obviously not been followed, and therefore i need the regulator, i need the companies to do the right thing by people who are in the most difficult of circumstances, and have been treated, on this evidence, appallingly. the energy industry will now have

to find a better way to treat vulnerable customers, in this most difficult of winters. ben king, bbc news. rail passengers in england face disruption again today because of another strike by train drivers belonging to the aslef and the rmt unions. i'm joined now by our employment correspondent, zoe conway. first of all, what is happening today? first of all, what is happening toda ? ~ ., , . today? we are expecting the disruption — today? we are expecting the disruption to _ today? we are expecting the disruption to be _ today? we are expecting the disruption to be widespread, j today? we are expecting the - disruption to be widespread, lots of deserted train stations this morning. gatwick express, heathrow express, trans— pennine, all of those lines and others affected, we expect only one third of lines will run today, scotrail is not affected but services in and out of scotland for example are affected and i am told we have trains running that could be because the managers are able to drive the train. part of the

reason is it's so disruptive as 95% of drivers are in the aslef trade union, the main union involved in this dispute. union, the main union involved in this dispute-— union, the main union involved in this dispute. why is it we have not had some sort _ this dispute. why is it we have not had some sort of— this dispute. why is it we have not had some sort of resolution? - this dispute. why is it we have not| had some sort of resolution? there are talks set _ had some sort of resolution? there are talks set to _ had some sort of resolution? there are talks set to begin _ had some sort of resolution? there are talks set to begin again - had some sort of resolution? there are talks set to begin again next. are talks set to begin again next tuesday. so that is always a good sign, there's going to be some talking but there's been a lot of bravado this morning, the head of aslef mick whelan says the strikes could go on for another three years. i think some of the context and history is important. look at any kind of chart of pay from 2010, that decade of pay, train drivers pay went up and up in real terms and what would happen is the train operating companies would say to the drivers, we need you to make these changes to your working practices, we do not want a long dispute, here is more money on the table, let's move on and not happened for years but since the pandemic, in real

terms, drivers pay has gone down and what is offered it the moment is 8% pay rise over two years and what the unions reaction is, that doesn't match inflation and if you want more changes to working practices we want you to keep up with inflation, that is what we are prepared to accept. it is stuck on that point. the other interesting thing is the role of the government and all of this because the government says we are just a facilitator, we want a reasonable conversation but the unions are not buying that and from the government perspective, they are staring at an estimated £2 billion black hole in industry finances in the rail industry finances in the rail industry and they are looking at this thinking we need some productivity, we need some efficiency savings. i think on those points, the history of the negotiations, the role of the government makes it quite complicated.— government makes it quite comlicated. ., ., ,, ., government makes it quite comlicated. ., ., ~ ., ., complicated. you talked about talks but will be seen _ complicated. you talked about talks but will be seen more _ complicated. you talked about talks but will be seen more talks - complicated. you talked about talks but will be seen more talks and - but will be seen more talks and either talks happening now given that we are seeing a strike today?

the talks are expected to start on tuesday between aslef, the rmt but they only have 200 drivers, their role is small by comparison. but as i say, a lot of bravado today. there often is ahead of talks, let's be honest but what the companies are saying is drivers average wages are £60,000, we are offering up to 65,000 over two years, significant increase for people so they are keen to put their points across today. it's hard to know whether these talks will get any work, there's a lot of obstacles in the way at the moment. . ., lot of obstacles in the way at the moment. ., ,, , ., pope francis has left the democratic republic of congo on his way to south sudan, as he continues what the roman catholic church is calling a pilgrimage for peace in africa. it will be the first visit by a pontiff to south sudan since it

gained its independence in 2011. francis will bejoined in the capital, juba, by the archbishop of canterbury, justin welby, and by the moderator of the general assembly of the church of scotland. the pope is honouring a promise to visit south sudan, made in 2019, when, in a dramatic peace gesture, he kissed the feet of the country's rival leaders at the vatican. the visit tojuba comes a day after reports that 27 people were killed in violence in central equatoria state. merchuma reports. just outside the city ofjuba, a caravan approaches. they are from rumbek in western south sudan. for nine days, they have been on the road. their mission — to welcome the pope. congregants from the local catholic church receive them and join in song and dance and offer them refreshments. we came here to get the blessing from the pope. we call him a prophet. he's now the prophet for us.

he will see what is here. he will pray for it and the country will change. south sudan has been fractured by civil war and political instability since gaining independence in 2011. pope francis will be injuba for three days alongside the archbishop of canterburyjustin welby, and the moderator of the scottish church ian greenshields, on what they are calling a pilgrimage of peace. this is the first time the leaders of three different parts of the christian church will be in the country at the same time. the church is looked at as a symbol of hope by many people. and here in south sudan, the catholic church is a centre of refuge for many when times were turbulent, and it has continued to play a leading role in the social wellbeing of the people of south sudan. the beating hope home injuba is run by the catholic church and provides shelter to young boys who have fled violence and are separated

from theirfamilies. most have been preyed upon by gangs and armed militias. 18—year—old francis lado has been here for seven years. i came here because of the war of 2016. i lost my father. i lived in the streets and the church picked me. i have found a lot of support here. i started school from here. my biggest challenge now is that ijust turned 18 and i'll have to leave the orphanage at the end of this month, since that is the maximum age. i'm scared. i don't know how i'll move on. the home also offers meals to young children from poor households and those affected by climate related disasters. this is a safe haven for many of them and a place where they can just be children, play and eat. the administration says their aim as a church with such initiatives is to restore dignity to a people

whose resilience is waning. and the pope's pilgrimage of peace, they believe, is the boost that their efforts really need. merchuma, bbc news, juba, south sudan. the australian tennis player, nick kyrgios, has pleaded guilty to assaulting his ex—girlfriend. the court in canberra heard he pushed chiara passari to the ground during an argument in 2021. kyrgios avoided a conviction because the magistrate said the offence was a "single act of stupidity". the wimbledon finalist says he deeply regrets what happened. nick kyrgios arrived at court on crutches after recent knee surgery. his lawyers said the assault on his former girlfriend chiara passari was out of character and a genuinely isolated incident. he pushed her to the ground during a heated argument outside a block of flats in canberra.

the magistrate, beth campbell, said that nick kyrgios had been guilty of a single act of stupidity carried out in the heat of the moment. she said that she would be treating him exactly the same as any other young man who came before her at the court here in canberra, even though he could hit a tennis ball particularly well. the magistrate even had relationship advice for nick kyrgios, saying that he and his present or future partner should make each other happy. she said if they didn't make each other shine, he should walk away. in a statement, the australian tennis star said he wasn't in a good place when this took place and that he'd reacted to a situation "in a way i deeply regret". he said he was sincerely sorry for the hurt he'd caused. "mental health is tough", he added. "life can seem overwhelming." in a victim impact statement, miss passari said she felt betrayed by last year's wimbledon finalist and that the assault had

caused her pain and distress. with no criminal record, nick kyrgios is free to travel and pursue his tennis career, although the court was told he will need ongoing support for mental health issues. phil mercer, bbc news, canberra. bill gates has said that he was surprised to be at the centre of so many conspiracy theories during the pandemic. the philanthropist, who has donated tens of billions of dollars to the causes of global health and tackling climate change, was accused of profiting from covid—i9, or even spreading it. amol rajan caught up with bill gates in kenya — where the billionaire has been seeing the impact of his philanthropy himself. for most of his life, bill gates has been the richest man in the world. but the founder of microsoft has, somehow, gone from being the face of american computing and capitalism to the front man for endless conspiracy theories.

he's given tens of billions to philanthropy, focusing on climate change and global health. particularly that of children. i travelled to kenya to question him on a range of issues, including those raised by critics of his philanthropy. who made you god? i'm not god. i mean, as a percentage of the world economy, i'm kind of rounding there, but, yes, i decided that the death of children, when i read that diarrhoea was killing half a million children and that the vaccine to stop those deaths was being given to the rich kids but not to the poor kids, isaid, "wow. now i know the area of inequity most of my money will go on." during the pandemic, gates became the subject of countless conspiracy theories. i did not expect that but, you know, during the pandemic,

there were tens of millions of messages about, that i intentionally caused it or i'm tracking people, which... it's true i'm involved with vaccines but i'm involved with vaccines to save lives. you know, i guess people are looking for the bogeyman behind the curtain, the oversimplistic explanation, that its malevolence is a lot easier to understand than biology. greta thunberg credits her asperger�*s as her special power. what is your special power? defining whether somebody is on the asperger�*s spectrum is a pretty big thing but my ability to concentrate... is very high. and when i was young, it was weirdly high. you know, to memorise things and try out my thinking, which made science and maths super interesting. and then i discovered software and was able to throw all my energy into that. you're going to turn 70 in three years, that's a big

milestone for some people. how do you feel about it? no, it's strange to be an old person. i don't think of myself that way. you know, ifeel young but i have limited time. my life is two thirds done. can i get malaria eradication done? i think so. bill gates... thank you. ..a real pleasure to talk to you. amol rajan, bbc news, kenya. the long—running inquiry into the contaminated blood scandal of the i970s and �*80s will hear closing statements later today. it's been called the biggest treatment disaster in nhs history, with 30,000 people thought to have been infected with hiv or hepatitis—c. 0ur health correspondent, jim reed, has more. archive: nobody in the threackall | household thought that they could | be affected by aids. in 1991, the bbc broadcast this landmark documentary about the aids crisis.

i had a blood test which the hospital confirmed was hiv. bob threackall was infected after being given contaminated drugs for the blood disorder, haemophilia. you see things on television, it is so far removed from everything you know, you don't even consider that you could be part of anything like that, but you can. now a retired teacher, sue has spent decades trying to find out what happened and what was known about the risks. 0ver that time, we have battled mps, various parliamentarians, civil servants, the medical profession, pharmaceutical companies, itjust goes on and on. bob died just months after that programme was filmed. so, in about �*87, �*88? yeah. about '87. he was one of thousands infected with hiv or hepatitis after taking drugs imported from abroad, or being given a transfusion. it isjust sad, because it is this life that i was living perfectly

happily, and then it went. everything went. long—running protests eventually led to a government apology and the launch of a full public inquiry. i would like to say sorry on behalf of the government for something that should not have happened. since 2018... i swear by almighty god... prime ministers and health secretaries have all been questioned under oath. it became more and more real and more and more scary. and those directly affected, including sue, have been given the chance to have their say. we are fed up with hearing people say how sorry they are. later today, the last witness will take the stand with a final report expected in the summer. i would like the truth out there. i would like to know that proper measures are put in place to make sure that this can't happen again. it was cataclysmic, you know, and itjust ripped families apart, including mine.

late last year, the first compensation payments were made to some of those affected. after a0 years, though, many families are still hoping for answers, as this long—running public inquiry draws to a close. jim reed, bbc news. inspectors have raised concerns about a women's prison in gloucestershire, after they found some mentally unwell inmates were being held in cells with scratches and bloodstains on the walls. the conditions at eastwood park prison were described as appalling. the prison service insisted some cells had already been refurbished and that it was appointing more staff. experts say it's one of most important ancient sites in britain — and yet it's almost completely unknown to the general public. the thornborough henges in yorkshire — a huge monument described as the stonehenge of the north — will be opened to visitors from today. john maguire reports. they were built more than 11,500 years ago and in recent times they have been locked away on land owned by a construction firm, but now,

the thornborough henges can be visited by the public, from today. they have been gifted to english heritage. it describes them as the stonehenge of the north, probably the most important prehistoric site between wiltshire and the 0rkney islands. the three huge mounds are 200 metres across and, in places, up to four metres tall. it is believed they were once topped with gypsum, making them almost illuminous against the landscape and visible from miles away. one theory is that they are aligned to mirror the constellation of orion with the henges representing the belt in the night sky. like stonehenge, they represent a physical link to our neolithic history, one with so many unanswered questions, but one that exemplifies how important this site was that created it, thousands of years ago. john maguire, bbc news, ripon.

when you think of eurovision, you may well think of bucks fizz or abba — and probably not the sex pistols. but this yearjohn lydon — best known as the frontman of the 1970s british punk band — is bidding to become ireland's entry, with a personal song that celebrates his wife who's living with alzheimers disease. daniel rosney reports. # god save the queen...# when you listen to this, you probably aren't thinking of this. # snowdrops and daffodils. # butterflies...# john lydon, the most famous man in punk, as johnny rotten, could join the likes of dana by representing ireland at eurovision with his band public image ltd. tonight, he'll compete on irish tv with five other acts. after a bit of a press scrum, backstage, he reflected why he flew from los angeles, where his wife nora is staying with family.

it's very hard to be away from her. but i have to do this. i have to bring awareness to this problem. i miss her like mad and yet i'm in the middle of this competition. so it's like win, lose are both the same things for me at the same time. the song is personal. it's a love letter to hawaii, a special place for the couple. # falling in our hearts...# one of the joys of doing this programme is i'll be able to show the words on the bottom and she can read them because she's fluent reading — loves to read still. and that will make it all the more poignant for us. she's aware that there's parts missing in her memory, and i don't make her feel guilty about that. we're talking about how

neurologically music can trigger something in the neurons that allows people to remember. and that's what this is all about. it's actually a very beautiful reason that he's here. he loves his wife. he wants her to be, you know, recognised. he wants her disease to be spoken about and hopefully eventually cured. we have acts representing all classes. it's like a musical selection box. somebody is going to pick the right piece of chocolate. ireland has won eurovision seven times — more than any other country, but it's not won since 1996. in liverpool, though, it's hoping it can bring the luck of the irish. we need to win it. we need to get it this time. we need to. we haven't won in a few years, so we definitely need to get it. | yeah, deffo. i'd get, like, someone like niall horan on. he's a great irish singer. i'll have a go myself. ok, here we go. i can reveal the next country is ireland. . whatever happens, the prize forjohn will be flying home to la

and showing nora his performance. when i get back, i'll bring the tapes. that's what we do. we'll sit down, have a family day out of it and watch it all together. she can read the words. yeah. johnny! daniel rosney, bbc news. meet bobi, a record—setting dog from portugal who is now well into his fourth decade. bobi hasjust been named by the guinness book of records as the world's oldest dog — at 30 years and 226 days. he beats a record set by bluey, of australia, who died in 1939, aged 29. how many years does that make him, probably three or 400, something like that? just crazy! for everyone in the northern hemisphere, it is still very much the depths of winter. but how long will

the cold weather last? 0ne forecaster who knows is the climate seer, punxsutawney phil. and today is groundhog day again. stephanie prentice reports. packed crowds braving the cold, music, merriment and period headwear — all in the small community of punxsutawney, pennsylvania. what else could it be but the annual gathering to summon a world—famous... groundhog! all: groundhog! their intentions now clear, the crowd move on to the protagonist of this piece — the sleepy rodent who became a household name in the classic movie groundhog day. all chant: phil! phil! according to a tradition from 1887, if punxsutawney phil sees his shadow when summoned from this stump, there will be another six weeks of winter. punxsutawney phil,

ladies and gentlemen! if he doesn't, residents can expect an early spring. cheering and applause. per tradition, phil defers to handlers to deliver the news. i see a shadow on my stage and so, no matter how you measure, it's six more weeks of winter weather! not ideal but at least now, phil can go back to his peaceful tree stump. oh, wait... # life is short! # praise the groundhog! no rest for the critter but some wise words for us, at least. # life is short! # praise the groundhog. stephanie prentice, bbc news. my my producer says bob the dog is at least years old! a stargazer has captured the moment a newly—discovered green comet began its approach to earth.

george chan photographed the object over several hours from his back garden in nottinghamshire yesterday, and stitched the images together to form this timelapse video. astronomers say the comet's journey towards earth took around 50,000 years. hello. whether cloud breaks today it may feel like spring compared to what we see this weekend. we will study sunshine developing by sunday but it will start to feel colder again, temperatures dropping back to where we should be. at the moment we have mild airfrom the mid—atlantic but the blue colours indicate cooler conditions, temperatures back to normal for the time of year. at the moment, pretty mild and feeling it where the sun breaks through, that biggest cloud across scotland and northern ireland in the afternoon, patchy rain and drizzle working its way in. many western areas brightening up. when the season compared to what we had today across

the north and east, wettest conditions in 0rkney through the afternoon and it separates, conditions, seven in lerwick, 8—14 or possibly 15 degrees what you get the sunshine and a springfield. tonight the first batch of cloud clears away, clear skies for a time but cloud building during the night and it could turn damp and drizzly in the west into tomorrow morning. another mild night but not quite as mild as the nightjust gone. 0n mild as the nightjust gone. on saturday lots of cloud, light winds, the old isolated shower in western parts of england and wales but in western scotland and northern ireland turns wetter from late morning into the afternoon, the heaviest rain in western scotland, the rain arriving in the east and south—east as we hit late afternoon. mild again but not quite as mild as today, temperatures down a degree or two and does this with a friend

pushes south it will fizzle away but introduces conditions as we go into sunday. clearing away the cloud, plenty of sunshine on sunday for most of us, cloudy start in the channel islands, patchy rain or drizzle, cloud into the north and west of scotland but for many it is a sunny sunday and even though it feels fresher with sunshine around, you feel warmth from the strengthening sunshine. continuing into next week with temperatures at or below average for the time of year especially in the south, clan gathering later in the week before many in the south, overnight frost and folk could be the issue.

hello. this is bbc news. the headlines at 11.00am: the partner of nicola bulley, who vanished while walking her dog in lancashire a week ago, says he's living in a "nightmare" and wants her home. we are never, ever going to lose hope, of course we're not, but right now it is as though she has vanished into thin air. china urges calm after the united states said it is tracking a suspected chinese surveillance balloon seen over sensitive sites in recent days. it would be ridiculous if the government didn't retrieve it. obviously, i think that is the first course of action, to get it out of the sky.

deserted railway stations as train drivers in england stage their second walk—out this week. we'll speak to the head of one of the unions taking action today. australian tennis star nick kyrgios admits assaulting his ex—girlfriend, but avoids a criminal conviction. we'll have the latest from canberra. hello and welcome to the programme. the partner of a woman who gone missing while walking he dog in north west england say he can't get his head around her disappearance. nicola bulley, who is 45, vanished a week ago in st michael's on wyre in lancashire. david guest reports. seven days of searching,

but still no sign of nicola bulley. the wait for news is as agonising as it is frustrating for her family. people don'tjust vanish into thin air. there has got to be somebody that knows something, and all we are asking, no matter how small or big, is if there is anything that— you can remember that doesn't seem right, then please reach out to the police, please just get in touch. 45—year—old nicola dropped her children at school last friday morning, went for a walk with her dog by the river wyre, and hasn't been seen since. her springer spaniel was found wandering on its own near the place where nicola was last seen. her phone was abandoned on a park bench, still connected to a business conference call. the police have been looking for her since she was reported missing last friday. this is a very beautiful, rural area with lots of wooded areas, and a river — a lot of complex terrain to search. back home, nicola's two little girl and partner paul are left bewildered.

her phone was abandoned on a park bench, paul says they are living in a perpetual hell. friends, neighbours, fire and rescue and mountain rescue teams have joined the police in searching for nicola. nikcy has two children at home, want to know where their mummy is, and we have had so many offers of help and support, which is amazing, and we want to thank you, and i know the family thank you very much. yesterday the police asked for a dog walker dressed in a red coat to come forward as a possible witness. they traced her last evening but, so far, no sign of nicola. detectives say they are keeping an open mind about what has happened to nicola bulley, and, for now, speculation about what might have happened remains just that. here's what her partner paul ansell had to say. i don't have anything to say other

than what the family said yesterday. my whole focus is our two girls, just staying as strong as i can for them. i'm scared that if i put any focus into anything else it's going to take my, you know, focus off that, so i've got to be very careful. i'm just hoping to goodness that anything comes out from the interview yesterday, no matter how tiny. i'll just say a massive thank you to the community, friends for everything that that they're doing. it's absolutely incredible. i just can't believe that we are a week on and, as yet, it seems like we're no further on. itjust seems absolutely impossible. just... just likea dream. i cannot get my head around any of it. i mean, you're left sort of trying to make sense of the senseless, aren't you?

it is just such a mystery. yeah, it is. every single scenario, it comes to a brick wall, every single one of them. then all we're doing is sitting there going round and round and round, going through every scenario, and then go back to the first scenario again and do the whole thing again, and it's just all day long. that's what we're doing. it's all we're doing. how are you coping? it must be so difficult. like you say, your focus is on the girls, and it has to be, but it must be so difficult. i don't know how i'm coping. i don't even want to actually think about that. just, like i say, it's just about the girls. that's it. i'm there for them. i don't want to really elaborate on that. i just... i don't want to take my eye off that. it must be heart—warming to see the public response. hundreds of people trying to help. it's amazing, it is. it's the only thing that we can take is, you know, that level of support

is out of this world. it gives us a great amount of comfort knowing that that's going on. we don't have anything else, do we? well, there's hope. yeah, we're never, ever going to lose the hope, of course we're not, but right now it's as though she has vanished into thin air. yeah, just insane. that was paul ansell speaking a little earlier. really difficult to listen to those details. we can speak now to our reporter, rowan bridge whojoins us from that area. can you bring us up with the latest on the search? the can you bring us up with the latest on the search?— on the search? the police investigation _ on the search? the police investigation continues i on the search? the police i investigation continues this on the search? the police _ investigation continues this morning into the _ investigation continues this morning into the search for nicola bulley and you — into the search for nicola bulley and you can also probably see behind me the _ and you can also probably see behind me the road — and you can also probably see behind me the road where nicola disappeared has been _ me the road where nicola disappeared has been lined with members of the local community, her friends, holding — local community, her friends, holding banners and power than

appealing for information from motorists and passers—by to try to id- motorists and passers—by to try to jog their— motorists and passers—by to try to jog their memory —— banners and posters — jog their memory —— banners and posters. they are trying to find anyone — posters. they are trying to find anyone with some information on what happened _ anyone with some information on what happened to nicola bulley. she was last seen— happened to nicola bulley. she was last seen literally a week ago, last friday. _ last seen literally a week ago, last friday, walking her dog, then appears — friday, walking her dog, then appears to have disappeared. the dog. _ appears to have disappeared. the dog. as _ appears to have disappeared. the dog, as you head in the report, was found, _ dog, as you head in the report, was found, as _ dog, as you head in the report, was found, as was her mobile phone, but there _ found, as was her mobile phone, but there has— found, as was her mobile phone, but there has been no sign of her since. police _ there has been no sign of her since. police say— there has been no sign of her since. police say they are still treating this as — police say they are still treating this as a — police say they are still treating this as a missing persons inquiry and speculation as to what might have _ and speculation as to what might have happened to her is unhelpful at this stage _ have happened to her is unhelpful at this stage and they say there is so far no— this stage and they say there is so far no indication anybody else is involved. — far no indication anybody else is involved, but nobody has any further forward in _ involved, but nobody has any further forward in understanding where nicola _ forward in understanding where nicola bulley may be or what might have happened to her. you nicola bulley may be or what might have happened to her.— nicola bulley may be or what might have happened to her. you will have been speaking _ have happened to her. you will have been speaking to — have happened to her. you will have been speaking to people _ have happened to her. you will have been speaking to people in - have happened to her. you will have been speaking to people in the - have happened to her. you will have| been speaking to people in the area. i really difficult thing to try and process. i really difficult thing to try and rocess. , ' . , process. extremely difficult. this community _ process. extremely difficult. this community has — process. extremely difficult. this community has really _ process. extremely difficult. this community has really been - process. extremely difficult. this i community has really been affected by what _ community has really been affected by what has happened. i was talking to one _ by what has happened. i was talking to one of— by what has happened. i was talking to one of the parents here who sits on the _ to one of the parents here who sits on the pta— to one of the parents here who sits on the pta of the local school

nicola — on the pta of the local school nicola bulley's children went to and it talks _ nicola bulley's children went to and it talks about how the school had given _ it talks about how the school had given out — it talks about how the school had given out information to parents on how to _ given out information to parents on how to talk— given out information to parents on how to talk to your children about what _ how to talk to your children about what had — how to talk to your children about what had happened, obviously something that has affected the community deeply. 0ne something that has affected the community deeply. one of the people standing _ community deeply. one of the people standing on the roadside said he was holding _ standing on the roadside said he was holding a _ standing on the roadside said he was holding a bannerand standing on the roadside said he was holding a banner and they approach the locai— holding a banner and they approach the local banner company last night to put— the local banner company last night to put down everything else they were _ to put down everything else they were doing in order to build the banners— were doing in order to build the banners for the people out this morning — banners for the people out this morning looking for nicola bulley. i think everybody here billy wants to do as— think everybody here billy wants to do as much as they can to try to find any— do as much as they can to try to find any piece of information which might— find any piece of information which might lead to finding out what has happened to negra. gk, might lead to finding out what has happened to negra._ happened to negra. ok, we will leave it there. thank— happened to negra. ok, we will leave it there. thank you _ happened to negra. ok, we will leave it there. thank you for _ happened to negra. ok, we will leave it there. thank you for bringing - happened to negra. ok, we will leave it there. thank you for bringing us - it there. thank you for bringing us up—to—date with the latest on the search efforts, rowan bridge. i want to bring you some breaking news we are receiving on the virus. a man has admitted trying to harm the queen after being caught in the grounds of windsor castle loaded crossbow. he pleaded guilty to three

charges including an offence under the treason treason act and this was during a hearing at the old bailey on friday. —— the treason act. the most serious charge under section two of the treason act, on december the 25th at windsor castle, he did wilfully produce or have a loaded crossbow with intent to use the same to injure the person of her majesty queen elizabeth ii, or to alarm her majesty. that was wide forward and he was also charged with making a threat to kill the queen and also charge with having a loaded crossbow, an offensive weapon, in a public place —— that was wired for word. that news is coming out on the news wires and as we get more detail and background on that we will bring that to you. we will now head to the united states. the us department of defence says

it's tracking what's believed to be a chinese surveillance balloon that entered american airspace two days ago. the military considered shooting it down over the state of montana but was concerned that falling debris could hit someone. the canadian authorities have also released a statement about a high—altitude surveillance balloon and say they are working with us partners. this is the first image we've received — believed to be of the balloon — but it's not been independently verified. the department of defence says it was "most certainly launched" by china. the chinese government has called for calm and warned against what it called "hype" about the balloon. 0ur north america correspondent peter bowes has more. this is an unusual but not unprecedented situation. what the pentagon believes is a chinese surveillance balloon hovering over the northern united states after previously hovering in a similar way over canada. and we're hearing similar statements from the ministry of defence

in canada as well as the pentagon, and that is that there is no danger posed to members of the public on the ground. indeed, civilian aircraft are not in any danger either given the high altitude of this balloon. it is in the stratosphere. given its high altitude it might therefore be surprising to hear, but apparently some pilots of civilian aircraft have actually seen it. moving forward, it looks as if the strategy is "wait and see." there was some consideration given to shooting it down and there were some manoeuvres involving military aircraft to try to make that happen, but it was decided against it because of the threat of debris falling from the balloon and potentially hitting people on the ground. it was just considered too dangerous. so, moving forward, it is still somewhere, the pentagon believes, over the united states. they're not saying where. clearly, given the current tensions between the united states and china that have been going on,

of course, for many months now, in many respects concerning security issues, this is another awkward situation, perhaps even more awkward with the visit of anthony blinken, the us secretary of state, to china. he's planning to go to beijing to meet president xi in the next few days. thanks to peter for that. chase doak has seen the ballon above his home in billings in southern montana let's listen to that. it was actually at work and i was getting ready to leave for the day. just a few minutes earlier i had seen some news reports of some aerospace restrictions here in billings. i thought that was a little suspicious. i was looking out the window, like i normally do, and ijust happened to spot it out of the corner of my eye. at first i thought it was a star, but i thought that was kind of crazy because it was broad daylight and when i looked at it, it was just too big to be a star.

let's get a bit more analysis from air china correspondent, stephen mcdonell. this is a very strange new point of tension between washington and beijing which has come just days before us secretary of state antony blinken is due here in the chinese capitalfor blinken is due here in the chinese capital for talks blinken is due here in the chinese capitalfor talks which blinken is due here in the chinese capital for talks which were designed to ease tensions, to mend relations between the world's two super powers. and yet we have this balloon, allegedly a chinese spy balloon, allegedly a chinese spy balloon, flying over north america. the chinese foreign ministry has said it is still attempting to verify whether it is one of its own to try to work out what is going on, and we have the foreign ministry spokesperson here warning against artificial hype in terms of how this is to be considered, because she said that would not bring about the solution to this current problem.

but, you know, who knew that spy balloon were even a thing? at the moment you have satellite technology, advanced aircraft, so y still use these balloons? what they bring to the table i'm not quite sure —— why still use them. according to officials in the us, this balloon is not causing any danger because it is flying at an altitude above commercial aircraft, so they are saying at the moment it can't hurt anyone or anything, and yet there must be great temptation in the us to bring it down and have a look at it. however, you would love to be a fly on the wall when antony blinken meets the senior chinese officials, including potentially even xi jinping, the leader of the country, what will be said about this. it seems incredible that you would, if you wear china, launch such a at this time. perhaps

because of the technology it has been floating around for a long time. all of these questions are being asked right now. certainly, though, not something you would welcome if you were either from the chinese or us side hoping for more detente over the coming days. thanks to steve for that. _ detente over the coming days. thanks to steve for that. you _ detente over the coming days. thanks to steve for that. you are _ detente over the coming days. thanks to steve for that. you are watching i to steve for that. you are watching bbc news. the partner of nicola bulley, who vanished while walking her dog in lancashire a week ago, says he's living in a "nightmare" and wants her home. china urges calm after the united states said it is tracking a suspected chinese surveillance balloon seen over sensitive sites in recent days. deserted railway stations as train drivers in england stage their second walk—out this week.

next, it's understood that the disgraced pop star gary glitter has been freed from prison. the 79—year—old, whose real name is paul gadd, was jailed in 2015 for sexually abusing three schoolgirls. he's served half of his 16—year sentence. the press association news agency says he left hmp the verne in dorset earlier today. 0ur correspondent aruna iyengarjoins me now. wa nt want do we know? former pop star in the 70s, extremely _ want do we know? former pop star in the 70s, extremely famous _ want do we know? former pop star in the 70s, extremely famous for - want do we know? former pop star in the 70s, extremely famous for his - the 70s, extremely famous for his hits in 1972 and 1973. he was arrested in the 90s after being bankrupt on child pornography charges and he is being released after eight years of a 16 year term. he was arrested in 2015, found guilty of one count of attempted rape, four of indecent assault and one with sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13. in 2012 he was the first to be arrested under

the net's 0peration youtree, the investigation launched if you remember in the wake of thejimmy savile scandal. he had also previously been arrested and convicted in vietnam for child sex offences. he was convicted of abusing two vietnamese girls aged ten and 11. this all hails back to investigations back in the 1990s when it was found, in 1997, a computer engineer had been servicing one of his laptops, his computer, and found indecent images of children, and that came to light in 1997. in fact i remember actually reporting on that case at the time. on that occasion in the 1990s he was jailed for four months after pleading guilty to 54 offences. so this is really a story of a man at the height of his career in the 70s who became bankrupt at the end of the 70s and then really all these

terrible allegations and offences. now he has been released from prison. he is in his 70s. we will have to see now where his future lies. �* .., , have to see now where his future lies. �* .. , ., , have to see now where his future lies. �* , ., , ., lies. because we are 'ust hearing 'ust in lies. because we are 'ust hearing just in the — lies. because we are 'ust hearing just in the test h lies. because we are 'ust hearing just in the last hour_ lies. because we are just hearing just in the last hour or _ lies. because we are just hearing just in the last hour or so - lies. because we are just hearing just in the last hour or so about i just in the last hour or so about this from the press association news agency, my assumption is we haven't yet got any reaction to this. but this will certainly cause a reaction. it this will certainly cause a reaction-— this will certainly cause a reaction. . ., , , , reaction. it certainly will because these are very — reaction. it certainly will because these are very serious _ reaction. it certainly will because these are very serious offences, | reaction. it certainly will because i these are very serious offences, and of course gary glitter had a huge profile. many people today might not know but every school child knew his songs in the 70s. he was quite a figure at the time. but his downfall was absolutely catastrophic. qm. figure at the time. but his downfall was absolutely catastrophic. ok, we will leave it — was absolutely catastrophic. ok, we will leave it there. _ was absolutely catastrophic. ok, we will leave it there. aruna, _ was absolutely catastrophic. ok, we will leave it there. aruna, thank- will leave it there. aruna, thank you. next, the energy regulator 0fgem has asked suppliers to pause the forced installation of prepayment meters. it follows revelations that a debt

collection company working for british gas broke into the homes of vulnerable people to install the meters. ben king has more. an undercover reporter from the times newspaper joined a team of debt collectors, entering the home of a single father with three young children. with three young children. they count as vulnerable. but, these workers from arvato, working for british gas, opened the door and installed a prepayment meter anyway. installing prepayment meters by force is legal, but it's meant to be a last resort, and should not be done to vulnerable households. if people cannot afford to top up the meters, they will be left without power. the boss of british gas has apologised, suspended arvato, and paused forced installations. arvato said it respected and adhered to the rules. the energy regulator

0fgem has now stepped in. the chief executivejonathan brearley said in a statement... "suppliers need to reassure us that all the processes for customers being moved on to prepayment meters are compliant with all 0fgem rules, and until the system this is done, we have asked them to a pause forced installations. "i would also ask them to look at their relationships with any third party contractors and examine incentives that could give rise to poor and unacceptable behaviours." there are clear rules. they have obviously not been followed, and therefore i need the regulator, i need the companies to do the right thing by people who are in the most difficult of circumstances, and have been treated, on this evidence, appallingly. the energy industry will now have to find a better way to treat vulnerable customers, in this most difficult of winters. ben king, bbc news. plans to house asylum seekers in a pontins holiday park

in southport in merseyside have been abandoned by the government. ministers have been trying to reduce the cost of housing immigrants in hotels, but the labour—run sefton council had opposed using the site because of concerns over the impact on tourism and children's services. inspectors have raised concerns about a women's prison in gloucestershire after they found some mentally unwell inmates were being held in cells with scratches and bloodstains on the walls. the conditions at eastwood park prison were described as appalling. the prison service insisted some cells had already been refurbished and that it was appointing more staff. a summit between ukrainian and european leaders is getting under way in kyiv — as ukraine tries to push forward with its bid tojoin the eu. president zelensky said his country deserved to start talks this year, and that closer ties would inspire his forces to resist the russian invasion. but eu officials say much still needs to be done before ukraine is ready for accession. instead, they're likely to offer more arms and money and better access for ukrainian products to the eu market.

the meeting comes as russian forces step up their offensives in the south and east of the country. here's our correspondent, james waterhouse. today's summit is about substance as it is symbolism for ukraine. sirens the head of the european commission, ursula von der leyen, was having meetings with president zelensky yesterday. you can hear the sirens on what is a significant day. it's a reminder of the threat which kyiv and most of ukraine faces on a daily basis with this invasion. nevertheless, eu officials are in the city. they've already discussed continued russian sanctions, economic punishments, help with ukraine's infrastructure as russia continues to strike power stations across the country. it's also talked about ukraine's european path. now, what president zelensky is saying is that his country deserves to start negotiations with the eu on possible membership. last year it became an official candidate, butjoining the european union takes years,

if not decades. it also takes the approval of the 27 member states. but the very subject of the european union for ukraine is so loaded because it's about ukraine demonstrating its sovereignty despite it becoming under continued attack. it's also about ukraine's political will to lean further to the west and further away from the clutches of moscow. thanks to james for that. the australian tennis player nick kyrgios has pleaded guilty to assaulting his ex—girlfriend. the court in canberra heard he pushed chiara passari to the ground during an argument in 2021. kyrgios avoided a conviction because the magistrate said the offence was a "single act of stupidity". the wimbledon finalist says he deeply regrets what happened. phil mercer reports.

nick kyrgios arrived at court on crutches after recent knee surgery. his lawyers said the assault on his former girlfriend chiara passari was out of character and a genuinely isolated incident. he pushed her to the ground during a heated argument outside a block of flats in canberra. the magistrate, beth campbell, said that nick kyrgios had been guilty of a single act of stupidity carried out in the heat of the moment. she said she would be treating him exactly the same as any other young man who came before her at the court here in canberra, even though he could hit a tennis ball particularly well. the magistrate even had relationship advice for nick kyrgios, saying that he and his present or future partner should make each other happy. she said if they didn't make each other shine, he should walk away.

in a statement, the australian tennis star said "he wasn't in a good place when this took place and that he'd reacted to a situation in a way i deeply regret". he said he was "sincerely sorry for the hurt he'd caused. "mental health is tough", he added. "life can seem overwhelming". in a victim impact statement, miss passari said she felt betrayed by last year's wimbledon finalist and that the assault had caused her pain and distress. with no criminal record, nick kyrgios is free to travel and pursue his tennis career, although the court was told he will need ongoing support for mental health issues. phil mercer, bbc news, canberra. next, pope francis has left the democratic republic of congo on his way to south sudan,

as he continues in what the roman catholic church is calling a pilgrimage for peace in africa. it will be the first visit by a pontiff to south sudan since it gained its independence in 2011. pope francis will be joined in the capital, juba, by the archbishop of canterbury, justin welby. the pope is honouring a promise to visit south sudan made in 2019. the visit tojuba comes a day after reports that 27 people were killed in violence in the state of central equatoria. merchuma reports. just outside the city ofjuba the caravan approaches. in western southern sudan. for nine days they have been on the road. they are wishing to welcome the pope. congregations from the local catholic church joined in song and dance and offered refreshments. brute

dance and offered refreshments. we came dance and offered refreshments. - came here to get the blessing from the pope. we call him the prophet. he is now the profit for us, he will see what is here, you will pray for it and the country will change. south sudan has been fractured by civil war and political instability since gaining independence in 2011. pope francis will be injuba for three days alongside the archbishop of canterburyjustin welby and the moderator of the scottish church in what they are calling "a pilgrimage of peace". this is the first time the leaders of the three different parts of the christian church will be in the country at the same time. the church is looked at as a symbol of hope by many people, and here in south sudan the catholic church was a centre for refuge for many when times were turbulent, and continues to play a leading role in the social well—being of the people of south sudan. injuba this is run by the

catholic church and provide shelter to young boys suffering violence separated from their families. most have been preyed upon by gangs. 18—year—old francis has been here for seven years. translation: 18-year-old francis has been here for seven years. translation: i came here because _ for seven years. translation: i came here because of — for seven years. translation: i came here because of the _ for seven years. translation: i came here because of the war— for seven years. translation: i came here because of the war of _ for seven years. translation: i came here because of the war of 2016. - for seven years. translation: i came here because of the war of 2016. i - here because of the war of 2016. i lost my father. i lived in the streets and the church picked me up. i have found a lot of support here. i have found a lot of support here. i started school from here. my biggest challenge now is that ijust turned 18 and i will have to leave the orphanage at the end of this month, since that is the maximum age. i am scared. month, since that is the maximum age. iam scared. i month, since that is the maximum age. i am scared. i don't know how i will move on. age. i am scared. i don't know how i will move on— will move on. the home also offers meals to young _ will move on. the home also offers meals to young children _ will move on. the home also offers meals to young children from - will move on. the home also offers meals to young children from poor| meals to young children from poor households and those affected by climate —related disasters. this is a safe haven for many of them in a place where they can just be children, play and eat. the administration says their aim as a

church with such initiatives is to restore dignity to a people whose resilience is waning. and the pope's pilgrimage of peace, they believe, is the boost that their efforts really need. bbc news, juba, south sudan. the association of british insurers says drivers saw a sharp rise in premiums at the end of last year. the price of insurance went up by an average of 8% in the final three months of 2022. it says the rising cost of car parts and paints used in repairs, as well as soaring energy bills, were some of the factors behind the increase. now it's time for a look at the weather with matt. by by sunshine summer will return more widely —— sunshine will return. a lot of them. patchy rain and drizzle across parts of england and scotland. western areas, brighter compared with what we have seen so far this morning. but it will turn a

good deal better. the wind is easing relative to earlier and 11—14 , substantially above where they should be for this time of year and in the sunshine it will feel quite like early spring. tonight after some initial cloud breaks cloud increases to the west again, patchy rain and drizzle round some coasts and hills. most dry. another mild night tonight but temperature is not quite as high as they were last night. forthe quite as high as they were last night. for the start of the weekend cloud will dominate. there will be some sunshine here and there is special in eastern scotland through the morning but western scotland and northern ireland could turn wetter into the afternoon. rain eventually spreading south and east. it is that which will eventually force and they bring back the sunshine. —— that is what will eventually bring back the sunshine. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines: the partner of nicola bulley, who vanished while walking her dog in lancashire a week ago, says he's living in a "nightmare" and wants her home.

we are never, ever going to lose hope, of course we're not, but right now it is as though she has vanished into thin air. china urges calm after the united states said it is tracking a suspected chinese surveillance balloon seen over sensitive sites in recent days. deserted railway stations as train drivers in england stage their second walk—out this week. australian tennis star nick kyrgios admits assaulting his ex—girlfriend, but avoids a criminal conviction — we'll have the latest from canberra. sport now and a full round—up from the bbc sport centre. good morning. manchester united football club have said they will conduct their own process before determining the future of mason greenwood. charges of attempted rape, assault and charges of

controlling behaviour were dropped yesterday. he had been due to face trial in november this year. greenwood said he was relieved and thanked his family and friends for supporting him. united have also said they won't make any further comment until their own process is complete. he will not train or play for united until that time when the club makes its decision. rachel furniss has left liverpool by mutual consent. she spent three seasons at the club scoring 19 goals in 64 appearances, helping the club win promotion to the wsl in 2022. she also became northern ireland's record goal—scorer. we understand she is set to join bristol city. tennis and heather watson is out of the thailand open in the quarterfinals. she was beaten in three sets. it is the first time she

had made the last eight of the tournament for nearly two years. she is currently ranked 160 in the world. the british men's tennis team have a tough test this evening. they are playing colombia in bogota, meaning it is at altitude, so they have to use pressure loose balls to combat the thinner air. gb have the stronger line—up with dan evans due to play in the singles and doubles, but playing at a height of over 2500 metres, on different bills and the clay surface will not suit the british team. it will be very difficult for them as they try to reach the group stage in september. last week we heard about the former welsh football star gareth bale and present professional golfers in practice ahead of an event in the usa. they had been warned of his talents. he is handling the pressure of the actual tournament in the same

manner, showing the kind of precision that made him so good at free kicks. what a recovery. he shot a seven under par 65, joint 18th on the amateur leaderboard, ahead of kaunda lisa rice and actor bill murray. ! kaunda lisa rice and actor bill murra . ., , kaunda lisa rice and actor bill murra . ~' , ., ., murray. i think every amateur will tell ou murray. i think every amateur will tell you we _ murray. i think every amateur will tell you we are — murray. i think every amateur will tell you we are out _ murray. i think every amateur will tell you we are out of— murray. i think every amateur will tell you we are out of our- murray. i think every amateur will tell you we are out of our comfort j tell you we are out of our comfort zone. it is a completely different sports. it is something that is just different. it is a cool experience. i hit one of my best shots down the first fairway, which was nice. britain does not form a bobsleigh team have their eyes set on the world title this weekend. it has been a record—breaking season for them so far. they want britain was my first gold medal at a european championship last month. the uk doesn't have any ice tracks for the team to train on but they are in

brilliant form, top of the world rankings, with a genuine chance of a first world medalfor rankings, with a genuine chance of a first world medal for nearly 60 years. first world medal for nearly 60 ears. ~ ., first world medal for nearly 60 ears. . ., ., first world medal for nearly 60 ears. ., ., , , years. we have had some pretty good times in training. _ years. we have had some pretty good times in training. usually _ years. we have had some pretty good times in training. usually the - times in training. usually the format is a bit more stable and a bit easier to write a lot of the pallets are struggling here at the moment. that makes it more difficult for us but it gives us an opportunity to get ahead if we start to nail the track. we are quietly confident going into it and hoping for a good performance i will hopefully come back with a medal, if not a gold one. there is much more on our website. that is the sport for now. a man has admitted trying to harm the queen after being caught in the grounds of windsor castle with a loaded crossbow. jaswant singh chail, who is 21, pleaded guilty to three charges during a hearing at the old bailey. let's cross to our correspondent daniel sandford who's

at the old bailey. jaswant jaswa nt singh jaswant singh chail appeared by video link from broadmoor high secure hospital to enter his pleas here at the central criminal court, the old bailey, and he admitted three offences. the first is an offence under the treason act of 1842 which was intending to enjoy the green. the second was possession of an offensive weapon, that is a loaded crossbow he had with them in this private area of windsor castle where he was arrested. third was making threats to kill, which was a video he had sent to his sister and various other people saying that he intended to kill the queen. in that video he said i am sorry for what i have done, i will temp two assassinate elizabeth, queen of the world —— royalfamily. this is in revenge for those who died in a massacre, sometimes known as the

amritsar massacre. when he was challenged by a police officer at ten past eight on christmas day 2021 in the private areas of windsor castle he said i am here to kill the queen. the police officer told him to lie on the ground and he was immediately arrested and handcuffed. he then been treated both at ravenswood house medium secure hospital and now at broadmoor high secure hospital. as i say, today he has pleaded guilty to these three offences. psychiatrists are being asked draw to up reports and he will be sentenced back here at the old bailey on the 31st of march. the long—running inquiry into the contaminated blood scandal of the 1970s and '80s will hear closing statements later today. it's been called the biggest

treatment disaster in nhs history, with 30,000 people thought to have been infected with hiv or hepatitis—c. our health correspondent, jim reed, has more. nobody in the threackall household thought that they could be affected by aids. in 1991, the bbc broadcast this landmark documentary about the aids crisis. i had a blood test which the hospital confirmed was hiv. bob threackall was infected after being given contaminated drugs for the blood disorder haemophilia. you see things on television, it is so far removed from everything you know, you don't even consider that you could be part of anything like that, but you can. now a retired teacher, sue has spent decades trying to find out what happened and what was known about the risks. over time, we have battled mps, various parliamentarians, civil servants, the medical profession, pharmaceutical companies, itjust goes on and on. bob died just months after that

programme is filmed. so, in about '87, '88. yeah. about '87. he was one of thousands infected with hiv or hepatitis after taking drugs imported from abroad or being given a transfusion. it is just sad, because it is this life that i was living perfectly happily, and then it went. everything went. long—running protests eventually lead to a government apology and the launch of a full public inquiry. i would like to say sorry on behalf of the government for something that should not have happened. since 2018... i swear by almighty god... prime ministers and health secretaries have all been questioned under oath. it became more and more real and more and more scary. and those directly affected, including sue, have been given the chance to have their say. we are fed up with hearing people say how sorry they are. later today the last witness will take the stand with a final report expected in the summer.

i would like the truth out there. i would like to know that proper measures were put in place to make sure that this can't happen again. it was cataclysmic, you know, and itjust ripped families apart, including mine. late last year, the first compensation payments were made to some of those affected. after 40 years, though, many families are still hoping for answers, as this long—running public inquiry draws to a close. jim joins me now. watching your report there and reflecting on the scale of all this. sue was speaking there, talking about i was cataclysmic for her family. one thing established by the public inquiry is how many families were affected. the best estimates at the moment at around 30,000 people

in the uk were infected with either hiv or hepatitis c. around 3,000 lives have been lost. the point made often by campaigners is because this happened over a long period of time it did not need to get the attention that a tragedy like this would have got if it had been in a more condensed period because often hepatitis c is called the silent killer, you can take many decades to go from infection to someone suffering liver failure or cancer, which is what can eventually kill someone with hepatitis c. because it was so stretched out maybe didn't get the attention it deserved until this public inquiry. iurethat get the attention it deserved until this public inquiry.— get the attention it deserved until this public inquiry. what about the consequences _ this public inquiry. what about the consequences of _ this public inquiry. what about the consequences of this, _ this public inquiry. what about the consequences of this, things - this public inquiry. what about the consequences of this, things like i consequences of this, things like compensation? that consequences of this, things like compensation?— consequences of this, things like compensation? consequences of this, things like com-ensation? ., , ., compensation? that has been the main thint that compensation? that has been the main thing that has — compensation? that has been the main thing that has been _ compensation? that has been the main thing that has been addressed - compensation? that has been the main thing that has been addressed and - thing that has been addressed and one of the main thing campaigners want to see addressed. lastjuly to the chair of the public inquiry recommended that certain groups should get interim compensation, an interim settlement of £100,000 each.

that only applies for around 4,000 families and some of the widows are people who lost their lives. there were groups not covered by this, including the children of people who died, there are siblings and also parents because a large number of children were affected by this, about 380 children were infected by hiv. that is one thing we may be expecting the chair of the public inquiry to address today in his closing statements, which we are expecting mid afternoon. talk closing statements, which we are expecting mid afternoon.- expecting mid afternoon. talk us throuth expecting mid afternoon. talk us through what _ expecting mid afternoon. talk us through what we _ expecting mid afternoon. talk us through what we are _ expecting mid afternoon. talk us through what we are expecting i expecting mid afternoon. talk us| through what we are expecting to happen today and in the future? this whole happen today and in the future? try 3 whole process has taken the best part of five years. it has involved 100,000 documents that they look through, 380 witnesses have given evidence. today is the last day of actual hearings, the closing statements. then they go away and think about the reports and the conclusions, recommendations. that should be published sometime over

the summer or maybe early autumn, so some way to go yet until full resolution. passengers have been warned to expect another day of severe disruption on the railways, as more than 20,000 train drivers go on strike. we are hoping to speak to mick whelan from aslef, but we have just lost the line with him. we whelan from aslef, but we have 'ust lost the line with himi lost the line with him. we will try to re-establish _ lost the line with him. we will try to re-establish that _ lost the line with him. we will try to re-establish that line. - it's been almost four months since russia began a systematic campaign of targeting ukraine's energy infrastructure, its power stations and distribution network. ukraine's state and private energy companies have been working round the clock to repair the damage and keep electricity flowing during the tough winter months. and they seem to be succeeding. the bbc�*s paul adams has been

granted rare access to the network and the teams involved. ukraine's energy war. a constant battle for heat and light. a race to keep up with russian attacks. siren wails. for a week, we follow the teams fighting this war. what the missiles destroy, they rebuild. in places where people are living on the edge. for months, russian missiles and drones have rained down on ukraine's civilian infrastructure, causing untold damage all across this vast country. so what happened here? this power plant in central ukraine has been hit repeatedly. it's a huge place, but this is what well—aimed russian missiles have done to its transformers. vital links to the world outside.

for security reasons, we've been asked not to identify the plant or its manager. these. everywhere across here. translation: every time | the equipment is damaged, it gets all of us right here in our soul. because it's our life. it's our second family. millions of people depend on this coal—fired power station. built in the soviet era. fantastic machine! its great turbines churning away at the heart of ukraine's sprawling power grid. but the staff here know they're in russia's sights. so there's the siren. we have been expecting it this morning. we have to get out of the turbine hall and head straight for the shelter. on days like these, hours are spent underground. anxious moments as news comes in of a fresh wave of attacks.

their colleagues at a power station in the west have taken a direct hit. they know this could have been them. and closer to home, word is spreading of something much worse. sirens. across town, a tragedy is unfolding. a missile almost certainly aimed at the power station has struck an apartment building instead. the rescue effort is frantic. 46 people have died here. we travel south towards communities under fire. ukraine's army of engineers racing from one repairjob to the next. "this happens all the time", vlodymyr tells me. we're on our way to a village shelled just last night. the power lines are down again.

the repairs won't take long, but the men know they'll be back. translation: this is pure terror, terrorising the population, - causing maximum damage to the infrastructure. this is a tactic of the russians on the other side of the reservoir. explosions. in the village, the sound of artillery has the mayor ducking for cover. how long do you think you can carry on living here in this situation? translation: those who wanted to leave left already. _ those who can't leave stay. as long as we have even a bit of electricity and water, we'll carry on living. russia thought it would break ukraine. but this energy war isn't working. half the grid may be in tatters, but in helmets and body armour, these men are keeping it alive. paul adams, bbc news,

eastern ukraine. the rush for beyonce fans to get their hands on tickets for her upcoming world tour has begun. pre—sale tickets are on sale for her uk tour dates, before general sale opens next week. 02 priority customers were the first to have the chance to buy a ticket. however, the company was forced to apologise as technical issues saw many fans unable to book. joining me for more on this is the music journalist georgie rogers. thanks for coming on the programme. so what has happened here? it is the usual site, the battle is on when an artist of this stature is back after seven years, herfirst artist of this stature is back after seven years, her first solo tour on a while and it is queen b. there will be very high demand and the website has been crashing, so it has been leaving fans very disappointed

and frustrated. it is the presale stage, we should stay safe. general tickets go on sale next tuesday. fleet tickets go on sale next tuesday. new tointer to tickets go on sale next tuesday. new pointer to the — tickets go on sale next tuesday. new pointer to the fact _ tickets go on sale next tuesday. new pointer to the fact that we are getting used to this, it seems every big artist comes along, there is always a problem with the websites were phone lines or whatever. is this too cynical to suggest that this too cynical to suggest that this is a publicity stunt every time? t this is a publicity stunt every time? ., . ., , this is a publicity stunt every time? ., , ., this is a publicity stunt every time? ., , ~' , ., time? i actually think it is a combination _ time? i actually think it is a combination of— time? i actually think it is a combination of factors. - time? i actually think it is a combination of factors. it i time? i actually think it is a combination of factors. it is infrastructure, online, the technology isn't up to scratch when the demand is so high. i think potentially there is something with the amount of power that the ticket companies have and how potentially prices get inflated in that ticket process when loads of people are trying to go for the same thing at the same time. with these tickets,

it is nots... it happened with taylor swift, it happened with peter kay, the ticket website crashed. it is a regular thing now we come to expect. is a regular thing now we come to ex-ect. ,, .., ., , expect. she did caught a little bit of controversy — expect. she did caught a little bit of controversy with _ expect. she did caught a little bit of controversy with her _ expect. she did caught a little bitj of controversy with her comeback appearance recently, didn't she? what, on the horse with the diamante cowboy hats? you what, on the horse with the diamante cowboy hats?— cowboy hats? you are now going into more detail— cowboy hats? you are now going into more detail than _ cowboy hats? you are now going into more detail than i _ cowboy hats? you are now going into more detail than i know! _ cowboy hats? you are now going into more detail than i know! the - more detail than i know! the location, she did pride private thing. location, she did pride private thint. , ., :: location, she did pride private thin. , ., i: ., location, she did pride private thin. i: thing. yes, almost 20 million she tot taid thing. yes, almost 20 million she got paid for— thing. yes, almost 20 million she got paid for the — thing. yes, almost 20 million she got paid for the dubai _ thing. yes, almost 20 million she got paid for the dubai gig. - thing. yes, almost 20 million she got paid for the dubai gig. i - thing. yes, almost 20 million she got paid for the dubai gig. i don't| got paid for the dubai gig. i don't think it is about her needing the money, it is about her getting back on the roads. she is at the top of her game. hertwins on the roads. she is at the top of her game. her twins are now past the baby stage so presumably she wants

to get out and during this album, which has been particularly acclaimed, and get out there and connect with herfans. lats acclaimed, and get out there and connect with her fans.— connect with her fans. lots of teo t le connect with her fans. lots of people will — connect with her fans. lots of people will be _ connect with her fans. lots of people will be looking - connect with her fans. lots of| people will be looking forward connect with her fans. lots of i people will be looking forward to that. thank you for coming on. the uk is set to enter recession this year but it may not be as bad as previously feared. the governor of the bank of say it my it may only last a year, shorter than feared. interest rates have gone up to 4%. this site has been operating in manchester since 1968. the ingredients to make these are getting more expensive. the energy to keep the oven is hot, to bake the bread and all the various treats they make, it is costing them more.

to keep the fridge is nice and cold for all those ingredients, as well. that is one of the reasons the bank of england has put interest rates up, to try to rein in soaring prices. they put interest rates up yesterday to 4%, raising them by 0.5%. that is because inflation is currently running at 10.5%. that is nearly a 40 year high. it is five times above the target that the bank of england has of inflation of 2%. the international monetary fund has warned the uk economy is the only major economy that it is expecting to shrink over the coming year. at a bright spot in the forecast from the bank of england, it now thinks that the recession in the uk will face will be shorter and less severe than previously expected. let's find out

how it is affecting businesses like this. let's speak to david, the owner. what are you noticing in terms of the pressure on businesses like yours? for terms of the pressure on businesses like ours? ., ., , ' terms of the pressure on businesses like ours? ., ' ., , like yours? for the last 12 months we have had _ like yours? for the last 12 months we have had insistent _ like yours? for the last 12 months we have had insistent price - we have had insistent price increases of all of our ingredients. flower has gone up 50%, other ingredients 30%. the interest rates went up yesterday. this will effect our customers because they have mortgages to pay, they have less disposable income. we want them to still coming to the shop and buy essential products and the treats as well, but it is more difficult if they have less money to spend. l they have less money to spend. i will call over grace, david's daughter. have you got a second have a quick chat about interest rates, the pressures that businesses like this are facing? you have a household yourself. how are you

affected by the interest rates changing? l affected by the interest rates changing?— affected by the interest rates chanttin? . , ., ., ., changing? i recently remortgage a dam tenint changing? i recently remortgage a dampening job _ changing? i recently remortgage a dampening job of _ changing? i recently remortgage a dampening job of the _ changing? i recently remortgage a dampening job of the interest - changing? i recently remortgage a dampening job of the interest that it was at the beginning of the year, which is awful. it is notjust me, it is the poorer people up and down the country. it is the poorer people up and down the country-— it is the poorer people up and down thecount .~ ., ., . , the country. what are your customers sa when the country. what are your customers say when they — the country. what are your customers say when they come _ the country. what are your customers say when they come in? everyone - the country. what are your customers say when they come in? everyone is i say when they come in? everyone is in the same — say when they come in? everyone is in the same boat. _ say when they come in? everyone is in the same boat. they _ say when they come in? everyone is in the same boat. they understand. in the same boat. they understand that we work really hard to create the product. they enjoyed the quality of the product we make and for now we are lucky and grateful they are stuck with us. l for now we are lucky and grateful they are stuck with us.— for now we are lucky and grateful they are stuck with us. i know you have plenty _ they are stuck with us. i know you have plenty of— they are stuck with us. i know you have plenty of work _ they are stuck with us. i know you have plenty of work to _ they are stuck with us. i know you have plenty of work to do, - they are stuck with us. i know you have plenty of work to do, thanks| have plenty of work to do, thanks for speaking to us. getting the economy right is that getting the recipe right for baked goods. let me show you some of the delicious items that they have here. i call these roles, but depending where you are watching in the country, there might be balm cakes, or even muffins, i'm told.

experts say it's one of most important ancient sites in britain — and yet it's almost completely unknown to the general public. the thornborough henges in yorkshire — a huge monument described as the stonehenge of the north — will be opened to visitors from today. john maguire reports. they were built more than 4,500 years ago and in recent times they have been locked away on land owned by a construction firm, but now, the thornborough henges can be visited by the public, from today. they have been gifted to english heritage. it describes them as the stonehenge of the north, probably the most important prehistoric site between wiltshire and the orkney islands. the three huge mounds are 200 metres across and, in places, up to four metres tall. it is believed they were once topped with gypsum, making them almost illuminous against the landscape and visible from miles away. one theory is that they are aligned to mirror the constellation of orion with the henges representing the belt in the night sky.

like stonehenge they represent a physical link to our neolithic history, one with so many unanswered questions, but one that exemplifies how important this site was that created it, thousands of years ago. john maguire, bbc news, ripon. now it's time for a look at the weather with matt. hello. where the cloud breaks today it may actually feel a little bit spring—like out there compared to what we'll see this weekend. we'll see more in the way sunshine developing, especially by sunday, but it is going to start to feel colder once again. when i say colder, temperatures dropping back to where we should be at the moment. we're in a run of very mild air coming up from the mid—atlantic, but the blue colours indicating those cooler conditions, temperatures back to normal for the time of year, pushing in as we go through saturday night and into sunday, a few days away. at the moment, though, as i said, pretty mild and feeling it where the sun breaks through.

the odd spot of light rain or drizzle can't be ruled out. many western areas brightening up compared to this morning. the wettest conditions in orkney to the afternoon. 8—14 c if you get the sunshine, so if you get the sunshine it will feel like spring. the first batch of cloud clears out of the way tonight. clearskies batch of cloud clears out of the way tonight. clear skies for batch of cloud clears out of the way tonight. clearskies fora batch of cloud clears out of the way tonight. clear skies for a time but cloud amounts will build overnight and it could turn damp and drizzly into tomorrow morning. another mild night book not quite as mad as the night book not quite as mad as the nightjust gone. into saturday we go. lots of blood to begin with. the odd isolated shower for western parts of england and wales. it is for western scotland and northern ireland that it will turn wetter from late morning into the afternoon. the rain arrives into the

south—west as we hit later afternoon. not quite as mild today. as the weather from prosciutto twice outwards it will fizzle out, but will introduce cooler conditions as we go into sunday. it will clear away a lot of the cloud. plenty of sunshine on sunday for the vast majority. a cloudy start for the channel islands, a bit more cloud into the north and west of scotland later on, but for many a sunny sunday. even it is fresher out there, you will get someone from the strengthening sun. it will continue into next week with temperatures at or not below average for the time of year. northern areas a little bit milder. for many in the south, overnight frost and fog could be the issue.

hello, this is bbc news. i'm morning live. —— i am lewis vaughanjones. the headlines... the partner of nicola bulley who vanished while walking her dog in lancashire a week ago says he's living in a "nightmare" and wants her home.

we are never, ever going to lose hope, of course we're not, but right now it is as though she has vanished into thin air. disgraced former pop star gary glitter has been freed from prison s after serving half his 16—year sentence. disgraced former pop star gary glitter has been freed from prison s after serving half his 16—year sentence. china urges calm after the united states said it's tracking a suspected chinese surveillance balloon seen over sensitive sites in recent days. it would be ridiculous if the government didn't retrieve it. obviously, i think that is the first course of action, to get it out of the sky. deserted railway stations as train drivers in england stage their second walk—out this week. we'll speak to the head of one of the unions taking action today. could this song by the former six pistols front man written about his wife because my alzheimer's be chosen to represent ireland at the eurovision song contest? in annie mac it's very hard to be away from her but i have to do this, have to bring awareness to this problem —— have to bring awareness to this problem "— have to bring awareness to this troblem -- �*, , ., ., problem -- well, it's very hard to be away from _

problem -- well, it's very hard to be away from her _ problem -- well, it's very hard to be away from her but _ problem -- well, it's very hard to be away from her but i _ problem -- well, it's very hard to be away from her but i have - problem -- well, it's very hard to be away from her but i have to i problem -- well, it's very hard to| be away from her but i have to do this, i have to bring awareness to this, i have to bring awareness to this problem. hello and welcome to the programme. the partner of a woman who gone missing while walking her dog in north—west england say he can't get his head around her disappearance. nicola bulley, who is 45, vanished a week ago in st michael's on wyre in lancashire. extensive police searches are continuing but no trace of her has been found. david guest reports. seven days of searching, but still no sign of nicola bulley. the wait for news is as agonising as it is frustrating for her family. people don'tjust vanish into thin air. there has got to be somebody that knows something, and all we are asking, no matter how small or big, is if there is anything that you can remember that doesn't seem right, then please reach out to the police, please just get in touch. 45—year—old nicola dropped

her children at school last friday morning, went for a walk with her dog by the river wyre, and hasn't been seen since. her springer spaniel was found wandering on its own near the place where nicola was last seen. her phone was abandoned on a park bench, still connected to a business conference call. the police have been looking for her since she was reported missing last friday. this is a very beautiful, rural area with lots of wooded areas, and a river — a lot of complex terrain to search. back home, nicola's two little girl and partner paul are left bewildered. paul says they are living in a perpetual hell. friends, neighbours, fire and rescue and mountain rescue teams have joined the police in searching for nicola. nikki's two children at home, want to know where their mummy is, and we have had so many offers of help and support, which is amazing, and we want to thank you, and i know the family thank you very much. yesterday the police asked for a dog walker dressed in a red coat to come forward as a possible witness.

they traced her last evening but, so far, no sign of nicola. detectives say they are keeping an open mind about what has happened to nicola bulley, and, for now, speculation about what might have happened remains just that. here's what her partner paul ansell had to say. i don't really have anything to say other than what the family said yesterday. my whole focus is our two girls, just staying as strong as i can for them. i'm scared that if i put any focus into anything else it's going to take my, you know, focus off that, so i've got to be very careful. i'm just hoping to goodness that anything comes out from the interview yesterday, no matter how tiny. i'll just say a massive thank you to the community, friends for everything that that they're doing. it's absolutely incredible. i just can't believe that we are a week on and, as yet, it seems like we're no further on. itjust seems absolutely impossible. just... just likea dream. i cannot get my head around any of it.

i mean, you're left sort of trying to make sense of the senseless, aren't you? it is just such a mystery. yeah, it is. every single scenario, it comes to a brick wall, every single one of them. then all we're doing is sitting there going round and round and round, going through every scenario, and then go back to the first scenario again and do the whole thing again, and it's just all day long. that's what we're doing. it's all we're doing. how are you coping? it must be so difficult. like you say, your focus is on the girls, and it has to be, but it must be so difficult. i don't know how i'm coping.

i don't even want to actually think about that. just, like i say, it's just about the girls. that's it. i'm there for them. i don't want to really elaborate on that. i just... i don't want to take my eye off that. it must be heart—warming to see the public response. hundreds of people trying to help. it's amazing, it is. it's the only thing that we can take is, you know, that level of support is out of this world. it gives us a great amount of comfort knowing that that's going on. we don't have anything else, do we? well, there's hope. yeah, we're never, ever going to lose the hope, of course we're not, but right now it's as though she has vanished into thin air.

yeah, just insane. that was paul ansell speaking a little earlier. we can speak now to our reporter, rowan bridge, whojoins us from that area. can you bring is up—to—date with the latest on the search? the can you bring is up-to-date with the latest on the search?— latest on the search? the police search investigation _ latest on the search? the police search investigation got - latest on the search? the police search investigation got under. latest on the search? the police i search investigation got under way this morning and we have seen a police _ this morning and we have seen a police search underwater and marine unit getting involved to look for clues— unit getting involved to look for clues on— unit getting involved to look for clues on the disappearance of nicola bulley, _ clues on the disappearance of nicola bulley, as— clues on the disappearance of nicola bulley, as well as the official response if you like from lancashire police _ response if you like from lancashire police we _ response if you like from lancashire police we have also seen a real community response today, so a week after she _ community response today, so a week after she was last seen, around nine o'clock— after she was last seen, around nine o'clock in_ after she was last seen, around nine o'clock in the — after she was last seen, around nine o'clock in the morning, local residents, _ o'clock in the morning, local residents, friends of nicola bulley, lined the _ residents, friends of nicola bulley, lined the street up from where i am now holding placards and posters, appealing — now holding placards and posters, appealing to people for information they may— appealing to people for information they may have about what caused nicola _ they may have about what caused nicola bulley's disappearance, people — nicola bulley's disappearance, people who may have been in the area a week— people who may have been in the area a week ago— people who may have been in the area a week ago they were driving through again. _ a week ago they were driving through again. it _ a week ago they were driving through again, it mightjog their memories and they— again, it mightjog their memories and they are hoping that might provide — and they are hoping that might provide a — and they are hoping that might provide a crucial piece of information. you can really see the way the _ information. you can really see the way the whole community have pulled together— way the whole community have pulled together over this. a local banner company— together over this. a local banner company dropped everything they were doin- company dropped everything they were doing to _ company dropped everything they were doing to print out the banners for people _ doing to print out the banners for people to — doing to print out the banners for people to hold this morning. a local

member— people to hold this morning. a local member of— people to hold this morning. a local member of the pta spoke about the impact _ member of the pta spoke about the impact it— member of the pta spoke about the impact it had had on children in the school— impact it had had on children in the school and — impact it had had on children in the school and how the school had told parents _ school and how the school had told parents how to talk to their children— parents how to talk to their children about what had happened because _ children about what had happened because obviously it is the talk of the local— because obviously it is the talk of the local community here. obviously devastating and difficult times for nicola's_ devastating and difficult times for nicola's family but also extremely difficult _ nicola's family but also extremely difficult time for the local community as well. difficult time for the local communi as well. ., ,, , ., , community as well. thank you very much for that. _ community as well. thank you very much for that, rowan _ community as well. thank you very much for that, rowan bridge. - next, a man has admitted trying to harm the queen after he was caught in the grounds of windsor castle with a loaded crossbow. jaswant singh chail, who's 21, pleaded guilty to three charges during a hearing at the old bailey. daniel sandford is following the case. jaswant singh chail appeared by video link from broadmoor high—security hospital to enter his pleas here at the central criminal court, the old bailey, and he admitted three offences. the first is an offence under the treason act of 1842 which was intending to injure the queen.

the second was possession of an offensive weapon — that was a loaded crossbow he had with him in this private area of windsor castle, where he was arrested. the third was making threats to kill, which was a video he had sent to his sister and various other people saying that he intended to kill the queen. in that video he said, "i am sorry for what i have done, what i will do. "i will attempt to assassinate elizabeth, queen of the royal family. "this is in revenge for those who died in the jallianwala bagh

massacre, sometimes known as the amritsar massacre". when he was challenged by a police officer at ten past eight on christmas day 2021 in the private areas of windsor castle he said, i am here to kill the queen. the police officer told him to lie on the ground and he was immediately arrested and handcuffed. he then been treated both at ravenswood house medium secure hospital and now at broadmoor high secure hospital. as i say, today he has pleaded guilty to these three offences. psychiatrists are being asked draw to up reports and he will be sentenced back here at the old bailey on the 31st of march. thanks to daniel for that update. next, it's understood that the disgraced pop star gary glitter has been freed from prison. the 78—year—old whose real name is paul gadd, was jailed in 2015 for sexually abusing three schoolgirls. he's served half of his 16—year sentence. the press association news agency says he left prison in dorset earlier today. i spoke to our correspondent aruna iyengar who explained the downfall of the disgraced pop star. extremely famous verses of hits in 1972, 1973, and at the end of that

decade ended up being bankrupt and in the 1990s was a rest on china child pornography charges. he was arrested in 2015 and was found guilty of one count of attempted rape, four of indecent assault and format of sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13 —— he was arrested on child pornography charges. he was arrested under operation youtree, the investigation launched in the wake of thejimmy savile scandal. he had also previously been arrested and convicted in vietnam for child sexual offences. he was convicted of abusing two vietnamese girls aged ten and 11. this all heals back to investigations in the 1990s when it was found in 1997 a computer engineer had been servicing his laptop, his computer, and found indecent images of children. that

came to light in 1997 and in fact i remember reporting on that case at the time. on that occasion he was jailed for nine months after pleading guilty to 54 offences so this is really a story of a man at the height of his career in the 72 became bankrupt at the end of the 70s and then really all these terrible allegations and offences. now he has been released from prison and in his 70s. we will have to see now where his future lies. because we're 'ust now where his future lies. because we're just hearing _ now where his future lies. because we're just hearing in _ now where his future lies. because we're just hearing in the _ now where his future lies. because we're just hearing in the last - now where his future lies. because we're just hearing in the last hourl we're just hearing in the last hour orso we're just hearing in the last hour or so about this from the press association news agency, my assumption is we have not yet got any reaction to this but this will certainly a reaction. it any reaction to this but this will certainly a reaction.— certainly a reaction. it certainly will because — certainly a reaction. it certainly will because these _ certainly a reaction. it certainly will because these are - certainly a reaction. it certainly will because these are very - certainly a reaction. it certainly - will because these are very serious offences. gary glitter had a huge pro for many people today might not know but he was... every school child knew his songs in the 70s.

everyone knew this at the time but his downfall was absolutely catastrophic.— his downfall was absolutely catastrophic. his downfall was absolutely catastrothic. ., ., ., catastrophic. thanks to aruna for that. plan to house asylum seekers in a pontins holiday park in southport in merseyside have been abandoned by the government. ministers have been trying to reduce the cost of housing immigrants in hotels, but the labour—run sefton council had opposed using the site — because of concerns over the impact on tourism and children's services. inspectors have raised concerns about the women's prison in gloucestershire after they found some mentally oh inmates were held in cells with scratches and bloodstains on the walls. conditions at eastwood park prison were described as appalling. the prison service said some rooms were already refurbished and it was appointing more staff. the association of british insurers say drivers saw a sharp rise in

premiums at the end of last year. the premiums went up by an average of 8% in the final three months of 2022 and it said the rising cost of car parks and paints used in repairs, as well as soaring energy bills, were some of the factors behind the increase. this is bbc news. the headlines... the partner of nicola bulley who vanished while walking her dog in lancashire a week ago says he's living in a 'nightmare' and wants her home: a man who climbed into windsor castle with a loaded crossbow admits a treason charge after telling police officers he was there to "kill the queen". disgraced former pop star gary glitter has been freed from prison s after serving half his 16—year sentence. time for the sport at the bbc sport

centre. we start with football, and chelsea will look to get revenge on rivals fulham later in the premier league derby. fulham won the reverse derby and are above chelsea in the table but this is chelsea's first games and splashing the cash in the transfer window last month and they will have a few new faces. their record signing, enzo fernandez, the £100 million man, may not be cleared in time. blues boss graham potter says he isn't worried about keeping large squad happy. it's a test for me, of course and for the — it's a test for me, of course and for the staff— it's a test for me, of course and for the staff and _ it's a test for me, of course and for the staff and for— it's a test for me, of course and for the staff and for everybody. it's a test for me, of course and i for the staff and for everybody but it was _ for the staff and for everybody but it was an — for the staff and for everybody but it was an exciting _ for the staff and for everybody but it was an exciting one. _ for the staff and for everybody but it was an exciting one. we - for the staff and for everybody but it was an exciting one. we have i it was an exciting one. we have really _ it was an exciting one. we have really good _ it was an exciting one. we have really good players. _ it was an exciting one. we have really good players. we - it was an exciting one. we have really good players. we have i it was an exciting one. we have really good players. we have to create — really good players. we have to create an— really good players. we have to create an environment - really good players. we have to create an environment where i really good players. we have to - create an environment where there is competition, — create an environment where there is competition, healthy— create an environment where there is competition, healthy competition, i competition, healthy competition, they can _ competition, healthy competition, they can push _ competition, healthy competition, they can push each _ competition, healthy competition, they can push each other, - competition, healthy competition, they can push each other, and - competition, healthy competition, they can push each other, and at. competition, healthy competition, i they can push each other, and at the same _ they can push each other, and at the same time _ they can push each other, and at the same time understand _ they can push each other, and at the same time understand there - they can push each other, and at the same time understand there will- they can push each other, and at the same time understand there will be i same time understand there will be frustrating — same time understand there will be frustrating at — same time understand there will be frustrating at times _ same time understand there will be frustrating at times because - same time understand there will be frustrating at times because only. same time understand there will be frustrating at times because only 11| frustrating at times because only 11 can play. _ frustrating at times because only 11 can play. but— frustrating at times because only 11 can play. but that _ frustrating at times because only 11 can play, but that is _ frustrating at times because only 11 can play, but that is how— frustrating at times because only 11 can play, but that is how it - frustrating at times because only 11 can play, but that is how it is. - can play, but that is how it is. he made _ can play, but that is how it is. he made a _ can play, but that is how it is. he made a very— can play, but that is how it is. he made a very big _ can play, but that is how it is. he made a very big number. can play, but that is how it is. | he made a very big number of can play, but that is how it is. - he made a very big number of new signings. _ he made a very big number of new signings, new players arriving, of course _ signings, new players arriving, of course. let's see what players can

start _ course. let's see what players can start as _ course. let's see what players can start as well. we are ready for the situation _ start as well. we are ready for the situation and there are new players arriving _ situation and there are new players arriving at — situation and there are new players arriving at the football club. leaving _ arriving at the football club. leaving the women's football side liverpool by mutual consent, the midfielder scored 19 goals at the club and was vice captain when they won promotion to the wsl last year. she also became northern ireland's record goal—scorer before retiring from international duty in august. bbc sport understands she is set to join the championship side bristol city. to tennis. britten's heather watson is out of the thailand open in the quarterfinal. she was beaten by the chinese seventh seed in three sets and it is the last time she has made the last eight of atonement for nearly two years. she is currently ranked 160 in the world. last week we heard about the former welsh football star gareth bale impressing the professional golfers in practice ahead of a pro—am event in the usa so they had been warned of his talent and now he is handling the

pressure of the actual tournament in the same manner, showing the kind of precision that made him so good at those free kicks for real madrid when digging himself out of trouble at spyglass hill. what a recovery. seven under par 65 makes him the joint 18th on the amateur leaderboard ahead of the former american politician condoleezza rice and actor bill murray. n american politician condoleezza rice and actor bill murray.— and actor bill murray. i think every amateur will _ and actor bill murray. i think every amateur will tell— and actor bill murray. i think every amateur will tell you, _ and actor bill murray. i think every amateur will tell you, even - and actor bill murray. i think every amateur will tell you, even though j amateur will tell you, even though we are used to playing in front of 80,000 or more live on tv, it is completely different, completely different sport, outside your comfort zone. it is something that is just different, and comfort zone. it is something that isjust different, and it is comfort zone. it is something that is just different, and it is a comfort zone. it is something that isjust different, and it is a good experience. hit my best shot down the first fairway, which was nice. more in the bbc sport website including the newsjust more in the bbc sport website including the news just in that anthonyjoshua's comeback fight will take place on the 1st of april at the 02 take place on the 1st of april at the o2 arena in london. he is expected to fight the american jermaine franklin. that's the sport.

thanks, lizzie. next... the us department of defence says it's tracking what's believed to be a chinese surveillance balloon that entered american airspace two days ago. the military considered shooting it down over the state of montana but was concerned that falling debris could hit someone. the canadian authorities have also released a statement about a high—altitude surveillance balloon and say they are working with us partners. this is the first image we've received — believed to be of the balloon — but it's not been independently verified. the department of defence says it was "most certainly launched" by china. the chinese government has called for calm and warned against what it called "hype" about the balloon. our north america correspondent peter bowes has more. this is an unusual but not unprecedented situation. what the pentagon believes is a chinese surveillance balloon hovering over the northern united states after previously hovering in a similar way over canada. and we're hearing similar statements from the ministry of defence

in canada as well as the pentagon, and that is that there is no danger posed to members of the public on the ground. indeed, civilian aircraft are not in any danger either given the high altitude of this balloon. it is in the stratosphere. given its high altitude it might therefore be surprising to hear, but apparently some pilots of civilian aircraft have actually seen it. moving forward, it looks as if the strategy is "wait and see." there was some consideration given to shooting it down and there were some manoeuvres involving military aircraft to try to make that happen, but it was decided against it because of the threat of debris falling from the balloon and potentially hitting people on the ground. it was just considered too dangerous. so, moving forward, it is still somewhere, the pentagon believes, over the united states. they're not saying where. clearly, given the current tensions between the united states and china that have been going on, of course, for many months now, in many respects concerning security issues, this is another awkward situation, perhaps even more awkward with the visit of anthony blinken, the us secretary of state, to china. he's planning to go to beijing

to meet president xi in the next few days. thanks to peter for that. chase doak has seen the ballon above his home in billings in southern montana. i was actually at work and i was getting ready to leave for the day. just a few minutes earlier i had seen some news reports of some aerospace restrictions here in billings. i thought that was a little suspicious. i was looking out the window, like i normally do, and ijust happened to spot it out of the corner of my eye. at first i thought it was a star, but i thought that was kind of crazy because it was broad daylight and when i looked at it, it was just too big to be a star.

here's more analysis form our china correspondent, stephen mcdonell. so this is a very strange new point of tension between washington and beijing which has come just days before us secretary of state antony blinken is due here in the chinese capital for talks which were designed to ease tensions, to mend relations, between the world's two super powers. and yet we have this balloon, allegedly a chinese spy balloon, flying over north america. the chinese foreign ministry has said it is still attempting to verify whether it is one of its own, to try to work out what is going on, and we had the foreign ministry spokesperson here warning against artificial hype in terms of how this is to be considered,

because she said that that would not bring about the solution to this current problem. but, you know, who knew that spy balloon were even a thing? at the moment you have satellite technology, advanced aircraft, so why still use these balloons? what they bring to the table i'm not quite sure. according to officials in the us, this balloon isn't causing any danger because it is flying at an altitude above commercial aircraft, so they're saying at the moment it can't hurt anyone or hurt anything, and yet there must be great temptation in the us to bring it down and have a look at it. however, you would love to be a fly on the wall when antony blinken meets senior chinese officials, including potentially even xi jinping, the leader of the country — what will be said about this?

it seems incredible that you would, if you were china, launch such a balloon at this time. perhaps because of the technology it has been floating around for a long time. all of these questions are being asked right now. certainly, though, not something you would welcome if you were either from the chinese or us side hoping for more detente over the coming days. thanks to steve for that. next, passengers have been warned to expect another day of severe disruption on the railways, as more than 20,000 train drivers go on strike. we can talk now to dan panes, spokesperson for the mail delivery group. at the bristol parkway group. thanks for coming on the programme. empty rail station behind you. i can't you sort that out? we rail station behind you. i can't you sort that out?— sort that out? we are doing everything _ sort that out? we are doing everything we _ sort that out? we are doing everything we can. - sort that out? we are doing everything we can. we - sort that out? we are doingj everything we can. we have sort that out? we are doing - everything we can. we have made offers to the other unions, the rmt, the tsa, that they are considering. we are not as far forward unfortunately with aslef, the people

striking today, and i am sorry to any of your viewers that have had to make alternative arrangements while we run as many services as we can. in fact there are around 40% of services running across the country but the difficulty is they are in very difficult patchwork so we are encouraging people to check very carefully with their local operators they travel. carefully with their local operators they travel-— they travel. that is a message we are used to _ they travel. that is a message we are used to now— they travel. that is a message we are used to now hearing - they travel. that is a message we are used to now hearing and - are used to now hearing and receiving and used to doing before we do travel. you said aslef, not as far forward with them, but that is partly because the offer you have given them on pay is below inflation. would you want to take a pay offer that effectively makes you poorer? t pay offer that effectively makes you toorer? ., ., , pay offer that effectively makes you toorer? ~ ., , _ pay offer that effectively makes you .oorer? ~' ., , , , pay offer that effectively makes you toorer? ~ ., , , ., poorer? i think any pay rise that increases your _ poorer? i think any pay rise that increases your pay _ poorer? i think any pay rise that increases your pay doesn't - poorer? i think any pay rise that| increases your pay doesn't make poorer? i think any pay rise that - increases your pay doesn't make you poorer. a simple falsehood. but your stendint poorer. a simple falsehood. but your spending power _ poorer. a simple falsehood. but your spending power is — poorer. a simple falsehood. but your spending power is lower _ poorer. a simple falsehood. but your spending power is lower than - poorer. a simple falsehood. but your spending power is lower than it - poorer. a simple falsehood. but your spending power is lower than it was i spending power is lower than it was the year before. it is more than you have got now and i think that is

key. we need to make sure we can give people a fair and equitable pay offer. what it will do for drivers here is give them an extra £5,000 a yearin here is give them an extra £5,000 a year in their bank accounts. that brings the average driver salary up to around £65,000 a year on a four—day week, so we think that is fair but it needs to be balanced by a set of reforms which is why we want to sit down and have these conversations and thrash it out, as it were. let's talk about those conversations. when are they happening? how optimistic are you? certainly we want to have conversations next week once the strikes are out the way to move things forward. there will be lots to talk about and they will be challenging conversations but we want to end this disruption for our customers, we want to give our colleagues across the railway certainty, whether they are a member of aslef, tssa or the rmt and that is why we need to get a deal done and that is why we are encouraging

the rmt and the tssa, who already have offers on the table, to give those to their membership so they can have a say. hf those to their membership so they can have a say-— can have a say. if there are negotiations _ can have a say. if there are negotiations next - can have a say. if there are negotiations next week - can have a say. if there are. negotiations next week what can have a say. if there are - negotiations next week what are you prepared to concede on? t am negotiations next week what are you prepared to concede on?— prepared to concede on? i am not about to do _ prepared to concede on? i am not about to do those _ prepared to concede on? i am not about to do those negotiations i prepared to concede on? i am not about to do those negotiations on j about to do those negotiations on the bbc at the moment but there is room for manoeuvre. we have seen us get to a place with the other unions where we are much further forward. what really needs to happen is some sensible conversation rather than confrontation from the aslef side of things, and we are hoping that will happen over the coming days. hope things, and we are hoping that will happen over the coming days. how do ou see happen over the coming days. how do you see the — happen over the coming days. how do you see the role _ happen over the coming days. how do you see the role of _ happen over the coming days. how do you see the role of the _ happen over the coming days. how do you see the role of the government i you see the role of the government in this? , ., ., in this? the government are controlling _ in this? the government are controlling the _ in this? the government are controlling the finances - in this? the government are controlling the finances of i in this? the government are. controlling the finances of the industry at the moment. the way the train operations run now is far away from the franchise system that people are used to. train operators now get paid a small fee, around 0.5% of previous revenues, to run the service, but actually the government takes in all the revenue from ticket sales and is responsible

for all of the cost, so we need to make sure that whatever we've got balances that out.— make sure that whatever we've got balances that out. thank you so much for comint balances that out. thank you so much for coming on — balances that out. thank you so much for coming on the _ balances that out. thank you so much for coming on the programme. - if you were watching a little earlier you'll see we did try to speak to one of the other sides in this, from the union, aslef, but unfortunately that went down. —— unfortunately that line went down. the energy regulator 0fgem has asked suppliers to pause the forced it follows revelations that a debt collection company working for british gas broke into the homes of vulnerable people to install the meters. ben king has more. an undercover reporter from the times newspaper joined a team of debt collectors, entering the home of a single father with three young children. they count as vulnerable. but, these workers from arvato, working for british gas, opened the door and installed a prepayment meter anyway.

installing prepayment meters by force is legal, but it's meant to be a last resort, and should not be done to vulnerable households. if people cannot afford to top up the meters, they will be left without power. the boss of british gas has apologised, suspended arvato, and paused forced installations. arvato said it respected and adhered to the rules. the energy regulator 0fgem has now stepped in. the chief executivejonathan brearley said in a statement, "suppliers need to reassure us that all the processes for customers being moved on to prepayment meters are compliant with all 0fgem rules, and until the system this is done, we have asked them to a pause forced installations. "i would also ask them to look at their relationships with any

third party contractors and examine incentives that could give rise to poor and unacceptable behaviours." there are clear rules. they have obviously not been followed, and therefore i need the regulator, i need the companies to do the right thing by people who are in the most difficult of circumstances, and have been treated, on this evidence, appallingly. the energy industry will now have to find a better way to treat vulnerable customers, in this most difficult of winters. ben king, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with tomasz. hello. a fairly overcast day but it will be getting brighter as we go over the next few days. not necessarily sunny all the time, but predominantly dry and night—time frosts are expected to return. here is the latest satellite picture and you can see rather a lot of cloud across the uk, but there are a few breaks here and there. let's have a look at the forecast as we head into the evening hours. a few breaks here and there, maybe some spots of drizzle where the cloud is thickest out towards western of the uk and no

frost tonight. in fact quite a mild night with temperatures between around five and even 9 degrees in the western isles. saturday starts off pretty cloudy. later in the day we are expecting thicker cloud in some outbreaks of rain in northern ireland and also western and perhaps central scotland but across england and wales saturday will be dry, mild, and temperatures in the south—east could get up to around 40 degrees. sunday will be sunnier. —— get up to around 13 degrees. —— get up to around 14 degrees. hello, this is bbc news with lewis vaughan—jones. the headlines: the partner of nicola bulley, who vanished while walking her dog in lancashire a week ago, says he's living in a "nightmare" and wants her home. a man who climbed into windsor castle with a loaded crossbow admits a treason charge for trying to harm the late queen. the convicted peadophile gary glitter has been freed from prison after serving half his 16—year sentence for attempt rape, indecent assaut

and having sex with a minor. china urges calm after the united states said it's tracking a suspected chinese surveillance balloon seen over sensitive sites in recent days. deserted railway stations as train drivers in england stage their second walkout this week. we'll speak to the head of one of the unions taking action today. could this song by the former sex pistols frontmanjohn lydon written about his wife's alzheimer's be chosen to represent ireland at the eurovision song contest. the long—running inquiry into the contaminated blood scandal of the 1970s and '80s will hear closing statements later today. it's been called the biggest treatment disaster in nhs history, with 30,000 people thought to have been infected with hiv or hepatitis—c. our health correspondent

jim reed has more. nobody in the threackall household thought that they could be affected by aids. in 1991, the bbc broadcast this landmark documentary about the aids crisis. i had a blood test which the hospital confirmed was hiv. bob threackall was infected after being given contaminated drugs for the blood disorder, haemophilia. you see things on television, it is so far removed from everything you know, you don't even consider that you could be part of anything like that, but you can. now a retired teacher, sue has spent decades trying to find out what happened and what was known about the risks. over time, we have battled mps, various parliamentarians, civil servants, the medical profession, pharmaceutical companies, itjust goes on and on. bob died just months after that programme is filmed. so, in about '87, '88. yeah.

about '87. he was one of thousands infected with hiv or hepatitis after taking drugs imported from abroad, or being given a transfusion. it is just sad, because it is this life that i was living perfectly happily, and then it went. everything went. long—running protests eventually lead to a government apology and the launch of a full public inquiry. i would like to say sorry on behalf of the government for something that should not have happened. since 2018... i swear by almight god... ..prime ministers and health secretaries have all been questioned under oath. it became more and more real and more and more scary. and those directly affected, including sue, have been given the chance to have their say. we are fed up with hearing people say how sorry they are. later today the last witness will take the stand with a final report expected in the summer. i would like the truth out there.

i would like to know that proper measures were put in place to make sure that this can't happen again. it was cataclysmic, you know, and itjust ripped families apart, including mine. late last year, the first compensation payments were made to some of those affected. after 40 years, though, many families are still hoping for answers, as this long—running public inquiry draws to a close. jim reed, bbc news. jim reed gave me the latest developments on the inquiry. one thing established by the public inquiry is how many families were affected. the best estimates at the moment are around 30,000 people in the uk were infected with either hiv or hepatitis c. around 3,000 lives have been lost. the point made often by campaigners is because this happened over a long period of time it did not need to get the attention that a tragedy

like this would have got if it had been in a more condensed period because often hepatitis c is called the silent killer, it can take many decades to go from infection to someone suffering liver failure or cancer, which is what can eventually kill someone with hepatitis c. because it was so stretched out, maybe it didn't get the attention it deserved until this public inquiry. what about the consequences of this, things like compensation? that has been the main thing that has been addressed and one of the main thing campaigners want to see addressed. lastjuly, the chair of the public inquiry recommended that certain groups should get interim compensation, an interim settlement of £100,000 each. that only applies for around 4,000 families and some of the widows of people who lost their lives. there were groups not covered by this, including the children of people who died,

there are siblings and also parents because a large number of children were affected by this, about 380 children were infected by hiv. that is one thing we may be expecting the chair of the public inquiry to address today in his closing statements, which we are expecting mid—afternoon. talk us through what we are expecting to happen today and in the future? this whole process has taken the best part of five years. it has involved 100,000 documents that they looked through, 380 witnesses have given evidence. today is the last day of actual hearings, the closing statements. then they go away and think about the report and the conclusions, recommendations. that should be published some time over the summer or maybe early autumn, so some way to go yet until full resolution. the australian tennis player nick kyrgios has pleaded guilty

to assaulting his ex—girlfriend. the court in canberra heard he pushed chiara passari to the ground during an argument in 2021. kyrgios avoided a conviction because the magistrate said the offence was a "single act of stupidity". the wimbledon finalist says he deeply regrets what happened. phil mercer reports. nick kyrgios arrived at court on crutches after recent knee surgery. his lawyers said the assault on his former girlfriend chiara passari was out of character and a genuinely isolated incident. he pushed her to the ground during a heated argument outside a block of flats in canberra. the magistrate, beth campbell, said that nick kyrgios had been guilty of a single act of stupidity carried out in the heat of the moment. she said she would be treating him exactly the same as any other young man who came before her at the court here in canberra, even though he could hit a tennis ball particularly well. the magistrate even had relationship advice for nick kyrgios,

saying that he and his present or future partner should make each other happy. she said if they didn't make each other shine, he should walk away. in a statement, the australian tennis star said "he wasn't in a good place when this took place and that he'd reacted to a situation in a way i deeply regret". he said he was "sincerely sorry for the hurt he'd caused. "mental health is tough", he added. "life can seem overwhelming". in a victim impact statement, miss passari said she felt betrayed by last year's wimbledon finalist and that the assault had caused her pain and distress. with no criminal record, nick kyrgios is free to travel and pursue his tennis career, although the court was told he will need ongoing support for mental health issues. phil mercer, bbc news, canberra.

a summit between ukrainian and european leaders is getting under way in kyiv as ukraine tries to push forward with its bid tojoin the eu. president zelensky said his country deserved to start talks this year, and that closer ties would inspire his forces to resist the russian invasion, but eu officials say much still needs to be done before ukraine is ready for accession. instead, they are likely to offer more arms and money and better access for ukrainian products to the eu market. the meeting comes as russian forces step up their offensives in the south and east of the country. here's our correspondent james waterhouse. this summit is about substance as it is symbolism for ukraine. sirens. the head of the european commission, ursula von der leyen, was having meetings with president zelensky yesterday. you can hear the sirens on what is a significant day. it's a reminder of the threat which kyiv and most of ukraine faces on a daily basis with this invasion.

nevertheless, eu officials are in the city. they've already discussed continued russian sanctions, economic punishments, help with ukraine's infrastructure as russia continues to strike power stations across the country. it's also talked about ukraine's european path. now, what president zelensky is saying is that his country deserves to start negotiations with the eu on possible membership. last year it became an official candidate, butjoining the european union takes years, if not decades. it also takes the approval of the 27 member states. but the very subject of the european union for ukraine is so loaded because it's about ukraine demonstrating its sovereignty despite it becoming under continued attack. it's also about ukraine's political will to lean further to the west and further away from the clutches of moscow.

it's been almost four months since russia began a systematic campaign of targeting ukraine's energy infrastructure, its power stations and distribution network. ukraine's state and private energy companies have been working round the clock to repair the damage and keep electricity flowing during the tough winter months, and they seem to be succeeding. the bbc�*s paul adams has been granted rare access to the network and the teams involved. ukraine's energy war. a constant battle for heat and light. a race to keep up with russian attacks. siren wails. for a week, we follow the teams fighting this war. what the missiles destroy, they rebuild. in places where people are living on the edge. for months, russian missiles and drones have rained down on ukraine's civilian infrastructure, causing untold

damage all across this vast country. so what happened here? this power plant in central ukraine has been hit repeatedly. it's a huge place, but this is what well—aimed russian missiles have done to its transformers — vital links to the world outside. for security reasons, we've been asked not to identify the plant or its manager. these. everywhere across here. translation: every time | the equipment is damaged, it gets all of us right here in our soul. because it's our life. it's our second family. millions of people depend on this coal—fired power station, built in the soviet era. fantastic machine! its great turbines churning away at the heart of ukraine's sprawling power grid.

but the staff here know they're in russia's sights. so there's the siren. we have been expecting it this morning. we have to get out of the turbine hall and head straight for the shelter. on days like these, hours are spent underground. anxious moments as news comes in of a fresh wave of attacks. their colleagues at a power station in the west have taken a direct hit. they know this could have been them. and closer to home, word is spreading of something much worse. sirens. across town, a tragedy is unfolding. a missile almost certainly aimed at the power station has struck an apartment building instead. the rescue effort is frantic. 46 people have died here. we travel south towards communities under fire.

ukraine's army of engineers racing from one repairjob to the next. "this happens all the time", vlodymyr tells me. we're on our way to a village shelled just last night. the power lines are down again. the repairs won't take long, but the men know they'll be back. translation: this is pure terror, terrorising the population, - causing maximum damage to the infrastructure. this is a tactic of the russians on the other side of the reservoir. explosions. in the village, the sound of artillery has the mayor ducking for cover. how long do you think you can carry on living here in this situation? translation: those who wanted to leave left already. _ those who can't leave stay.

as long as we have even a bit of electricity and water, we'll carry on living. russia thought it would break ukraine, but this energy war isn't working. half the grid may be in tatters, but in helmets and body armour, these men are keeping it alive. paul adams, bbc news, eastern ukraine. the headlines on bbc news: the partner of nicola bulley, who vanished while walking her dog in lancashire a week ago, says he's living in a "nightmare" and wants her home. a man who climbed into windsor castle with a loaded crossbow admits a treason charge for trying to harm the late queen. the convicted peadophile gary glitter has been freed from prison after serving half his 16—year sentence for attempt rape, indecent assault and having sex with a minor.

pope francis has left the democratic republic of congo on his way to south sudan as he continues what the roman catholic church is calling a "pilgrimage for peace" in africa. it will be the first visit by a pontiff to south sudan since it gained its independence in 2011. pope francis will be joined in the capital, juba, by the archbishop of canterbury, justin welby. the pope is honouring a promise to visit south sudan made in 2019. the visit tojuba comes a day after reports that 27 people were killed in violence in the state of central equatoria. merchuma reports. just outside the city ofjuba, a caravan approaches. they are from rumbek in western south sudan. for nine days, they have been on the road. their mission — to welcome the pope.

congregants from the local catholic church receive them and join in song and dance and offer them refreshments. we came here to get the blessing from the pope. we call him a prophet. he's now the prophet for us. he will see what is here. he will pray for it and the country will change. south sudan has been fractured by civil war and political instability since gaining independence in 2011. pope francis will be injuba for three days alongside the archbishop of canterburyjustin welby, and the moderator of the scottish church, ian greenshields, on what they are calling a pilgrimage of peace. this is the first time the leaders of three different parts of the christian church will be in the country at the same time. the church is looked at as a symbol of hope by many people. and here in south sudan, the catholic church is a centre of refuge for many when times

were turbulent, and it has continued to play a leading role in the social wellbeing of the people of south sudan. the beating hope home injuba is run by the catholic church and provides shelter to young boys who have fled violence and are separated from theirfamilies. most have been preyed upon by gangs and armed militias. 18—year—old francis lado has been here for seven years. i came here because of the war of 2016. i lost my father. i lived in the streets and the church picked me. i have found a lot of support here. i started school from here. my biggest challenge now is that ijust turned 18 and i'll have to leave the orphanage at the end of this month, since that is the maximum age. i'm scared. i don't know how i'll move on. the home also offers meals to young children from poor households and those affected by climate related disasters.

this is a safe haven for many of them and a place where they can just be children, play and eat. the administration says their aim as a church with such initiatives is to restore dignity to a people whose resilience is waning. and the pope's pilgrimage of peace, they believe, is the boost that their efforts really need. merchuma, bbc news, juba, south sudan. experts say it's one of most important ancient sites in britain and yet it's almost completely unknown to the general public. the thornborough henges in yorkshire, a huge monument described as the stonehenge of the north, will be opened to visitors from today. john maguire reports. they were built more than 4,500 years ago and in recent times they have been locked away on land owned by a construction firm, but now, the thornborough henges can be visited by the public from today. they have been gifted

to english heritage. it describes them as the stonehenge of the north, probably the most important prehistoric site between wiltshire and the orkney islands. the three huge mounds are 200 metres across and, in places, up to four metres tall. it is believed they were once topped with gypsum, making them almost illuminous against the landscape and visible from miles away. one theory is that they are aligned to mirror the constellation of orion with the henges representing the belt in the night sky. like stonehenge they represent a physical link to our neolithic history, one with so many unanswered questions, but one that exemplifies how important this site was that created it, thousands of years ago. when you think of eurovision, you may well think of bucks fizz or abba and probably not

the sex pistols, but this year john lydon, best known as the frontman of the 1970s british punk band, is bidding to become ireland's entry with a personal song that celebrates his wife, who's living with alzheimer's disease. daniel rosney reports. # god save the queen...# when you listen to this, you probably aren't thinking of this. # snowdrops and daffodils. # butterflies...# john lydon, the most famous man in punk, asjohnny rotten, could join the likes of dana by representing ireland at eurovision with his band public image ltd. tonight, he'll compete on irish tv with five other acts. after a bit of a press scrum backstage, he reflected why he flew from los angeles, where his wife nora is staying with family. it's very hard to be away from her. but i have to do this. i have to bring awareness to this problem.

i miss her like mad and yet i'm in the middle of this competition. so it's like win, lose are both the same things for me at the same time. the song is personal. it's a love letter to hawaii, a special place for the couple. # falling in our hearts...# one of the joys of doing this programme is i'll be able to show the words on the bottom and she can read them because she's fluent reading — loves to read still. and that will make it all the more poignant for us. she's aware that there's parts missing in her memory, and i don't make herfeel guilty about that. we're talking about how neurologically music can trigger something in the neurons that allows people to remember. and that's what this is all about.

it's actually a very beautiful reason that he's here. he loves his wife. he wants her to be, you know, recognised. he wants her disease to be spoken about and hopefully eventually cured. we have acts representing all classes. it's like a musical selection box. somebody is going to pick the right piece of chocolate. ireland has won eurovision seven times — more than any other country, but it's not won since 1996. in liverpool, though, it's hoping it can bring the luck of the irish. we need to win it. we need to get it this time. we need to. we haven't won in a few years, so we definitely need to get it. | yeah, deffo. i'd get, like, someone like niall horan on. he's a great irish singer. i'll have a go myself. ok, here we go. i can reveal the next country is ireland. i whatever happens, the prize forjohn will be flying home to la and showing nora his performance. when i get back, i'll bring the tapes. that's what we do. we'll sit down, have a family day

out of it and watch it all together. she can read the words. yeah. johnny! daniel rosney, bbc news. for everyone in the northern hemisphere it is still very much the depths of winter, but how long will the cold weather last? one forecaster who knows is the climate seer punxsutawney phil and today is groundhog day again. stephanie prentice reports. packed crowds braving the cold, music, merriment and period headwear — all in the small community of punxsutawney, pennsylvania. what else could it be but the annual gathering to summon a world—famous... groundhog! all: groundhog! their intentions now clear, the crowd move on to the protagonist of this piece — the sleepy rodent who became a household name in the classic

movie groundhog day. all chant: phil! phil! according to a tradition from 1887, if punxsutawney phil sees his shadow when summoned from this stump, there will be another six weeks of winter. punxsutawney phil, ladies and gentlemen! if he doesn't, residents can expect an early spring. cheering and applause. per tradition, phil defers to handlers to deliver the news. i see a shadow on my stage and so, no matter how you measure, it's six more weeks of winter weather! not ideal but at least now, phil can go back to his peaceful tree stump. oh, wait... # life is short! # praise the groundhog! no rest for the critter but some wise words for us, at least. # life is short! # praise the groundhog. stephanie prentice, bbc news.

meet bobi, a record—setting dog from portugal who is now well into his fourth decade. bobi hasjust been named by the guinness book of records as the world's oldest dog at 30 years and 226 days. he beats a record set by bluey, of australia, who died in 1939 aged 29. in a moment the bbc news at one with jane hill, but now it's time for a look at the weather with tomasz hello. the weekend is just around the corner and the weather's looking pretty good for most of us, generally quite bright and even turning sunny by the time we get to sunday, but the next few days will also be turning a little bit colder and we're expecting a return of night—time frosts. so this is what we've got right now — relatively mild out there. the yellow indicates a mild atmosphere and this is what happens from saturday onwards.

you can see a change in the wind direction and a cold air mass over us, so that means that the temperatures will take a bit of a tumble, nothing too cold, but we'll notice it. so, right now, a fair amount of cloud across the uk, not a uniform area of cloud. there are a few breaks here and there, particularly across some southern areas of the country and towards the east of the pennines. through the course of the night, it's a case of variable amounts of cloud. where the cloud is thicker the possibility of bits and pieces of drizzle, but that's about it. really mild first thing in the morning on saturday, around nine degrees in stornoway there and typically six or seven. so the frosts not happening just yet. here is saturday morning and afternoon. notice a weather front actually approaching scotland and northern ireland. so not necessarily dry here at all. in fact, some rain spreading into the northwest of the uk, but the bulk of the country should have a dry saturday with a few glimmers of brightness here and there and a really mild ten

to 12, maybe even 14 degrees celsius in the south—east. now, that weather front does tend to fizzle out by the time it reaches north—western parts of england and also wales. so no rain expected in the south. and then the sky is clear behind that weather front. here's sunday, large area of high pressure, a strong area of high pressure. that means it's not going to be budging any time soon. driving our weather, light winds. this is what it looks like on sunday. a really sunny day for most of us, perhaps thicker cloud in the far north of scotland and just the possibility of some thicker cloud around the tip of cornwall. but many parts of the uk in for a sunny day and a little bit colder. those temperatures around seven to nine degrees celsius, which is actually about the average for the time of the year, maybe even a fraction above. and the next few days you can see that settled weather confirmed there in the forecast for the week ahead. up to friday, a lot of fine weather across many parts of the uk. foggy at times, though.

nicola bulley hasn't been seen since walking her dog last friday morning — her partner says he can't get his head around her disappearance. right now, it is as though she has vanished into thin air. like, yeah, just insane. we'll have the latest live from lancashire. also this lunchtime: a man who went to windsor castle armed with a crossbow and told a protection officer, "i am here to kill the queen" has pleaded guilty to a charge under the treason act. the public inquiry into

the contaminated blood scandal of the 1970s and '80s is hearing its final evidence.