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. closing statements will be heard today in the public inquiry into the contaminated blood scandal of the 1970s and 80s in which 30,000 were infected with hiv and hepatitis c. a man who climbed into windsor castle with a loaded crossbow admits a treason charge for trying to harm the late queen. the government has abandoned plans to house asylum seekers in a pontins holiday park in merseyside.

china urges calm after the united states said it's tracking a suspected chinese surveillance balloon seen over sensitive sites in recent days. good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. the partner of a woman who's now been missing in lancashire for a week says he's focusing on staying as strong as he can for their two daughters. nicola bulley, who's a5, hasn't been seen since last friday morning, as she walked the family dog along a river bank in st michael's on wyre. her partner paul ansell says it's as though she's vanished into thin air. a major search has so far found no trace of her. 0ur north of england correspondent, danny savage has the latest from the village.

exactly a week on from when nicola bulley vanished, her friends staged a roadside appeal this morning — hoping tojog the memory of anyone who was passing last friday. this is nikki in happier times with her pet spaniel, willow. the dog was found close to where she was last seen alive by the river wyre. it's been an agonising week for her partner paul and their two young daughters. my whole focus is my 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 of that. i just can't believe that we're a week on and, as yet, it seems like we're no further on. itjust seems... itjust seems absolutely impossible. right now, it is as though she has vanished into thin air. like, yeah, just insane.

the police were back today, preparing to search the river once again. they are still focused on the theory that nicola bulley somehow ended up in the water. how or why is a mystery. friends, who have been so key at raising the profile of the missing as—year—old, are feeling the strain. nikki is the most beautiful person, you have seen the pictures of her, so she's beautiful on the outside but she's also the kindest soul on the inside. she's thoughtful, she's caring, and then you add to her and paul together, add a bit of magic and they've created these two beautiful humans who are just wanting to know where their mummy is. apart from an abandoned mobile phone and a dog harness, no trace of nicola bulley has been found. the appeals, the search, the hope goes on. we can speak now to charlie hedges, a missing persons expert,

and chair of the board of trustees at locate international, a charity dedicated to helping families solve missing person cases. thanks forjoining us. we are in the realm of speculation we need to be careful what we say, but given your experience with the police and with these kinds of matters, where are you leaning in terms of what may be going on here? the you leaning in terms of what may be going on here?— going on here? the media and most obvious would _ going on here? the media and most obvious would be _ going on here? the media and most obvious would be that _ going on here? the media and most obvious would be that unfortunatelyj obvious would be that unfortunately she fallen into the river, it's quite difficult searching in those conditions. however, it's important to keep an open mind as to what other scenarios may be relevant and look at all the information available to make a judgment around that. available to make a 'udgment around that. ., �* , available to make a 'udgment around that. ., �*, ~ , ., that. so, that's keeping an open mind. that. so, that's keeping an open mind- when _ that. so, that's keeping an open mind. when it _ that. so, that's keeping an open mind. when it comes _ that. so, that's keeping an open mind. when it comes to - that. so, that's keeping an open i mind. when it comes to abduction, kidnapping perhaps? the?

mind. when it comes to abduction, kidnapping perhaps?— kidnapping perhaps? they are less likely scenarios _ kidnapping perhaps? they are less likely scenarios than _ kidnapping perhaps? they are less likely scenarios than an _ kidnapping perhaps? they are less likely scenarios than an accident, i likely scenarios than an accident, but they should be considered. as you say, it is speculation, we don't know the full details of the information from the police, so it would be improper to make too many wild guesses, but they should be considered. wild guesses, but they should be considered-— wild guesses, but they should be considered. ,, �* , ., ., considered. sure, it's important to remember. _ considered. sure, it's important to remember. as _ considered. sure, it's important to remember, as you _ considered. sure, it's important to remember, as you say, _ considered. sure, it's important to remember, as you say, the - considered. sure, it's important to remember, as you say, the police | considered. sure, it's important to - remember, as you say, the police may have information we are just not privy to. have information we are 'ust not ri to. , ., have information we are 'ust not ri to. , . , privy to. yes, that may well be the case, privy to. yes, that may well be the case. and — privy to. yes, that may well be the case. and that _ privy to. yes, that may well be the case, and that they _ privy to. yes, that may well be the case, and that they will _ privy to. yes, that may well be the case, and that they will not - privy to. yes, that may well be the case, and that they will not be - privy to. yes, that may well be the case, and that they will not be for| case, and that they will not be for any bad reasons of sinister reasons, it's just the way these things happen, and it's not always relevant to release everything immediately. and of course keeping an eye on checking background, people that nicola would have come across potentially in the days leading up

to all of this, investigating everything. to all of this, investigating everything-— to all of this, investigating everything. to all of this, investigating eve hina. , ~ ., everything. absolutely, we know eo - le everything. absolutely, we know people don't _ everything. absolutely, we know people don't go _ everything. absolutely, we know people don't go missing - everything. absolutely, we know people don't go missing without| everything. absolutely, we knowl people don't go missing without a reason, so we need to select for that reason or reasons, looking at family, background, everything going on at that particular time, things that may have influenced her disappearance.— that may have influenced her disauearance. ~ ., , , disappearance. would you suggest, with our disappearance. would you suggest, with your experience _ disappearance. would you suggest, with your experience in _ disappearance. would you suggest, with your experience in this - disappearance. would you suggest, with your experience in this field, i with your experience in this field, that the british public, if they do have information on this kind of thing, they do come forward? there is no sense that perhaps someone out there who is not involved with the actual disappearance itself may have seen something or has an idea, may not have come forward? that seen something or has an idea, may not have come forward?— not have come forward? that is certainly a _ not have come forward? that is certainly a possibility. - not have come forward? that is| certainly a possibility. generally people are good at responding to cases in the uk, the media interest tends to prompt people, but

sometimes it happens that people don't know or don't think about it orfor don't know or don't think about it or for whatever reason don't share that information. it is important that information. it is important that they do that so we have the best picture. it’s that they do that so we have the best picture-— best picture. it's unlikely that someone _ best picture. it's unlikely that someone not _ best picture. it's unlikely that someone not involved - best picture. it's unlikely that someone not involved in - best picture. it's unlikely that someone not involved in the l someone not involved in the disappearance itself, they must have come forward to the police, it's likely? come forward to the police, it's likel ? , , ., , �* come forward to the police, it's likel? , , ., likely? yes, but it doesn't always an out, likely? yes, but it doesn't always pan out. and _ likely? yes, but it doesn't always pan out, and what _ likely? yes, but it doesn't always pan out, and what we _ likely? yes, but it doesn't always pan out, and what we expect - likely? yes, but it doesn't always - pan out, and what we expect happen doesn't always happen. the long—running public inquiry into the contaminated blood scandal of the 1970s and 80s has been hearing its closing statements. it's now believed that about 30,000 people were infected with hiv or hepatitis c after receiving blood transfusions, or taking a drug imported from the us to control haemophilia. the inquiry has taken evidence from 370 witnesses; its recommendations are expected later this year. here's our health reporter, jim reed. nobody in the threackall household ever dreamt i 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 know, you see things on television — it's 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, the pharmaceutical company. i mean, itjust goes on and on and on. bob died just months after that programme was filmed. so, that would have been 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's just sad, isn't it, because it's 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're fed up with hearing people say how sorry they are. this afternoon will see the final closing statements, with a full report expected in the summer. i would like the truth out there. i'd 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. and jim joins me now. it has taken such a long time to get to this stage for those victims of this awful tragedy to have their day in the equivalence of court.- in the equivalence of court. that's riaht, in the equivalence of court. that's right. when _ in the equivalence of court. that's right. when you — in the equivalence of court. that's right, when you look _ in the equivalence of court. that's right, when you look at _ in the equivalence of court. that's right, when you look at the - in the equivalence of court. that's . right, when you look at the numbers, this is what always gets me with this is what always gets me with this public inquiry, when you look at the numbers, they are quite stark. 30,000 people then i think were infected in the 1970s and 80s, 3000 lives lost, and the point always made is that because this

happened over such a long period of time, they call hepatitis c the silent killer because it can take decades for symptoms to emerge, because it took such a long time, it hasn't had the same impact attention from press, from politicians, as if there had been one disaster which had cost obviously so many lives, thatis had cost obviously so many lives, that is one reason why campaigners say they are really happy to have this public inquiry, because it has been away and opportunity for them to air their stories and experiences.— to air their stories and experiences. to air their stories and exeriences. , , ., , experiences. the results will not be for a while- — experiences. the results will not be for a while. what _ experiences. the results will not be for a while. what is _ experiences. the results will not be for a while. what is the _ experiences. the results will not be for a while. what is the sanction? l for a while. what is the sanction? what finding could lead to any level of culpability?— of culpability? andy burnham, now the ma or of culpability? andy burnham, now the mayor of— of culpability? andy burnham, now the mayor of manchester, - of culpability? andy burnham, now the mayor of manchester, he - of culpability? andy burnham, now the mayor of manchester, he was l of culpability? andy burnham, now. the mayor of manchester, he was the health secretary, he campaigned hard on the subject, he gave evidence to the public inquiry and said he thinks there is possibly grounds for corporate manslaughter charges. that would have to come further down the

line. in the meantime, what the campaigners and victims want is a full apology. there has been a apology from government and ministers, but they want a more fulsome apology that spells out what went wrong, and they want some explanation of why action was not taken at the time. this gets into some details, but at the time we now know there was a letter that went out from the head of the communicable diseases authority in the uk to the department of health in 1993 warning about haemophiliacs dying because of aids, and saying all these blood products being imported from the united states should be poured. that was not acted on at the time. —— a warning in 1983. it was 1985 before this was acted on. they say either they'd knew about it so they should have

known about this and that is the kind ofjudgment they want known about this and that is the kind of judgment they want at the end of the inquiry. find kind ofjudgment they want at the end of the inquiry.— end of the inquiry. and that is where the _ end of the inquiry. and that is where the potential— end of the inquiry. and that is where the potential alleged i where the potential alleged corporate manslaughter charge could come. a man who was caught on the grounds of windsor castle with a loaded crossbow has pleaded guilty to treason. jaswant singh chail was arrested on christmas day in 2021, after telling a royal protection officer that he was there to kill the queen. our home affairs correspondent daniel sandford was at the old bailey. jaswant singh chail appeared by video link here at the old bailey from the high secure broadmoor hospital. he pleaded guilty to three charges. the first was under the 1842 treason act. the offence is intending to injure the queen. the second was possessing an offensive weapon and the third was making intent to kill. he had been stopped in the grounds of windsor castle carrying a loaded crossbow at 8.10am on christmas day 2021. when challenged by an armed officer, he said, "i am here to kill the queen". in a video that he'd recorded four

days earlier and posted on snapchat, he'd said that it was to do with wanting to avenge a massacre in india in 1919. he said, "i am sorry for what i have done and what i will do, i will attempt to assassinate elizabeth, queen of the royal family. this is revenge for those who died in the 1919 jallianwala bagh massacre." he was also carrying a note which said, "please don't remove my clothes, shoes and gloves, masks, etc, don't want postmortem, don't want embalming. thank you and i'm sorry." he will be sentenced on the 31st of march and the judge has asked for reports from two psychiatrists. 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. closing statements will be heard today in the public inquiry into the contaminated blood scandal of the 1970s and 80s in which 30,000 were infected

with hiv and hepatitis c. a man who climbed into windsor castle with a loaded crossbow admits a treason charge for trying to harm the late queen. the government has abandoned plans to house asylum seekers in a holiday park in merseyside. sefton council, which is run by labour, and the conservative mp for southport, damien moore, had opposed the use of the pontins site in ainsdale. the home office said it would not comment on any individual site. damien moorejoins me now. hello to, thanks for being with us. you won. i i wish i could say that. we are

still pursuing _ i wish i could say that. we are still pursuing the _ i wish i could say that. we are still pursuing the confirmation through the council and home office, so i hope this is a situation wherein, but i'm still waiting for the confirmation.— wherein, but i'm still waiting for the confirmation. asylum seekers have not the confirmation. asylum seekers have got to _ the confirmation. asylum seekers have got to go — the confirmation. asylum seekers have got to go somewhere, - the confirmation. asylum seekers| have got to go somewhere, having there? . �* , have got to go somewhere, having there? ., �* , ., have got to go somewhere, having there? . �* , . ~ there? that's right, and i think what happened _ there? that's right, and i think what happened with _ there? that's right, and i think what happened with the - there? that's right, and i think- what happened with the information home office was getting from the council, they want to know all of the risk. the council put together a very good risk assessment in my opinion, a 15 page long document explaining all the risks that could happen if asylum seekers were housed there, and the home office responded with some very flimsy mitigation as to why they could possibly go there, and there are all sorts of things you look at in that register, housing, education, but the biggest

thing for me has always been children's care, and the rating is inadequate, they are not getting the help they are needing already, so it's about what is most appropriate, and the most appropriate place to houses asylum seekers, which may be cheap to put them in a holiday camp, but it's not as good as a hotel. you're not a nimby? but it's not as good as a hotel. you're nota nimby? ida. but it's not as good as a hotel. you're not a nimby?— you're not a nimby? no, the dispersal— you're not a nimby? no, the dispersal recommendations l you're not a nimby? no, the - dispersal recommendations alone recommend it would be 5% of the local population. this would be 25% of the local population. that is absolutely extortionate in terms of the impact it would have in remark on the local community. this community is still dependent on tourism for much of its economy, an economy impacted severely by the covid pandemic. tourism is important to our community, and i need to make sure that not only my own children are safe at those coming in who get

the care that they need as well. you've joined forces with the local labour councillor in this, which is interesting. how would you sum up how the home office has handled this? i how the home office has handled this? ~' , ., this? i think in terms of the information, _ this? i think in terms of the information, the _ this? i think in terms of the - information, the communication, at best confusing and at worst nonexistent, there needs to be a better, joined up mechanism from the home office, and i think it's important that they work across department, for example, the indications are that the department for education was not given a big enough role talking about the problems in children social care when the home office was making their assumptions and mitigations to their assumptions and mitigations to the problems we could have their if asylum seekers came. haifa the problems we could have their if asylum seekers came.— asylum seekers came. how much discussion was — asylum seekers came. how much discussion was there _ asylum seekers came. how much discussion was there with - asylum seekers came. how much discussion was there with you - asylum seekers came. how much i discussion was there with you before this decision was made? there discussion was there with you before this decision was made?— this decision was made? there was ve little. this decision was made? there was very little. what _ this decision was made? there was very little. what i _ this decision was made? there was very little. what i would _ this decision was made? there was very little. what i would say, - this decision was made? there was very little. what i would say, it - very little. what i would say, it shouldn't take a freedom of information request local authority

for me to find out the level of level of detail of discussions i had gone on with the local authority. it should be mps in every area should get to know what goes on.- should be mps in every area should get to know what goes on. yeah, you are the local — get to know what goes on. yeah, you are the local mp, _ get to know what goes on. yeah, you are the local mp, the _ get to know what goes on. yeah, you are the local mp, the representative | are the local mp, the representative of people on the ground. this is a huge decision and the home office just went over your head and said they are going to put the people there? , . , ., , ., ., ., there? these decisions are going on with the local _ there? these decisions are going on with the local authority _ there? these decisions are going on with the local authority and - there? these decisions are going on with the local authority and i - there? these decisions are going on with the local authority and i did - with the local authority and i did not know until i had a freedom of information request to get the level of detail of the conversation i had been going on. that to me is not acceptable. we talk about engagement with the community, members of parliament are leaders of the community and should be given full access to the communication. share community and should be given full access to the communication. are you focusin: a access to the communication. are you focusing a meeting _ access to the communication. are you

focusing a meeting with _ access to the communication. are you focusing a meeting with suella - focusing a meeting with suella braverman on this? i’m focusing a meeting with suella braverman on this? i'm prepared to for them to — braverman on this? i'm prepared to for them to write _ braverman on this? i'm prepared to for them to write to _ braverman on this? i'm prepared to for them to write to me, _ braverman on this? i'm prepared to for them to write to me, we've - braverman on this? i'm prepared to l for them to write to me, we've asked many times now, we want the certainty and clarity, because this should not be hanging over the head of my local constituents worried about the risks posed.— of my local constituents worried about the risks posed. have you got in touch with _ about the risks posed. have you got in touch with the _ about the risks posed. have you got in touch with the home _ about the risks posed. have you got in touch with the home office - about the risks posed. have you got in touch with the home office and i in touch with the home office and suella braverman to tear a strip of them because they did not consult you, the local representative about a huge scheme?— you, the local representative about a huge scheme? yes, i have written to the home — a huge scheme? yes, i have written to the home office _ a huge scheme? yes, i have written to the home office many _ a huge scheme? yes, i have written to the home office many times - a huge scheme? yes, i have written i to the home office many times asking these questions, and when i wasn't given the answers, i continue to pursue them to get the answers are require to feel satisfied that my constituents, particularly the most vulnerable, particularly one which children, will be safe. that vulnerable, particularly one which children, will be safe.— children, will be safe. at the end ofthe children, will be safe. at the end of the day _ children, will be safe. at the end of the day it _ children, will be safe. at the end of the day it needs _ children, will be safe. at the end of the day it needs to _ children, will be safe. at the end of the day it needs to be - children, will be safe. at the end - of the day it needs to be remembered that these are vulnerable people who have sought asylum here, and they have sought asylum here, and they have to go somewhere. yes.

have sought asylum here, and they have to go somewhere.— have sought asylum here, and they have to go somewhere. yes, but you don't improve _ have to go somewhere. yes, but you don't improve their _ have to go somewhere. yes, but you don't improve their position - have to go somewhere. yes, but you don't improve their position by - don't improve their position by putting them into a local authority area where the children social care of result is inadequate, which means that children already are not safe. to bring them into this would be irresponsible. it would basically mean the bottom would fall out of children social care. that is wrong and i'm not prepared to have any child in my constituency put that danger. taste child in my constituency put that dancer. ~ , , ., danger. we will see if you get the confirmation _ danger. we will see if you get the confirmation sooner _ danger. we will see if you get the confirmation sooner than - danger. we will see if you get the confirmation sooner than later. i china says a balloon that is flying over the united states is for civilian, meteorological purposes, and says it regrets that it strayed into us airspace. the balloon was spotted floating over the state of montana, which is home to sensitive nuclear sites. this image is believed to be of the balloon but it's not been independently verified. washington is concerned it's being used for spying, and considered shooting it down, but officials are worried the debris it could land on someone. chase doakfrom montana heard about the object in the sky and went to have a look.

hello, everybody. i am sitting in my driveway here in billings, montana. and at first i thought it was a star, but i thought that was kind of crazy because it was broad daylight. i'd seen some news reports of some airspace restrictions here in billings, and so i thought that was a little suspicious reports that it might be a chinese balloon. it seems so brazen and just so insane to me that anyone would even attempt to just push a balloon over the sky, because to me, it was just like, this thing is so visible in the sky. i think that it would be ridiculous if the government didn't retrieve it. i mean, obviously, ithink that's the first course of action is to get it out of the sky through whatever means they need to and just retrieve it and investigate its origin.

i'm joined now by our china correspondent steve mcdonell. the chinese are saying to the chinese people, stay calm about all this, but the balloon is over american airspace, so what are they talking about? it’s american airspace, so what are they talking about?— talking about? it's been a really interesting _ talking about? it's been a really interesting day _ talking about? it's been a really interesting day here. _ talking about? it's been a really interesting day here. earlier, i talking about? it's been a really interesting day here. earlier, at| interesting day here. earlier, at the regular foreign ministry press briefing, the chinese government was saying, do not type this up, we are trying to investigate what they say is, we don't know what this blueness, now we have had a written response from the chinese foreign ministry, i will read it to you. they are saying, this is a chinese balloon, but that it's a civilian airship used for research, mainly meteorological, weather purposes, that it had been affected by the

westerly winds, and with limited self steering capacity, the airship deviated far from its self steering capacity, the airship deviated farfrom its planned course. the chinese side regrets the unintended entry of the airship into us airspace, and they say the chinese government will now continue to communicate with the us side to properly handle this unexpected situation caused by force majeure, thatis situation caused by force majeure, that is full spy unintended circumstances.— that is full spy unintended circumstances. ., ., ., circumstances. thanks for that, so, we will no circumstances. thanks for that, so, we will go to _ circumstances. thanks for that, so, we will go to washington. - circumstances. thanks for that, so, we will go to washington. gary i we will go to washington. gary 0'donoghue is standing by. the chinese say this is force majeure. they are saying it got blown off course, it is for meteorological purposes. does anyone in america believe that?— purposes. does anyone in america believe that? well, there's been no official reaction _ believe that? well, there's been no official reaction to _ believe that? well, there's been no official reaction to that _ believe that? well, there's been no official reaction to that statement i official reaction to that statement so far from the white house or the p again. we are expecting, the

pentagon have a schedule meeting, i expect this will be the top of the agenda for reporters there. clearly the americans believed it was some sort of spying device, although they downplayed its significance in terms of... it's not much of his secret device if you can see from the ground, but they downplayed its effectiveness and risk to aircraft etc, and they chose not to pop it, not to shoot it down, because they were worried that it might full and people on the ground in montana. we will see what the official response is, but i suspect this may be a decent way out for both sides, because it in some way reduces the embarrassment to the americans of allowing a spy blue to drift over ——

allowing a spy blue to drift over —— a spy balloon to drift over its own airspace. a, a spy balloon to drift over its own airsace. �* ._ ., let us now speak to elisabeth braw, a defence and security expert who serves as a senior fellow with the american enterprise institute. hello to you, thanks to being with us. this balloon is over a nuclear site, sensitive information could be picked up in montana. the chinese are saying it's just to do with the weather. what is the level of veracity of that comment? well, 'ust a few hours — veracity of that comment? well, 'ust a few hours ago fl veracity of that comment? well, 'ust a few hours ago there i veracity of that comment? well, 'ust a few hours ago there was i veracity of that comment? well, just a few hours ago there was saying, i a few hours ago there was saying, what are you are hyperventilating about? it has got nothing to do with us, now they are saying it is just a weather balloon. unfortunately, since 2020, beginning in 2020, when people began reporting that a virus was spreading in wuhan, and they

said it was nothing of the sort, at the very least since then, politicians and the public around world, they have been having trouble trusting the chinese authorities, so it could well be a weather balloon, it could well be a weather balloon, it could well be a weather balloon, it could very well be something else, we are not in the habit any more of trusting the chinese authorities, which i think means the us government will keep a close eye on this balloon to see what is actually happening in montana. {either actually happening in montana. other balloons floating _ actually happening in montana. other balloons floating around _ actually happening in montana. 0ther balloons floating around china that are american? i balloons floating around china that are american?— balloons floating around china that are american? i think we would have heard about — are american? i think we would have heard about it. _ are american? i think we would have heard about it. in _ are american? i think we would have heard about it. in the _ are american? i think we would have heard about it. in the public- heard about it. in the public domain, very little is known, but you can be sure that if an american spy you can be sure that if an american spy balloon were spotted in china, they would make a big thing of it and extract revenge of some kind. evenif and extract revenge of some kind. even if it was just a weather

balloon it was not supposed to be there, clearly nobody was informed, so the us authorities will have to respond somehow, and the problem is that it would be dangerous to respond in a sort of forceful way, and it would escalate the situation. 0n the other hand, if you do nothing, the chinese government will take from that, it is not that big of a deal if you violate us airspace and you can do it again. it is of a deal if you violate us airspace and you can do it again.— and you can do it again. it is a little embarrassing _ and you can do it again. it is a little embarrassing for- and you can do it again. it is a little embarrassing for the i little embarrassing for the americans, that could have dropped anything, couldn't it?— anything, couldn't it? absolutely. how on earth _ anything, couldn't it? absolutely. how on earth was _ anything, couldn't it? absolutely. how on earth was able _ anything, couldn't it? absolutely. how on earth was able to - anything, couldn't it? absolutely. how on earth was able to get i anything, couldn't it? absolutely. how on earth was able to get in i anything, couldn't it? absolutely. i how on earth was able to get in that position in the first place? it is extremely _ position in the first place? ht 3 extremely embarrassing, should not have been there, some of your viewers may remember the west german teenager who flew a tiny little aeroplane into soviet airspace in 1989 and landed right by the kremlin, he was not spotted. 0f kremlin, he was not spotted. of course he wasn't operating on behalf

of a foreign government, he was just a teenager seeking peace in the world, but it is embarrassing for the us authorities, and it is almost becoming a bit of a laugh that this chinese balloon was flying through the country, but i don't think the onusis the country, but i don't think the onus is with the us authorities, the onus is with the us authorities, the onusis onus is with the us authorities, the onus is with the us authorities, the onus is with whoever centre in the first place, remember, china does a lot of these provocative activities recently, it takes up sand outside the tiny —— outside a taiwanese island. they need to decide what to do about it. island. they need to decide what to do about it-— fashion designer paco rabanne has died at the age of 88. he was best known for his 1960s work, which included metallic ensembles and space age designs.

a statement claimed him as one of the seminalfashion a statement claimed him as one of the seminal fashion figures. now it's time for a look at the weather with tomasz. hello. a fairly overcast day today, but it will be getting brighter as we go over the next few days. not necessarily sunny all the time, but predominantly dry, and the night—time frosts are expected to return. but 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 parts of the uk, and no frost tonight. in fact, quite a mild night, with temperatures between around 5 and even 9 degrees in the western isles. here's saturday, starts off pretty cloudy. later in the day we are expecting thicker cloud and some outbreaks

of rain in northern ireland and also western and perhaps central scotland, but across england and wales, saturday will be dry, mild, temperatures in the south—east could get up to around 1a degrees. sunday will be sunnier. hello, this is bbc news, i'm clive myrie. 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. closing statements will be heard today in the public inquiry into the contaminated blood scandal of the 1970s and '80s, in which 30,000 were infected with hiv and hepatitis c. a man who climbed into windsor castle with a loaded crossbow admits a treason charge for trying to harm the late queen. the government has abandoned plans to house asylum seekers in a pontins holiday park in merseyside. china urges calm, after the united states said it's tracking

a suspected chinese surveillance balloon seen over sensitive sites in recent days. sport now and a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre. good afternoon. following on from the international olympic committee to soften its decision on banning russian and belarusian athletes, elina svitolina says continuing to sanction players is the only way to stop the war in ukraine. the ioc is under pressure from the united nations to not discriminate against athletes and allow them to compete under neutral flags. i don't think that the neutral flag is changing so much anything. for me it is more about we should sanction as much as possible the people

from russia and belarus because their government is doing severe things in ukraine. unfortunately, we cannot choose some outlets that say some athletes that say we are against the war and some are for the war, because there are some athletes that are wearing the z on their chest, so this unfortunately we cannot choose, but we have to do it, we have to sanction them all, because this is the only way that can stop the war. britain's men's tennis team have one of their toughest test over the weekend. they're playing colombia in bogota, meaning it is at altitude. because of that, they have to use special pressureless balls. they have the stronger line with dan evans due to play in the singles and doubles, but playing over 2,500 metres above sea level using different

balls and on a clay surface, which will not suit the british team, meaning it will be very difficult for them to reach the group stages in september. you can watch it on the iplayer this evening at 8pm. three more people have withdrawn from the disciplinary process relating to allegations of historic racism at yorkshire county cricket club. they were among seven people charged by the internet wales cricket board they were among seven people charged by the england and wales cricket board in relation to allegations made by azeem rafiq. the public hearing is due to take place next month. bbc sport understand that the three don't believe they will get a fair hearing. andrew gale opted out of the process injune. the six nations is upcoming and england are making preparations against the scottish side in the

calcutta cup for the first time since 2020. he says he is picking the team based on club form naming a return for dan cole who could win his 96th cap more than three years after his last appearance for england. in after his last appearance for encland. , ., after his last appearance for encland. i. .., after his last appearance for encland. ., , england. in your career you realise ou england. in your career you realise you haven't _ england. in your career you realise you haven't got — england. in your career you realise you haven't got many _ england. in your career you realise you haven't got many games, i i england. in your career you realise i you haven't got many games, i didn't expect— you haven't got many games, i didn't expect any— you haven't got many games, i didn't expect any games left, so to play at twickenham, you are excited. there is certainly — twickenham, you are excited. there is certainlya — twickenham, you are excited. there is certainly a buzz when we play twickenham. you feel it is special in the _ twickenham. you feel it is special in the air~ — twickenham. you feel it is special in the air. looking forward to that buzz— in the air. looking forward to that buzz again — in the air. looking forward to that buzz again. erik in the air. looking forward to that buzz again-— in the air. looking forward to that buzz aain. ~' ., ., buzz again. erik ten hag has asked ola ers to buzz again. erik ten hag has asked players to focus — buzz again. erik ten hag has asked players to focus on _ buzz again. erik ten hag has asked players to focus on football - buzz again. erik ten hag has asked players to focus on football after i players to focus on football after mason greenwood had all criminal charges against him dropped. greenwood denied the charges of attempted rape, assault and coercive in controlling behaviour. the 21—year—old had been due to face trial this year. greenwood said he

was relieved and thanked his family and friends for supporting him. man united say they will conduct their own process before deciding what to do next. erik ten hag was asked about greenwood earlier. ho. about greenwood earlier. no. nothina. about greenwood earlier. no. nothing- i— about greenwood earlier. no. nothing. i can add _ about greenwood earlier. i157. nothing. i can add nothing. i refer to the statement of the club. haste to the statement of the club. have ou. .. to the statement of the club. have you- -- ever— to the statement of the club. have you... ever spoken _ to the statement of the club. have you... ever spoken to _ to the statement of the club. have you... ever spoken to mason i to the statement of the club. have you... ever spoken to mason or met him and — you... ever spoken to mason or met him and will— you... ever spoken to mason or met him and will you — you... ever spoken to mason or met him and will you be _ you... ever spoken to mason or met him and will you be part _ you... ever spoken to mason or met him and will you be part of- you... ever spoken to mason or met him and will you be part of the i him and will you be part of the process— him and will you be part of the process that _ him and will you be part of the process that manchester i him and will you be part of the i process that manchester united... outlined _ process that manchester united... outlined yesterday? _ process that manchester united... outlined yesterday? it— process that manchester united... outlined yesterday?— process that manchester united... outlined yesterday? at this moment, i cannot outlined yesterday? at this moment, i cannot give — outlined yesterday? at this moment, i cannot give comment _ outlined yesterday? at this moment, i cannot give comment about - outlined yesterday? at this moment, i cannot give comment about the i i cannot give comment about the process. i cannot give comment about the rocess. . y ., i cannot give comment about the rocess. ., , ., , ,., ~ i cannot give comment about the rocess. ., i. , ., process. have you ever spoken to mason? i cannot _ process. have you ever spoken to mason? i cannot see _ process. have you ever spoken to mason? i cannot see anything i process. have you ever spoken to i mason? i cannot see anything about it. i refer mason? i cannot see anything about it- i refer to — mason? i cannot see anything about it. i refer to the _ mason? i cannot see anything about it. i refer to the statement - mason? i cannot see anything about it. i refer to the statement of i mason? i cannot see anything about it. i refer to the statement of the i it. i refer to the statement of the club. at this moment, i cannot add anything. club. at this moment, i cannot add an hina. . , club. at this moment, i cannot add an hino. ., , club. at this moment, i cannot add an hinu. ., , ., ., 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. thejudge said it the judge said it was clear the victims were profoundly affected by the abuse. our correspondent aruna iyengarjoins me now. his release, halfway through his sentence. was that expected? it was, the ministry — sentence. was that expected? it was, the ministry of — sentence. was that expected? it was, the ministry ofjustice _ sentence. was that expected? it was, the ministry ofjustice confirmed i the ministry ofjustice confirmed today the sentence which was given in 2015, the type of sentence he had meant he automatically would have been released at halfway through the sentence so nothing unusual there. paul gadd attacked two girls aged 12 and 13 in the 70s, a third victim was under the age of ten when he tried to rape her in 1975. these are very serious offences. they came to light as a result of operation yewtree which was the investigation launched in the wake of thejimmy

savile affair to investigate previous trail six offences going back decades. paul gadd has been held at present in dorset and he was convicted of six offences. the ministry of — convicted of six offences. the ministry ofjustice _ convicted of six offences. the ministry ofjustice have said he will be —— sex offences. he will be closely monitored, have strict licence conditions including being fitted with an electronic tag and there will be restrictions where he lives, he can contact, contact with children and internet usage. i was worrying about that because he is only sex offenders register. he was ut on it only sex offenders register. he was put on it for — only sex offenders register. he was put on it for life _ only sex offenders register. he was put on it for life in _ only sex offenders register. he was put on it for life in 2012 _ only sex offenders register. he was put on it for life in 2012 because i put on it for life in 2012 because he was convicted in vietnam of sex offences against young children, sent back to the uk, put on the register then. sent back to the uk, put on the registerthen. it sent back to the uk, put on the register then. it is important to state what a character he was in the 70s, most people would have known of

gary glitter. he was a huge pop star in the 70s, huge hits. loads of number one hits. he made, sold millions of records and then went bankrupt at the end of the 70s and it was in the late 90s when some, a computer engineer was looking at his computer engineer was looking at his computer to fix it and discovered these pornographic images and i remember being a reporter at the time, reporting on him being taken into custody then. after that, he was jailed for four months in 1999 for possessing pornographic images, he left the uk to go travelling in cambodia, vietnam, was convicted in vietnam and came back to the uk and it was only in 2015 when he was sentenced with these current offences. now he is a free man. thank you. in the next few minutes

we are expecting a press conference from officers searching for the missing women in lancashire. there is an empty podium at the moment but we are expecting police superintendent, one of those leading the investigation, to be sitting down to give us the latest on investigation trying to find that missing woman. the energy regulator 0fgem has called on companies to suspend the forced installation of pre—payment meters for customers who are in arrears with their bills and the association representing the firms has said the meters should never be put into vulnerable households. it comes after an undercover investigation by the times saw debt agents breaking into homes to fit meters. here's our business correspondent, emma simpson. the undercover story of debt collectors breaking into the home of a single father with young kids

to fit a prepayment meter. 0fgem has now asked all energy suppliers to hit the pause button on forced installations. but one former boss says the regulator should have acted sooner. it's been brewing for quite a while and i think that anybody in the industry will have seen quite a large increase in the number of prepayment meters that have been installed, and i think that should have set off alert signals at 0fgem, and 0fgem should have required that the companies were making the due processes and the right checks to make sure the customers who were vulnerable were not having prepayment meters forced on them. we had a text from a mum who said this had happened to her daughterjust the day before... and she then told them how she found out. i she's been in hospital for threel weeks and i went up to her house i last night, just to check on herl mail and to make sure her house was ok, and i thought i somebody had broken in. if she comes home and feels that

somebody can get into her housej without her permission, _ when her door's locked, you know, next time she's in a psychosis, she's going to be _ thinking about that i and that's going to be detrimental to her health. the company involved is looking into her case. it stays in there, it stays on the machine. prepayment meters are more expensive than direct debits. you have to pay up front too. customers should only be forced onto them as a last resort. but the surge in energy costs mean many more people are falling behind with their bills. citizens advice says more than 3 million people across great britain ran out of credit last year because they couldn't afford to top up their metre. and more than 2 million are being disconnected at least once a month. the whole system needs to be rewired so the regulation of the energy market starts with the principle that the greatest protection is in place for the most vulnerable households. we're 1 million miles from that, so good the temporary injunction on forced installations. but we need a whole root and branch

review of prepayment so it works for householders — notjust for suppliers concerned about bad debt. the regulator is already looking into the use of prepayment meters. it's also now telling all suppliers to get their house in order to protect their most vulnerable customers. emma simpson, bbc news. for nearly 4 months, russia has been systematically targeting ukraine's energy infrastructure, the country's power stations and distribution network. throughout that period, and keep electricity flowing the bbc�*s paul adams has been and the teams involved. ukraine's energy war. a constant battle for heat and light. a race to keep up with russian attacks.

siren blares. 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. artillery explosion. 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. these, these.

let's crossover to st michael's on wyre village hall, where lancashire police are holding a press conference. herfamily, particularly her family, particularly her partner, herfamily, particularly her partner, her children, her parents and her sister are in real agony while she remains missing. and i want to pay particular tribute to their patients and dignity and strength at this time. in the last seven days since nicola went missing, a week ago today, the police have done a number inquiries to try to find nickel and bring her home to herfamily. in particular, the search has focused on the river bank and the river wye are here in saint michaels. an unprecedented number of resources have been used to search the river and bank,

including drone, helicopter, police divers, sonar equipment, paul cameras, underwater drone and staff waiting the shallower parts of the river. we have also had search dogs specially trained in the area, from both the boat and river bank. this has included the area where nicola went missing, but also upstream of where she went missing, and the 15 kilometres or so down to the seas. we have been assisted in this by the coastguard rnli, colleagues from other forces, coastguard rnli, colleagues from otherforces, and coastguard rnli, colleagues from other forces, and the coastguard rnli, colleagues from otherforces, and the lancaster area search and rescue and i want to thank them for their assistance.

unfortunately we have not still found nicola but our research does continue. as well as the research we have undertaken a one kilometre physical search of the open ground in a radius from the point when she last went missing. this has included open ground, empty buildings and their gardens. to no avail so far. as well as search officers we had a number of uniformed staff in the area, officers and pcsos receiving community intelligence and offering that visible presence to the local community. to answer any questions and allay any concerns. at the same time, a dedicated team of investigators who often assist missing people inquiries has been working on this tirelessly. they have undertaken extensive house—to—house inquiries, they have

checked numerous cctv, dashcam and ring door bell footage. they have traced and spoken to a number of key witnesses. they have spoken to people in the community who had information about nicola's lifestyle, heard daily walks and so on. all of this has built up a really rich picture of data that has allowed us to have a very tight timeline, some details of which we have already released about nicola's last whereabouts and what she was doing last friday morning. i am just going to take you through some of those. at 840 last friday, nicola was seen on the river path walking towards the bridge. a few minutes

later at 847, she was seen in the lower field with her dog and her mobile phone which at 853 she sent an e—mail to mobile phone which at 853 she sent an e—mailto her mobile phone which at 853 she sent an e—mail to her boss on the phone and at 901 she joined a teams were called. all of this was normal behaviour for nicola. called. all of this was normal behaviourfor nicola. this called. all of this was normal behaviour for nicola. this was not out of the ordinary and nothing different or unusual happened during those calls and e—mails. at ten past 9am she was seen in the upper field, the dog was off the lead. again, this was normal. the dog was not in its harness and the lead was not on the dog, which was all part of nicola's daily routine. at 9:20am, through inquiries we have made, we believe her phone was on the bench. at 930, the teams meeting ended but

nicola's phone remains dialled in. at 933, a witness found nicola's dog, willow, running between the gate to the field and a bench where the phone was located. also found by the phone was located. also found by the witness was the harness which was on the grass between the bench and the river edge. therefore, the time that we are particularly interested in is between 9:10am, the last confirmed sighting, and 9:20am, when nicola's phone was found on the bench. , not found on the bench, when it was believed to be on the bench, found at around 9:33am. the witness made numerous inquiries to try and find the owner of the phone, not knowing who is full it was and indeed whose dog it was. that led

the witness to meet up with other people who did recognise the dog as nicola's and the school to which nicola's and the school to which nicola's children go was alerted at 10:50am, as was herfamily. this means that we have only a ten minute window in which we cannot account for nicola's movements. the inquiry team has undertaken a number of dashcam, cctv and ring door bell footage is. this has allowed us to eliminate any trace so far of nicola having left the riverside, which is really important. we believe that nicola was in the riverside area and remained in the riverside area. we remained in the riverside area. we remain open to any inquiries that might lead us to question that, but

at this time, we understand that she was by the river. our main working hypothesis therefore is that nicola has sadly fallen into the river, that there is no third—party or criminal involvement, and that this is not suspicious in a tragic case of a missing person. this is particularly important because speculation otherwise can be really distressing for the family. and for nicola's children. in terms of what we would like from the public, i would like to thank them, particularly nicola's friends, neighbours and the community of saint michaels and the wider area who have come out in force to help in the search for nicola. i do have an update on the clothing that

nicola was last seen wearing. this is something the public who live in the area or who walk their dogs on the area or who walk their dogs on the river path near to saint michaels or downstream of st michael's towards the day can look out for. they are an ankle length black quilted relayjacket. a black engelbert strauss we select coat which was worn underneath the really. tight—fitting blackjeans, really. tight—fitting black jeans, long really. tight—fitting blackjeans, long green walking socks tucked into herjeans, ankle length green next wellies and a necklace and pale blue fitbit. it is really important that the public pay heed to those very specific clothing descriptions, please. because factual sightings of

those items would be very useful to us. we also appealed for any remaining dashcam footage that may not yet have been submitted to the police in this inquiry, particularly if people have that relating to this area of st michael's. please can the public continue to report only factual information that they have and not speculation as to what may have happened to nicola? because this is distraction to the police inquiry and not helpful for the family. i would also appeal to the public to keep tim seifert in this inquiry. people going out at night in the darkness could fall into the river and face other hazards. likewise if they go out in boats in the river, please only do so if you

have experience. we don't want people to be in danger. lastly, i would like to underline support given to the family. it is an agonising time for them. nicola has two little girls, a sister and parents as well as many friends and neighbours and well—wishers in the local community. we are supporting herfamily with local community. we are supporting her family with specially trained officers and staff and i would like to thank the wider community for all the support they have given during this very difficult inquiry. thank you. i am this very difficult inquiry. thank you. iam happy this very difficult inquiry. thank you. i am happy to take questions if there are any. is there any data from the fitbit? shill there are any. is there any data from the fitbit?— there are any. is there any data from the fitbit? all the telephony and diaital from the fitbit? all the telephony and digital inquiries _ from the fitbit? all the telephony and digital inquiries have -

from the fitbit? all the telephony and digital inquiries have been i and digital inquiries have been handled, all that data will be looked at. handled, all that data will be looked at— handled, all that data will be looked at. , ., , , , handled, all that data will be looked at. , ., , , looked at. did you find any signs on the river that _ looked at. did you find any signs on the river that she _ looked at. did you find any signs on the river that she had _ looked at. did you find any signs on the river that she had fallen - looked at. did you find any signs on the river that she had fallen in? i the river that she had fallen in? no, not — the river that she had fallen in? no, not so _ the river that she had fallen in? no, not so far unfortunately. that's why i particularly appeal around any clothing that may match the description have given that could be found but nothing has been found in the river. i should say the river is tidal so if you see repeated searches of particular areas of the river, it is not necessarily because we have found something of note, it is because the river movement is complex and we are taking advice from academic specialists in water movement around currents and so on. had she make any contribution on the team _ had she make any contribution on the team is— had she make any contribution on the team is called? not had she make any contribution on the team is called?— team is called? not that i understand, _ team is called? not that i understand, this - team is called? not that i understand, this is - team is called? not that i l understand, this is normal, team is called? not that i i understand, this is normal, it team is called? not that i - understand, this is normal, it was a large team scores, she was one of the many people on the car and it

would not have expected her necessary to participate. thank you. how did you establish the phone was on the _ how did you establish the phone was on the bench — how did you establish the phone was on the bench at _ how did you establish the phone was on the bench at 930? _ how did you establish the phone was on the bench at 930?— on the bench at 930? telephony inuuiries. today, lots of friends and family come out in force. not that i am aware of, the public are very well—intentioned and have given us a lot of information quite rightly, they don't know where that his particular use or not and we can judge that but so far, it has taken a lot of effort and diligence to go through all of the information that has been provided and we will continue to do that right through the weekend into next week. can you

tell elizabeth — the weekend into next week. can you tell elizabeth about _ the weekend into next week. can you tell elizabeth about how _ the weekend into next week. can you tell elizabeth about how many - the weekend into next week. can you tell elizabeth about how many calls i tell elizabeth about how many calls or bits _ tell elizabeth about how many calls or bits of _ tell elizabeth about how many calls or bits of information you have? any ideam _ orbits of information you have? any ideam |_ or bits of information you have? any idea... ., ,., or bits of information you have? any idea... ., y., ., , idea... i cannot give you a number but there have _ idea... i cannot give you a number but there have been _ idea... i cannot give you a number but there have been a _ idea... i cannot give you a number but there have been a lot - idea... i cannot give you a number but there have been a lot of- idea... i cannot give you a number but there have been a lot of calls, | but there have been a lot of calls, clearly seven days on as a lot of people to think about, particularly if they have perhaps a particular work pattern are not working on friday, again it is friday to gain and that will probably take them back to what they were doing last friday. were they driving through the area at 9:15am? dropping children, going to work? what were they doing last friday, that would be helpful for us to know if it is relevant to the inquiry. can you exlain relevant to the inquiry. can you explain ty _ relevant to the inquiry. can you explain ty you're _ relevant to the inquiry. can you explain ty you're so _ relevant to the inquiry. can you explain ty you're so sure i relevant to the inquiry. can you explain ty you're so sure she i relevant to the inquiry. can you | explain ty you're so sure she did not leave — explain ty you're so sure she did not leave the _ explain ty you're so sure she did not leave the riverside? - explain ty you're so sure she did not leave the riverside? there i explain ty you're so sure she did i not leave the riverside? there are not leave the riverside? there are no other— not leave the riverside? there are no other ways _ not leave the riverside? there are no other ways out _ not leave the riverside? there are no other ways out of _ not leave the riverside? there are no other ways out of at _ not leave the riverside? there are no other ways out of at all? - not leave the riverside? there are

no other ways out of at all? the i no other ways out of at all? the areas out _ no other ways out of at all? the areas out of _ no other ways out of at all? the areas out of the _ no other ways out of at all? tip; areas out of the riverside no other ways out of at all? areas out of the riverside are either locked or covered by cctv. we have looked at the date, the areas not covered by cctv we have been particularly interested in dashcam footage. that has led to the a5 and six, if we can do cover that ten minute period and a few minutes either side we will know definitively that she was not left the area because of a lack of footage or footage showing she did not pass by. we are as sure as we can be that nicola did not leave the area. , ., . area. there is nowhere? all the exits to the _ area. there is nowhere? all the exits to the area _ area. there is nowhere? all the exits to the area are _ area. there is nowhere? all the exits to the area are either i area. there is nowhere? all the i exits to the area are either locked, covered _ exits to the area are either locked, covered by— exits to the area are either locked, covered by cctv _ exits to the area are either locked, covered by cctv or— exits to the area are either locked, covered by cctv or the _ exits to the area are either locked, covered by cctv or the lane, - exits to the area are either locked, covered by cctv or the lane, we i exits to the area are either locked, i covered by cctv or the lane, we are appealing _ covered by cctv or the lane, we are appealing for — covered by cctv or the lane, we are appealing for dashcam _ covered by cctv or the lane, we are appealing for dashcam footage. i covered by cctv or the lane, we are appealing for dashcam footage. we| appealing for dashcam footage. we have seen— appealing for dashcam footage. we have seen the —

appealing for dashcam footage. we have seen the river, _ appealing for dashcam footage. we have seen the river, it— appealing for dashcam footage. we have seen the river, it doesn't- appealing for dashcam footage. we have seen the river, it doesn't look| have seen the river, it doesn't look easym _ have seen the river, it doesn't look easym hit— have seen the river, it doesn't look eas �* ,., have seen the river, it doesn't look eas . ,., ., have seen the river, it doesn't look eas...~ .,, . , easy... at the point with a bench is located, easy... at the point with a bench is located. there _ easy... at the point with a bench is located, there is _ easy... at the point with a bench is located, there is quite _ easy... at the point with a bench is located, there is quite a _ easy... at the point with a bench is located, there is quite a steep i easy... at the point with a bench isj located, there is quite a steep drop to the river, albeit not high, it is steep. therefore, whilst i don't want to speculate as to what may have happened, it is our working hypothesis that she has entered the water accidentally and that is why there is no further physical evidence on the field. can there is no further physical evidence on the field. ., , , evidence on the field. can she swim? she can swim. _ evidence on the field. can she swim? she can swim, yes. _ how deep is your on that particular stretch? _ how deep is your on that particular stretch? , , . . ., stretch? the sheer number, technical euouiment, stretch? the sheer number, technical equipment. the _ stretch? the sheer number, technical equipment, the sonar, _ stretch? the sheer number, technical equipment, the sonar, the _ stretch? the sheer number, technical equipment, the sonar, the dogs, i stretch? the sheer number, technical equipment, the sonar, the dogs, the | equipment, the sonar, the dogs, the surface searches, the underwater search, it is really so very thorough that we have discounted to finding anything in the immediate area underwater. that

finding anything in the immediate area underwater.— area underwater. at any other factors with — area underwater. at any other factors with nikolaou - area underwater. at any other factors with nikolaou that i area underwater. at any other| factors with nikolaou that may area underwater. at any other i factors with nikolaou that may have contributed to the situation? was she ill— contributed to the situation? was she ill or— contributed to the situation? was she ill or have medication or anything _ she ill or have medication or anything like that? we she ill or have medication or anything like that?— she ill or have medication or anything like that? we are not considering. — anything like that? we are not considering, we _ anything like that? we are not considering, we have - anything like that? we are not considering, we have clearly i considering, we have clearly considered the whole picture, but thatis considered the whole picture, but that is not relevant at this time. nicola was last seen by witness, and then the phone is found on the bench. all of the timeline details, what the police have been doing every day, what we are intending to do over the next days is related to the family so they why would you imagine she didn't

have her phone in her pocket when she fell? it would be normal not to participate actively it would be normal not to participate actively normally you have our participate actively normally you have your phone _ participate actively normally you have your phone with _ participate actively normally you have your phone with you... i participate actively normally you| have your phone with you... you participate actively normally you i have your phone with you... you do, but anything — have your phone with you... you do, but anything could _ have your phone with you... you do, but anything could happen, - have your phone with you... you do, but anything could happen, the - have your phone with you... you do, but anything could happen, the dogl but anything could happen, the dog may have gone, we don't wish to speculate, but this possibility because the dog was loosened off the lead that they could have been an issue with the dog, she could have put the founder momentarily and fallen in. that is a possibility. the dog was dry? the fallen in. that is a possibility. the dog was dry?— fallen in. that is a possibility. the dog was dry? the dog was dry, es. was the dog was dry? the dog was dry, yes- was there _ the dog was dry? the dog was dry, yes. was there any _ the dog was dry? the dog was dry, yes. was there any chance - the dog was dry? the dog was dry, yes. was there any chance the - the dog was dry? the dog was dry, yes. was there any chance the dog| yes. was there any chance the dog itself is in the _ yes. was there any chance the dog itself is in the river? _ yes. was there any chance the dog itself is in the river? we _ yes. was there any chance the dog itself is in the river? we don't - itself is in the river? we don't believe the — itself is in the river? we don't believe the dog _ itself is in the river? we don't believe the dog was _ itself is in the river? we don't believe the dog was in - itself is in the river? we don't believe the dog was in the - itself is in the river? we don't i believe the dog was in the river,

the dog was dry, and the witnesses as part of the timeline i have laid out, they don't talk about the dog swimming in the river orjumping on the river, we assume the dog didn't get in the river, but we don't know why nicola would have got in the water, she did. clearly, a 15 kilometre stretch of river is long, therefore our partners continue to assist us in that, so there are lots of things we did over the weekend in terms of water surface and river bank searching, and our partners will be working with us into next week, but it is too early to say at

this stage how long it will be. i will take one more question from someone who has not yet asked the question. someone who has not yet asked the cuestion. ., u, someone who has not yet asked the cuestion. ., . ., ., someone who has not yet asked the cuestion. ., _, ., , ., ., question. how confident are you that ou will question. how confident are you that you will find — question. how confident are you that you will find her? _ question. how confident are you that you will find her? this _ question. how confident are you that you will find her? this is _ question. how confident are you that you will find her? this is a _ question. how confident are you that you will find her? this is a large - you will find her? this is a large rural area _ you will find her? this is a large rural area with _ you will find her? this is a large rural area with a _ you will find her? this is a large rural area with a long _ you will find her? this is a large rural area with a long stretch i you will find her? this is a large rural area with a long stretch of| rural area with a long stretch of river. all i can say is that we are doing absolutely everything possible, working tirelessly, long hours, with a very large team of both plainclothes and specialist uniformed officers to try and do everything we can to bring nicola home to herfamily, but it is a complex and challenging situation and we hope for a good outcome. the and we hope for a good outcome. tue: possibilities and we hope for a good outcome. tta: possibilities as you and we hope for a good outcome. t'ta: possibilities as you have and we hope for a good outcome. tta: possibilities as you have said it seem quite limited. this possibilities as you have said it seem quite limited.— possibilities as you have said it seem quite limited. as each day goes on we become _ seem quite limited. as each day goes on we become much _ seem quite limited. as each day goes on we become much more _ seem quite limited. as each day goes on we become much more concerned| seem quite limited. as each day goes i on we become much more concerned for nicola's safety, but we have the best minds in the best trained officers available to us, as well as

specialist partners, so every potential possible way of improving your chances of finding nicola are being exploited. an update on the search for nicola bulley. we were told the drones, helicopters, police divers, wading through the river are trying to find her, clearly the office of their making it clear that as time goes on concern grows for nicola's safety. we were given a timeline of nicola's movements since she was last seen, she was on work teams call, that call ended, or at least the meeting ended, but her phone stayed engaged, and there is a crucial ten minute period just before 9:33am that the police are

particularly interested in trying to ascertain where exactly nicola may have gone, they believe she is somehow in the area still and did not leave the river bank. our correspondence heard that press conference as well. clearly a lot of police assets involved in this. as her partner was saying earlier today, she hasjust vanished as her partner was saying earlier today, she has just vanished and disappeared. t today, she has 'ust vanished and disappeared._ disappeared. i think it is interesting, _ disappeared. i think it is interesting, since - disappeared. i think it is interesting, since the i disappeared. i think it is - interesting, since the beginning of this week, watching developments, the things that jumped this week, watching developments, the things thatjumped out, searching the area around the bench, a one kilometre area and they have found no trace of nicola, dave looked at cctv and door bell

cameras, looking at footpaths that people could have walked along, at that time, if they were leaving the area, again, no trace of nicola. we have the window of people seeing her just after 9am and they have the mobile phone found on the bench, and they can backtrack on that, they can tell that at 9:20am the phone was on the bench. their working hypothesis will be that she was sat on the bench as well listening to the conference call from work, and then at 9:33am, somebody came through the gate into that field, found the dog on the bench, sorry, found the dog on the bench, sorry, found the dog on wandering nearby, and the phone on wandering nearby, and the phone on the bench, and they don't know what happened in between, which is when nicola vanished. the main working hypothesis is that nicola fell into the water accidentally and

couldn't get out, and has never got out of that river. it is just an awful reality, really, that the search is now on to try and find any trace of her along the river which flows for about seven or eight miles, maybe nine miles, down through this area of lancashire until it goes out into the irish sea, it is a long stretch of water, its quite murky, so it has to be it's quite murky, so it has to be done by touch rather than vision because the water is quite cloudy, it is not clear, so the police spell it is not clear, so the police spell it out quite clearly, it is a terrible accident that happened here a week ago today and they are now effectively searching for her body. that is the reality of the situation, the awful reality. i appreciate the events era captured people's attention of the last few

days, but itjust seems like a tragic accident is the hypothesis the police are working on, they have office to looked at other possibilities, people were questioning whether she was abducted or something happened to her, they have looked at us and i don't believe it is a credible explanation. they believe she has accidentally fall into the water and for whatever reason she was not able to get out again. the for whatever reason she was not able to get out again-— to get out again. the police say they have _ to get out again. the police say they have searched _ to get out again. the police say they have searched an - to get out again. the police say they have searched an area - to get out again. the police say they have searched an area of. to get out again. the police sayj they have searched an area of a kilometre radius around where she was last seen, no sign of her in any empty buildings or in the area, any open ground. there is no suggestion from the police that she left the area. certainly not going off on any great distance, and as a result, the only hypothesis must be that she is in the water. only hypothesis must be that she is in the water-—

only hypothesis must be that she is in the water. yeah, i mean, the dog was found very _ in the water. yeah, i mean, the dog was found very close _ in the water. yeah, i mean, the dog was found very close to _ in the water. yeah, i mean, the dog was found very close to where - in the water. yeah, i mean, the dog was found very close to where she l was found very close to where she was found very close to where she was last seen at the bench. we knew from talking to eyewitnesses ourselves earlier on this week, the dog was dry, and it does sometimes go into the river, because one of the pictures we are using of nicola is a selfie of her standing by the river with her dog standing in the background looking white. but the people i was talking to, they were adamant, they have a spaniel, they know what a wet dog looks like, and her dog was bone dry. it is possible that maybe she thought the dog had fallen into the river, and she set the phone down to see what happened to the dog, she has gone down towards the water because my age, and for the name. of course, there is no obvious trace of her falling

in anything like that, which leads people to question whether it happened or not, and of course people have to cling to hope that there is a happier outcome to this or that something different is happening, but all the evidence points to a terrible accident. fight! points to a terrible accident. and it could be _ points to a terrible accident. and it could be a _ points to a terrible accident. and it could be a while, _ points to a terrible accident. and it could be a while, given the title nature of the river, given how murky it isn't difficult it is to search, before any conclusive proof is found. we will leave it there. i know you will keep us up—to—date, thank you for that. the for nicola bulley who has been missing for a week now. breaking news, the royal couege week now. breaking news, the royal college of nursing has cancelled strikes in wales after receiving a pay offer from the welsh government. that is a bit of good news on the strike front there in wales. one assumes that the improved offer is going to be put to members of the

royal college of nursing in wales for them to consider. at the moment, the two strikes planned for monday and tuesday next week in wales have now been called off because of an improved pay offer from the welsh government. the long—running public inquiry into the contaminated blood scandal of the 1970s and 80s has been hearing its closing statements. it's now believed that about 30,000 people were infected with hiv or hepatitis c after receiving blood transfusions, or taking a drug imported from the us to control haemophilia. the inquiry has taken evidence from 370 witnesses — its recommendations are expected later this year. here's our health reporter, jim reed. nobody in the threackall household ever dreamt i 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 know, you see things on television — it's 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 that time, we have battled mps, various parliamentarians, civil servants, the medical profession, the pharmaceutical company. i mean, itjust goes on and on and on. bob died just months after that programme was filmed. so, that would have been 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's just sad, isn't it, because it's 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're fed up with hearing people say how sorry they are. this afternoon will see the final closing statements, with a full report expected in the summer. i would like the truth out there. i'd 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 40 years, though, many families are still hoping for answers, as this long—running

public inquiry draws to a close. jim reed, bbc news. earlier i spoke with our health reporter jim reed on the latest. 30,000 people they now think were infected in the 70s and 80s with either hiv or hepatitis, 3000 lives lost, the point always made when you talk to campaigners are relatives, because this happened over such a long period of time, they call hepatitis c the silent killer because it can take decades for symptoms to emerge, because it took such a long time, maybe it hasn't had the same impact or attention from the press, from politicians, as if there had been one disaster which had cost obviously so many lives, and that is one reason why campaigners say they are happy to have this public inquiry, because it

has been away, and opportunity, for them to air their stories and experiences.— them to air their stories and experiences. the results aren't aoinu experiences. the results aren't auoin to experiences. the results aren't going to be _ experiences. the results aren't going to be for— experiences. the results aren't going to be for a _ experiences. the results aren't going to be for a while, - experiences. the results aren't going to be for a while, what . experiences. the results aren't going to be for a while, what is experiences. the results aren't - going to be for a while, what is the sanction? what finding could lead to any level of culpability? finch; any level of culpability? andy burnham. — any level of culpability? andy burnham, now— any level of culpability? andy burnham, now the _ any level of culpability? andy burnham, now the mayor - any level of culpability? andy burnham, now the mayor of. burnham, now the mayor of manchester, formally a health secretary, he gave evidence to the public inquiry and said he thinks there is possibly grants for corporate manslaughter charges. that would have to come further down the line. in the meantime, i think what campaigners and victims want is a full apology. there's been an apology from government ministers, but they want a more fulsome apology that spells out exactly what went wrong. the headlines on bbc news: lancashire police have said they believe mum—of—two nicola bulley fell into the river wyre — and there are no suspicious circumstances nicola bulley fell into the river wyre — and there are no suspicious circumstances closing statements are being

heard in public inquiry into the contaminated blood scandal of the 1970s and 80s, in which 30,000 were infected with hiv and hepatitis c. a man who climbed into windsor castle with a loaded crossbow, admits a treason charge for trying to harm the late queen. a man who was caught on the grounds of windsor castle with a loaded crossbow has pleaded guilty to treason. jaswant singh chail was arrested on christmas day in 2021, after telling a royal protection officer that he was there to kill the queen. our home affairs correspondent daniel sandford was at the old bailey. jaswant singh chail appeared by video link here at the old bailey from the high secure broadmoor hospital. he pleaded guilty to three charges. the first was under the 1842 treason act. the offence is intending to injure the queen. the second was possessing an offensive weapon and the third was making threats to kill. he had been stopped in the grounds of windsor castle carrying a loaded crossbow at 8.10am

on christmas day 2021. when challenged by an armed officer, he said, "i am here to kill the queen". in a video that he'd recorded four days earlier and posted on snapchat, he'd said that it was to do with wanting to avenge a massacre in india in 1919. he said, "i am sorry for what i have done and what i will do, i will attempt to assassinate elizabeth, queen of the royal family. this is revenge for those who died in the 1919 jallianwala bagh massacre." he was also carrying a note which said, "please don't remove my clothes, shoes and gloves, masks, etc, don't want postmortem, don't want embalming. thank you and i'm sorry." he will be sentenced on the 31st of march and the judge has asked for reports from two psychiatrists. china says a balloon that is flying over the united states is for civilian, meteorological purposes, and says it regrets that it strayed into us airspace. the balloon was spotted floating over the state

of montana, which is home to sensitive nuclear sites. this image is believed to be of the balloon but it's not been independently verified. washington was concerned it's being used for spying and considered shooting it down, but officials were worried the debris could land on someone. chase doakfrom montana heard about the object in the sky and went to have a look. hello, everybody. i am sitting in my driveway here in billings, montana. and at first i thought it was a star, but i thought that was kind of crazy because it was broad daylight. i'd seen some news reports of some airspace restrictions here in billings, and so i thought that was a little suspicious. reports that it might be a chinese balloon — it seems so brazen and just so insane to me that anyone would even attempt to just push a balloon over the sky, because to me, it was just like,

this thing is so visible in the sky. i think that it would be ridiculous if the government didn't retrieve it. i mean, obviously, ithink that's the first course of action is to get it out of the sky through whatever means they need to and just retrieve it and investigate its origin. our china correspondent steven mcdonnell gave me the latest response from the chinese explaining the existence of the balloon. earlier, at the regularforeign ministry press briefing, the chinese government was saying, look, don't hide this up, we are trying to investigate what this is as well, we don't know what this balloon is, now we've had a written response from the chinese foreign ministry, and i willjust read some of it to you,

basically they're saying this is a chinese balloon, but it's a civilian airship used for research, many meteorological purposes, so that the weather purposes, that it had been affected by the westerly winds, and with limited self steering capacity the airship deviated far from its planned course. the chinese side regrets the unintended entry of the airship into us airspace, and they've said the chinese government will now continue to communicate with the us side to properly handle this unexpected situation caused by force majeure, that is caused by unintended circumstances. our north america correspondent gary o'donoghue, who's in washington, told me what the us response has been to this latest explanation as to the balloon's appearance. clearly the americans to believe that it was some sort of spying device, although they downplayed its

significance in terms of, i mean it's not much of a secret device if you can see from the ground, obviously, but downplayed its effectiveness and the risk to aircraft, etc, and they also chose not to pop it, not to shoot it down, because they were worried it might fold on people on the ground in montana, so we will see what the official response is, but i suspect this may be a decent way out for both sides, because it in some ways reduces the embarrassment to the americans of allowing a spy balloon to drift over its strategic new nuclear deterrent, and will prevent the chinese from having to ask to be my answer questions about what they're doing in foreign airspace. fashion designer paco rabanne has died at the age of 88. he was best known for his 1960s work, which included metallic ensembles and space age designs. his death was confirmed by puig,

the parent company of his brands, which said he had "marked generations with his radical vision of fashion and his legacy will live on". the energy regulator ofgem has called on companies to suspend the forced installation of pre—payment meters for customers who are in arrears with their bills — and the association representing the firms has said the meters should never be put into vulnerable households. it comes after an undercover investigation by the times saw debt agents breaking into homes to fit meters. here's our business correspondent, emma simpson. the undercover story of debt collectors breaking into the home of a single father with young kids to fit a prepayment meter. ofgem has now asked all energy suppliers to hit the pause button on forced installations. but one former boss says the regulator should have acted sooner.

it's been brewing for quite a while and i think that anybody in the industry will have seen quite a large increase in the number of prepayment meters that have been installed, and i think that should have set off alert signals at ofgem, and ofgem should have required that the companies were making the due processes and the right checks to make sure the customers who were vulnerable were not having prepayment meters forced on them. we had a text from a mum who said this had happened to her daughterjust the day before... and she then told them how she found out. i she's been in hospital for threel weeks and i went up to her house i last night, just to check on herl mail and to make sure her house was ok, and i thought. somebody had broken in. if she comes home and feels that somebody can get into her housej without her permission _ when her door's locked, you know, next time she's in a psychosis, she's going to be _ thinking about that i and that's going to be detrimental to her health. the company involved is looking into her case.

it stays in there, it stays on the machine. prepayment meters are more expensive than direct debits. you have to pay up front too. customers should only be forced onto them as a last resort. but the surge in energy costs mean many more people are falling behind with their bills. citizens advice says more than 3 million people across great britain ran out of credit last year because they couldn't afford to top up their metre. and more than 2 million are being disconnected at least once a month. the whole system needs to be rewired so the regulation of the energy market starts with the principle that the greatest protection is in place for the most vulnerable households. we're a million miles from that, so good the temporary injunction on forced installations. but we need a whole root and branch review of prepayment so it works for householders — notjust for suppliers concerned about bad debt. the regulator is already looking into the use of prepayment meters.

it's also now telling all suppliers to get their house in order to protect their most vulnerable customers. emma simpson, bbc news. a scotland football shirt has been pulled from auction today after doubts over its authencity. the shirt was said to have been worn byjim baxter in the scotland's 3—2 victory over england at wembley in 1967. let's speak now to our reporter in glasgow, james shaw. it's been pulled, doubts over its veracity? it's been pulled, doubts over its veraci ? , �* , ., , it's been pulled, doubts over its veraci ? , �*, ., , ., veracity? yes, it's a funny old sto , veracity? yes, it's a funny old story. this. — veracity? yes, it's a funny old story. this. it— veracity? yes, it's a funny old story, this, it boils _ veracity? yes, it's a funny old story, this, it boils down - veracity? yes, it's a funny old story, this, it boils down to i veracity? yes, it's a funny old | story, this, it boils down to the fact that the auction house wanted to put this shirt up for auction today, but then two businessmen from falkirk, scotland fans, said that their dads had bought the actual shirt fromjim their dads had bought the actual shirt from jim baxter in an auction in 1991, and he had told their dads

at the time that this was the man showed that he had worn during that extraordinary game. the auction house had said they had a cast—iron provenance for their shirt, an unbroken chain leading from the game itself, whenjim baxter took it off and gave it to the england player alan ball, leaving it directly to the seller, so there is doubt over its, so they have withdrawn the show, saying they are still convinced they have the right one, but they cannot put it up for auction while there are doubts being raised about it, but i think what is significant as this was an incredible game, that's why the shirt is seen to be so valuable, estimated to be £6,000, because it was such an extraordinary game all those years ago. was such an extraordinary game all those years ago-— was such an extraordinary game all

those years ago. was such an extraordinary game all those ears ao. ~ ., ~ 11:11: ., , those years ago. wow, £6,000. how is there auoin those years ago. wow, £6,000. how is there going to — those years ago. wow, £6,000. how is there going to be _ those years ago. wow, £6,000. how is there going to be any _ those years ago. wow, £6,000. how is there going to be any kind _ those years ago. wow, £6,000. how is there going to be any kind of _ there going to be any kind of verification done? t there going to be any kind of verification done?— there going to be any kind of verification done? i think one of the key things _ verification done? i think one of the key things is _ verification done? i think one of the key things is the _ verification done? i think one of the key things is the fact - verification done? i think one of the key things is the fact that i verification done? i think one of| the key things is the fact that we are told thatjim baxter took the shirt off and gave it to the england player alan ball, so once it is in his possession, it is difficult to see how his possession, it is difficult to see hoinm baxter could then have given it to anyone else at an auction in 1991, or at any other time, but it still does have to be proved that there is a chain between him giving it to alan ball and it then coming to the father of the man who owns it at the moment. it might take a little bit of time to unravel, but the auction house say they are confident they have the right shirt, and we will have to see how it pans out. a 30 year old portuguese dog has

been named as the world's oldest ever. bobi is a purebred rafeiro do alentejo — a breed that has an average life expectancy of 12 to 1a years. his owners say the secret to his longevity is the "calm, peaceful environment" he lives in. now it's time for a look at the weather with tomasz. hello. a fairly overcast day today, but it will be getting brighter as we go over the next few days. not necessarily sunny all the time, but predominantly dry, and the night—time frosts are expected to return. but 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 parts of the uk, and no frost tonight. in fact, quite a mild night, with temperatures between around 5 and even 9 degrees in the western isles. here's saturday, starts off pretty cloudy. later in the day we are expecting thicker cloud and some outbreaks

of rain in northern ireland and also western and perhaps central scotland, but across england and wales, saturday will be dry, mild, temperatures in the south—east could get up to around 1a degrees. sunday will be sunnier. hello, this is bbc news with clive myrie. the headlines... lancashire police have said they believe mum—of—two

nicola bulley fell into the river wyre and there are no suspicious circumstances. closing statements have been heard in a public inquiry into the contaminated blood scandal of the 1970s and 80s, in which 30,000 were infected with hiv and hepatitis c. a man who climbed into windsor castle with a loaded crossbow, admits a treason charge for trying to harm the late queen. the government has abandoned plans to house asylum seekers in a pontins holiday park, on merseyside. a warm welcome in south sudan for pope francis, as he continues what's described as a pilgrimage for peace in africa. sport and a full round—up from the bbc sport centre. good afternoon. erik ten hag has asked players to focus on football

after mason greenwood had all criminal charges against him dropped. greenwood denied the charges of attempted rape, assault and coercive and controlling behaviour. the 21—year—old had been due to face trial this year. he said he was relieved and thanked his family and friends for supporting him. man united say they will conduct their own process before deciding what to do next. erik ten hag was asked about greenwood earlier. no. nothing. i can add nothing. i refer to the statement of the club. have you... ..ever spoken to mason or met him and will you be part of the processl that manchester united... ..outlined yesterday? as i said, tthis moment, i cannot give comment about the process. as i said, at this moment, i cannot give comment about the process. have you ever spoken to mason? i cannot say anything about it. i refer to the statement

of the club. at this moment, i cannot add anything. the six nations is upcoming and england are making preparations against scotland in the calcutta cup for the first time since 2020. borthwick says he is picking the team based on club form meaning a return for 35—year—old dan cole who could win his 96th cap more than three years after his last appearance for england. as you get older in your life and on your career you realise you haven't got many games, i didn't expect any games left, so to play at twickenham, first game of the tournament, for us, you are excited. there is certainly a buzz when we play twickenham. you feel it is special in the air.

looking forward to that buzz again. following on from the international olympic committee to soften its decision to soften its decision on banning russian and belarusian athletes, elina svitolina says continuing to sanction players is the only way to stop the war in ukraine. the ioc is under pressure from the united nations to not discriminate against athletes and allow them to compete under neutral flags. it is not particularly them i am talking. for example, the normal person who is working in russia in a shop got sanctioned because he lost his job shop got sanctioned because he lost hisjob because shop got sanctioned because he lost his job because a shop got sanctioned because he lost hisjob because a lot shop got sanctioned because he lost his job because a lot of companies left russia, while he lost the job and why there are still athletes, tennis players competing on the tour, why are they any different? we

tour, why are they any different? we to sanction russian, belarusian people in general because of what their government is doing. this is my view. britain's men's tennis team have one of their toughest test over the weekend. they're playing colombia in bogota, meaning it is at altitude. because of that, they have to use special pressureless balls. they have the stronger line with dan evans due to play in the singles and doubles, but playing over 2,500 metres above sea level using different balls and on a clay surface, which will not suit the british team, meaning it will be very difficult for them to reach the group stages in september. you can watch it on the iplayer this evening at 8pm. that is it from me. large crowds have welcomed pope francis on his arrival in south sudan, at the start of what the vatican is calling a pilgrimage of peace.

the pope wasjoined at the airport injuba by the leaders of the churches of england and scotland. together, they are seeking to promote reconciliation in a largely christian country that has been ravaged by tribal conflict since it became independent 12 years ago. pope francis is honouring a 2019 promise to visit south sudan, when, in a dramatic gesture, he kissed the feet of the country's rival leaders at the vatican. i'm joined now by our correspondent in the south sudanese capital, merchuma. first of all, we have the leaders of the catholic faith, we have got the leader of the church of england and the church of scotland. quite a presence to try to promote peace in the region?— the region? indeed, that is such a bi deal the region? indeed, that is such a big deal and _ the region? indeed, that is such a big deal and if— the region? indeed, that is such a big deal and if anything _ the region? indeed, that is such a big deal and if anything else - the region? indeed, that is such a big deal and if anything else has l big deal and if anything else has failed, the people of south sudan and the leadership of south sudan, they hope and pray that this is it because it's really a big deal to have the three top religious figures in the country right now. you can

feel the air, the difference, the expectation of the people, their happiness that the leaders are here, the question is what happens at the end of the trip? will they go back to normal? divided country, a country that there is a lot of conflict, orwill this country that there is a lot of conflict, or will this turn the tide for the country? expectation and hope comes with the three leaders being here. hope comes with the three leaders bein: here. ~ ., .,, hope comes with the three leaders being here-— hope comes with the three leaders bein. here, . ., .,, ., ., being here. what was the reaction at the time when _ being here. what was the reaction at the time when pope _ being here. what was the reaction at the time when pope francis - being here. what was the reaction at the time when pope francis kissed . the time when pope francis kissed the time when pope francis kissed the feet of the rival leaders? at the feet of the rival leaders? at the vatican when they were there. when that happened at the vatican, even the president at the time said he trembled, he felt shivers going down his spine when pope francis kissed his feet and for many people that was the moment. unfortunately that was the moment. unfortunately that did not happen because they can back and still there was a lot of violence a lot of turmoil in south

sudan, people do not ci to outcome a community is not seeing eye to eye so that was a significant moment, and it actually shocked many people notjust in south sudan but elsewhere. it shocked many people. this one comes with so much help and you can see on the streets, there were thousands of people waving miniature flags bearing the full�*s image. headscarves, the image of the pope on them. and in the 36 degrees weather, the sweltering heat and all of that, it still remains and you can see the hope on their faces that this means a lot for them as a nation. �* , ., ., , nation. indeed. it's going to be difficult, isn't _ nation. indeed. it's going to be difficult, isn't it? _ nation. indeed. it's going to be difficult, isn't it? even- nation. indeed. it's going to be difficult, isn't it? even for- nation. indeed. it's going to be| difficult, isn't it? even for these men of god to try to bring the warring factions together. very briefly if you could, just explain what the intercommunal problems are between the different factions.

these are problems which have persisted for a really long and come around issues of leadership, who should lead the country, who should take the top leadership, it has led toissues take the top leadership, it has led to issues like postponing elections for a couple of times. there is a lot of resources in south sudan, it is an oil—rich country, that is something causing a lot of fighting between communities. it is a multitude of things making people in south sudan fight and it's a big leaders for big task for leaders to forge a path to make people ci to i and ease things down. we forge a path to make people ci to i and ease things down.— and ease things down. we can all ho e. and ease things down. we can all hope- thank— and ease things down. we can all hope. thank you _ and ease things down. we can all hope. thank you for _ and ease things down. we can all hope. thank you for that. - the convicted paedophile gary glitter has been released from prison after serving half his 16—year sentence. the 79—year—old, who was once one of the uk's biggest pop stars,

was jailed in 2015 for sexually abusing three schoolgirls. at the time, the judge said it was clear his victims "were all profoundly affected" by the abuse. let's talk now about technology and semiconductors, which can be found nearly everywhere, phones, computers, electrical appliances from your room to the kitchen. this makes the fragility of their supply line a huge concern to anyone thinking of making things that depend upon them. tens of billons of dollars and euros are being put aside by the us and the eu respectively as they try to build up a home—grown semiconductor industry, as the vast majority of the world's supply currently comes from taiwan. so where is britain when it comes to a strategy? let's speak now to chair of the business, energy and industrial strategy committee, darrenjones. good to see you, thanks for being with us. where are we? where are the brits in this fight to get

semiconductors? me brits in this fight to get semiconductors? ~ ., �* ~ ., brits in this fight to get semiconductors? ., �* ~ ., , semiconductors? we don't know is the answer. semiconductors? we don't know is the answer- we — semiconductors? we don't know is the answer. we have _ semiconductors? we don't know is the answer. we have some _ semiconductors? we don't know is the answer. we have some great - semiconductors? we don't know is the answer. we have some great parts - semiconductors? we don't know is the answer. we have some great parts of. answer. we have some great parts of the industry here in the uk, we are very good at designing these, the more a innovative side of chip production. at the moment, the country is asleep at the wheel as the americans the europeans, the chinese and everyone else put loads of subsidies and policy decisions into the mix to try to be as competitive and resilient as possible. unless we do the same in the uk, ourfear is that possible. unless we do the same in the uk, our fear is that we're possible. unless we do the same in the uk, ourfear is that we're going to lose this industrial capacity in the uk to other abroad. itrrulhat to lose this industrial capacity in the uk to other abroad. what are you sur arestin the uk to other abroad. what are you suggesting should — the uk to other abroad. what are you suggesting should be _ the uk to other abroad. what are you suggesting should be done? - the uk to other abroad. what are you suggesting should be done? we - the uk to other abroad. what are you suggesting should be done? we havej suggesting should be done? we have been waitin: suggesting should be done? we have been waiting two _ suggesting should be done? we have been waiting two years _ suggesting should be done? we have been waiting two years for _ suggesting should be done? we have been waiting two years for the - been waiting two years for the government to publish its strategy. why is that important? it should have a really sophisticated view about what we are really good at in the uk, what is needed in the uk for a resilient supply chain for uk plc and how we can collaborate with allies and partners in a democracy

in the world. only once we have that strategy will be understand how best to use any subsidy in the uk given that we will never compete pound for pound with the americans, europeans and chinese. pound with the americans, europeans and chinese-— pound with the americans, europeans and chinese. ~ _ , . and chinese. when ruby expecting the strate: ? i and chinese. when ruby expecting the strategy? i have _ and chinese. when ruby expecting the strategy? i have lost _ and chinese. when ruby expecting the strategy? i have lost count. _ and chinese. when ruby expecting the strategy? i have lost count. it - and chinese. when ruby expecting the strategy? i have lost count. it has - strategy? i have lost count. it has been about _ strategy? i have lost count. it has been about two _ strategy? i have lost count. it has been about two years _ strategy? i have lost count. it has been about two years in _ strategy? i have lost count. it has been about two years in the - strategy? i have lost count. it has i been about two years in the making. it was partially published a number of times last year, it has been delayed again. it really has to be published either at or around the budget in march and i expect the chancellor to make an announcement about this in the statement in march and if he doesn't i'm not sure what the government is doing on such an important issue.— important issue. have you had any indications — important issue. have you had any indications why _ important issue. have you had any indications why it _ important issue. have you had any indications why it has _ important issue. have you had any indications why it has been - important issue. have you had any l indications why it has been delayed? no. probably because been so many ministers and the government has beenin ministers and the government has been in chaos for months but that does not account for the whole of the last two years. i think in recent years it has just not been seen as a priority or focus because we have been so reliant on free global supply chain work in the way we want them to but i'm afraid the

world has moved on in the uk has to catch up. we world has moved on in the uk has to catch u. ~ , world has moved on in the uk has to catchu-.~ , ~ , world has moved on in the uk has to catchu-.~ , ~ catch up. we see the americans are caettin catch up. we see the americans are getting into — catch up. we see the americans are getting into trying _ catch up. we see the americans are getting into trying to _ catch up. we see the americans are getting into trying to sort _ catch up. we see the americans are getting into trying to sort this - catch up. we see the americans are getting into trying to sort this out i getting into trying to sort this out as far as their industries are concerned. and the eu as a whole. the danger potentially as we are left out in the middle. is that because of the issues surrounding china and taiwan and the possibility that there could be hostilities there? and we would have access to these microchips and semiconductors. yes, the main reason the americans and europeans are taking action is because if china were to invade taiwan and put restrictions on the export of semiconductors, it would have huge implications notjust for economies but also defence equipment and national security so we have to have more local access to these bits of kit but because we have left the eu we have to do this for ourselves. we need to talk more with the

european and americans and others about working together because we are now a small country in the middle of a very big economic bloc and for some reason the government has not been doing that. um? and for some reason the government has not been doing that.— has not been doing that. why is it only taiwan _ has not been doing that. why is it only taiwan that _ has not been doing that. why is it only taiwan that produces - has not been doing that. why is it only taiwan that produces this i only taiwan that produces this stuff? . . , only taiwan that produces this stuff? ., ., , ., ., ., stuff? taiwan 'ust has had a long strate: stuff? taiwan 'ust has had a long strategy to — stuff? taiwan just has had a long strategy to be — stuff? taiwan just has had a long strategy to be a _ stuff? taiwan just has had a long strategy to be a world _ stuff? taiwan just has had a long strategy to be a world leader - stuff? taiwan just has had a long strategy to be a world leader in l stuff? taiwan just has had a long i strategy to be a world leader in the production of semiconductors and they have done that very well. the world ten years ago when these global supply chains were working well, that made sense. we have produced these things and ship them around the world at low cost. that meant we have ended up without much capacity in the uk and without capacity in the uk and without capacity in the uk and without capacity in some of the democratic allies we have in america and the european union and that's why we have had to do the reassuring or near shoring these countries had a to—do. near shoring these countries had a to-do. . , , near shoring these countries had a to-do. ., , , ,., near shoring these countries had a to-do. ., , , , ., , to-do. that seems so short-sighted. it is monday — to-do. that seems so short-sighted. it is monday morning _ to-do. that seems so short-sighted. it is monday morning quarterback i to-do. that seems so short-sighted. | it is monday morning quarterback but

hindsight is a wonderful thing but given the gadgets we use everyday, that seems like a lack of strategic planning. frankly notjust on the part of the british but on the part of the west. t part of the british but on the part of the west-— of the west. i think it's a fair criticism- _ of the west. i think it's a fair criticism. i _ of the west. i think it's a fair criticism. i suppose - of the west. i think it's a fair criticism. i suppose the - of the west. i think it's a fair - criticism. i suppose the response the americans and europeans would give is we have spotted the problem and we're doing something about it. we are dealing with it in a big way. the uk has to do the same and at the moment the government seems to think we should not be intervening in three markets and the world has moved on and ministers need to catch up. moved on and ministers need to catch u . _ ., ~', moved on and ministers need to catch u . _ ., ., ., , some breaking news. we have told you through the last couple of hours about that balloon the chinese say is meteorological, not a spy satellite or whatever, itjust happens to be floating over the state of montana, which has a number

of nuclear sites. anyway, a bit of a diplomatic spat and as a result, the us secretary of state antony blinken has postponed his trip to china. he was due there in the next few days but that has now been postponed as a result of the controversy over that thing you can see, it is not the moon, that is actually balloon which is covering over the state of montana, it may have moved and shifted a bit by the time i am speaking to you now because these pictures are relatively old, not live. the chinese have now come out and said, after suggesting it was not their balloon, they have come out and said actuator meteorological balloon that has been blown off course and we apologise. the americans have suggested that this thing is a spy balloon and have wondered what to do about it. they

have decided not to shoot it down because of course the debris could fall on a populated area and cause injury. so they have left it floating. but the us secretary of state antony blinken and the americans not mightily best pleased about the situation and as a result, he has now cancelled his trip to china or at least postponed it until the situation concerning this balloon is resolved. a long—running public inquiry into the contaminated blood scandal of the 1970s and '80s is hearing its final evidence. an estimated 30,000 people were infected with hiv or hepatitis c, in what's been called the worst treatment disaster in the history of the nhs. i'm joined byjoseph peaty, a haemophiliac campaigner, who found out he'd been infected with hepititus c and hiv, via contaminated blood when he was 17 years old.

it is good to see you. we do appreciate you coming on the programme to talk to us. it has been a long wait, it has been a long time, but this awful situation, certainly as far as a public hearing going on and you being able to put out there, you and others, your point of view, it is finally coming to an end?— point of view, it is finally coming to an end? , , ., to an end? yes indeed, we 'ust heard the last of to an end? yes indeed, we 'ust heard the test of the — to an end? yes indeed, we 'ust heard the last of the oral h to an end? yes indeed, we just heard the last of the oral hearings. - to an end? yes indeed, we just heard the last of the oral hearings. sir- the last of the oral hearings. sir bryan's closing remarks. it has been a long wait and we now await with great anticipation what he has to say in his report and perhaps with some trepidation, whether the uk government will finally deal with this matter or whether they will continue to kick it down the road as they have done until now and as they have done with other inquiries. what we have heard this afternoon and it

perhaps reflects the intransigence of the government and their failure to make any clarifying statements in the closing hearings, was sir brian's intention to publish another interim report before his final report and we are hoping for that by easter. we hope that it will spur the government into some form of action, perhaps with additional interim payments, perhaps recognising some of the elements that have not been recognised so far, children that have lost parents, parents that lost children, but then of course finally, may be in the autumn we will get the final report and then it remains to be seen what the government will do about that. what the recommendations are. whether they will set about correcting some of the issues.

substantial compensation, provision of psychological support, social work support, care support. and the like. or whether these things will be kicked into the long grass again. when the final report comes out, any suggestion to kick it into the long grass will be dimly viewed by many, many people. you included. i also wonder though, joseph, if you believe that there should be some kind of prosecution? andy burnham has suggested corporate manslaughter.— has suggested corporate manslaughter. has suggested corporate manslauthter. , .. has suggested corporate manslauthter. , ~ manslaughter. yes, i think in some cases there — manslaughter. yes, i think in some cases there is _ manslaughter. yes, i think in some cases there is certainly _ manslaughter. yes, i think in some cases there is certainly a _ manslaughter. yes, i think in some cases there is certainly a good - manslaughter. yes, i think in some cases there is certainly a good case for that. and i know that there will be some people within the campaign community that fuel that should be looked at quite closely. i think sir brian has the opportunity, if not to

say that this should be criminal prosecutions, then to at least point the way to how they should be dealt with. ~ ., ., , the way to how they should be dealt with. . ., .,, , ~ ., the way to how they should be dealt with. . ., .,, , ,, ., _, with. what has it been like for you livint with with. what has it been like for you living with your — with. what has it been like for you living with your condition? - with. what has it been like for you living with your condition? it - with. what has it been like for you living with your condition? it has l living with your condition? it has been beyond _ living with your condition? it has been beyond challenging, - living with your condition? it has been beyond challenging, that i living with your condition? tt t—s been beyond challenging, that is an understatement. it is very hard. it's a really impart that to anyone who has not been diagnosed with it. there illness and... life has been completely undermined from the moment i was infected. life was infected. life was changed, damaged irreparably. so career, family, all of these things as we heard jenny the council of the inquiry summing up the council of the inquiry summing up today. these infections, once they had occurred, they start to

erase different aspects of your life. they take away those potentialities until you're left living with the condition and you do not want to define you, but the condition is that overwhelming that it does. and you have to deal with the so—called fallout form but also scots as time goes on, if you're fortunate enough to survive, more and more, the psychologicalfallout from it becomes notjust present, but it takes over your life and it becomes a struggle to deal with. when we get the final report and the governments response, what single thing and this may be to subdivide a question, but i wonder if it is anything that will improve your life that you want to see the government do, or say or act in a particular

way once we do get the final result for this inquiry? t way once we do get the final result for this inquiry?— for this inquiry? i suppose in some wa s, for this inquiry? i suppose in some ways. dealing _ for this inquiry? i suppose in some ways, dealing with _ for this inquiry? i suppose in some ways, dealing with the _ for this inquiry? i suppose in some ways, dealing with the people - for this inquiry? i suppose in some ways, dealing with the people thatj ways, dealing with the people that were infected through these contaminated blood products may be the easy part of it. if they would address compensation, things like care support and psychological support, the provision we need, these are things i am hopeful for that could make a real difference to me. but what i would really like to see and it is perhaps the hardest part of the equation, is to see a change in attitude to that which runs through the veins of government, the pharmaceuticals, medical profession and it is to deal

with the issues of candour and patient safety and to really embrace these and make them essential part of the service that has provided so that we don't have to type for 40 years for an inquiry so that they should be a mechanism which brings that around much easier. we will deal with mistakes that are made in a way that enables a service to learn from them and enable a better service rather than brushing them under the carpet and allowing them to happen again and again. we appreciate you coming on the programme to give us your thoughts. on this very important thing. thank you. yesterday's bank of england rate rise pushed the uk's main interest

rate up to its highest level in over 1a years. but fixed—rate mortgage offers have been falling and the early response to yesterday's announcement suggests the good news may keep coming. here to pick through the numbers and explain why is our head of statistics, robert cuffe. this is good news, for whom? people lookint for this is good news, for whom? people looking for fixed-rate _ this is good news, for whom? people looking for fixed-rate mortgages. - this is good news, for whom? people looking for fixed-rate mortgages. i i looking forfixed—rate mortgages. i will get the bad news out of the way first. if you are on track a mortgage, when the bank puts them up, you are going to get a shock. but expectations are improving, what people think will happen to the base rate over the next few weeks. hopefully it will come through, it has been running at around li% recently. overjune and july it is starting to come down. we probably expect to see another shock before the summer and it will start to turn and this is what we expect, what analysts expect injune orjuly last year the expected to peak at 3%. so

this is all still are moving feast. there is a silver lining. when, if rates are going up, why are some prices going down. if you look at the price of fixed—rate mortgages, it does notjust depend on today's interest rates but over the next five years. if you look at the cost of borrowing from a bank they are middlemen. they get a loan and pass it onto you at a higher rate. it was down during the pandemic and started to rise, it has been coming down since then. if we zoom into the last few weeks we can see little bits and bobs every day, look at yesterday. the very last bit of the track, you see a big drop after the bank of

england announcement. there are two parts to it. they announced the rates as we said. rates went up. they published what they think is going on in the economy, their expectations and they were sunnier than people expected. quite a sizeable drop in a single day and the price of borrowing from a bank. the hope is that gets passed on. exactly. how does that filter through? exactly. how does that filter throu . h? ., exactly. how does that filter throuth? ., , ., through? that is one day, the swallow not _ through? that is one day, the swallow not the _ through? that is one day, the swallow not the summer. - through? that is one day, thej swallow not the summer. you through? that is one day, the - swallow not the summer. you want that pattern to hold for a while before you see them fall. hagar that pattern to hold for a while before you see them fall. how long? i don't know... _ before you see them fall. how long? i don't know... i _ before you see them fall. how long? i don't know... i am _ before you see them fall. how long? i don't know... i am asking - before you see them fall. how long? i don't know... i am asking for - before you see them fall. how long? i don't know... i am asking for a - i don't know... i am asking for a friend! this _ i don't know... i am asking for a friend! this is _ i don't know... i am asking for a friend! this is the _ i don't know... i am asking for a friend! this is the bit _ i don't know... i am asking for a friend! this is the bit where - i don't know... i am asking for a friend! this is the bit where i i i don't know... i am asking for a | friend! this is the bit where i see it is not advice. _ friend! this is the bit where i see it is not advice. the _ friend! this is the bit where i see it is not advice. the rates - friend! this is the bit where i see it is not advice. the rates have i it is not advice. the rates have been coming down and fixed rates have come down as well. i think we saw today a ten year fixed deal coming down under li%, that is way better than we thought. you remember the reports of september and october

seeing 6% or more. it is better than back then, things are better, but still quite a good deal worse than last year when you are fixing it to percent. someone comes off now is looking a bit of a nasty shock. these interest rates will probably weigh down house prices, just not as much as we expected. weigh down house prices, 'ust not as much as we expected._ much as we expected. thank you robert. now it's time for a look at the weather with tomasz hello. a fairly overcast day today, but it will be getting brighter as we go over the next few days. not necessarily sunny all the time, but predominantly dry, and the night—time frosts are expected to return. but 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 parts of the uk, and no frost tonight. in fact, quite a mild night, with temperatures between around 5 and even 9 degrees in the

western isles. here's saturday, starts off pretty cloudy. later in the day we are expecting thicker cloud and some outbreaks of rain in northern ireland and also western and perhaps central scotland, but across england and wales, saturday will be dry, mild, temperatures in the south—east could get up to around 1a degrees. sunday will be sunnier.

this is bbc news. the headlines: lancashire police have said they believe mum—of—two nicola bulley fell into the river wyre — and there are no suspicious circumstances. our main working hypothesis, therefore, is that nicola has sadly fallen into the river, that there is no third—party or criminal involvement, and that this is not suspicious. closing statements have been heard in a public inquiry us secretary of state antony blinken

has postponed a trip to beijing. the government has abandoned plans to house asylum seekers in a pontins holiday park, on merseyside. a warm welcome in south sudan for pope francis — as he continues what's described as a pilgrimage for peace in africa. good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. police in lancashire say they believe missing mother—of—two nicola bulley "has sadly fallen into the river". the 45—year—old was last seen next to the river wyre in st michael's on wyre, lancashire, one week ago. lancashire police superintendent sally riley gave this update earlier this afternoon. at 8:43am last friday, nicola was

seen on the river past walking towards the iron bridge. a few minutes later 8:47am she was seen with her dog willow and her mobile phone which was on view. at 8:53am she sent an e—mail to her boss on her phone, and at 9:01am shejoined a teams work core. all of this was normal behaviour for nicola. this was not out of the ordinary and nothing different or unusual happened during those calls and e—mails. at 9:10am she was seen in the upperfield. the e—mails. at 9:10am she was seen in the upper field. the dog was off the lead, again this was normal. the dog was not in its harness and the lead wasn't on the dog, which was all

part of nicola's daily routine. at 9:20am, through inquiries we have made, we believe her phone was on the bench. at 9:30am the teams meeting ended but nicola's phone remained dialled in. at 9331 meeting ended but nicola's phone remained dialled in. at 933! am a witness found nicola's dog, willow, running between the gates of the field and the bench, where the phone was located. also found by that witness was the dog harness which was on the grass between the bench in the river's edge. therefore the time that we are particularly interested in is between 9:10am, the last confirmed sighting, and 9:20am, when nicola's phone was found on the bench. the inquiry team has undertaken a number of dashcam, cctv and ring door bell footages. this has allowed us to eliminate any trace so far of nicola having left the riverside, which is really important. we believe that nicola

was in the riverside area and remained in the riverside area. we remain open to any inquiries that might lead us to question that, but at this time, we understand that she was by the river. our main working hypothesis therefore is that nicola has sadly fallen into the river, that there is no third—party or criminal involvement, and that this is not suspicious, but a tragic case of a missing person. this is particularly important because speculation otherwise can be really distressing for the family. and for nicola's children. the whole situation deeply distressing. i can speak now to pauljoseph, head

of helplines at missing people uk, a charity supporting anyone affected by someone going missing. first of all, the partner of nicola, he said today that he feels as if she's just disappeared. he said today that he feels as if she'sjust disappeared. no she's just disappeared. no explanation, she'sjust disappeared. no explanation, no suggestion as to where exactly she might be. the police are suggesting she is in the river. an incredibly difficult time for her partner.— for her partner. yeah, incredibly difficult, for her partner. yeah, incredibly difficult. just — for her partner. yeah, incredibly difficult, just not _ for her partner. yeah, incredibly difficult, just not knowing, - for her partner. yeah, incredibly difficult, just not knowing, you i difficult, just not knowing, you could see hearing the timeline, then,in could see hearing the timeline, then, in the police statement, how everything was normal, all those things were happening, walking the dog, stopping for the meeting, then suddenly there is this ten minutes in which things have changed and there is no answers, and obviously there is no answers, and obviously the police are now saying they have a hypothesis, but that's not bringing nicola back, that's not bringing nicola back, that's not bring any closure to the family, so

they will still just be bring any closure to the family, so they will stilljust be kind of stuck not knowing.- they will stilljust be kind of stuck not knowing. being stuck in not knowing. _ stuck not knowing. being stuck in not knowing, that _ stuck not knowing. being stuck in not knowing, that can _ stuck not knowing. being stuck in not knowing, that can only - stuck not knowing. being stuck in not knowing, that can only be - not knowing, that can only be resolved by some kind of resolution. either nicola being found alive or tragically deceased.— either nicola being found alive or tragically deceased. yeah, and we work with and _ tragically deceased. yeah, and we work with and support _ tragically deceased. yeah, and we work with and support families - tragically deceased. yeah, and we | work with and support families who have had people for days, weeks, months, decades, and error times when people have a strong idea of what happened, and until people really know and have that confirmation, there is no way they can start a process that might happen, and of course we always hope that it happen, and of course we always hope thatitis happen, and of course we always hope that it is not the worst case scenario, we hope nicola is still going to be found safely, and we would always walk in that hope that many families are working with, and till they know what has happened. what kind of help and advice to you

offer people in the position of nicola's partner? £311" offer people in the position of nicola's partner? our helpline services and _ nicola's partner? our helpline services and support - nicola's partner? our helpline services and support services| nicola's partner? our helpline i services and support services are available every day of the week by phone, text, e—mail, and really it isjust depending on phone, text, e—mail, and really it is just depending on what is going on and what stage of the missing incident. we are there to kind of give a bit of an ear to listen to what is going on, help them work out next steps, obviously in the early moments of someone going missing it can be very chaotic, very traumatic, people might not know what they should do, so we can talk them through police processes, what might happen next, we can help them check whether they've done all the right things to ascertain that someone is, and that goes on to the longer term of being there to allow people to talk about the emotions they are feeling, talk about their fears, get

some expert advice and support from a good team who are trained to kind of listen and support people through that time, because the families it can be incredibly isolating, of course the situation we are talking about has had a huge amount of publicity and a lot of people are putting a lot of effort into trying to find nicola, but i would imagine the family don't know someone else who has had a missing person, it is quite a rare thing to happen, so it can be hard to have someone to talk to and talk about what you are worried about and going through, so our team aim worried about and going through, so ourteam aim to worried about and going through, so our team aim to be there for that. it is pretty rare, how many people do you estimate you help through this kind of difficult time? essen; this kind of difficult time? every ear this kind of difficult time? every year there _ this kind of difficult time? every year there is _ this kind of difficult time? every year there is about _ this kind of difficult time? every year there is about hundred - this kind of difficult time? ee year there is about hundred and 70,000 people reported missing, and a small number of people come our

way, because the police know to refer us, but any one time we are supporting thousands of families, and those numbers go up and down depending on the cases, the number of times it is resolved usually quickly, whether it is a positive and negative outcome, but as time goes on it's important we are there for the families, because it might be they are there stuck in the play is not knowing for hours, days, weeks, years, and what families tell it as it doesn't get any easier. thank you. the long—running public inquiry into the contaminated blood scandal of the 1970s and 80s has been hearing its closing statements. it's now believed that about 30,000 people were infected with hiv or hepatitis c after receiving blood transfusions, or taking a drug imported from the us to control haemophilia. the inquiry has taken evidence from 370 witnesses — its recommendations are expected later this year. and jim joins me now.

the end of an incredibly harrowing and difficult process for the victims of all of this. it is nearing some kind of resolution. that's right, it goes back many years to the 1970s and 1980s. there are two main groups of people affected and infected, and some people with blood disorders, most notably haemophilia, which stops your blood clotting properly. they were given a new type of medication in the 70s, we later found out that was often being imported from the united states, where it is being made using blood donated by very at risk groups, including prisoners. as a result of that we now know that more than 1300 people contracted hiv, many of those were children. there were a second group of people affected, those who had blood transfusions in that time, that

might be after childbirth are in operation, we now know that more than 25,000 people are thought to have been infected with mainly hepatitis c as a result of that, and we think over 2000 of that group have lost their lives. as we said before, it was a disaster really on a huge scale for the nhs, but because it took place over many years and because it took so long for people to realise they've been infected, and to get sick and these are lies, maybe it hasn't got the attention that other scandals like it have had, which is one reason we have had this public inquiry which has wrapped up today. tt’s have had this public inquiry which has wrapped up today.— has wrapped up today. it's been described as _ has wrapped up today. it's been described as a _ has wrapped up today. it's been described as a scandal, - has wrapped up today. it's been described as a scandal, does i has wrapped up today. it's been l described as a scandal, does that mean anyone will be prosecuted? tt mean anyone will be prosecuted? tt is interesting, we just had the final comments from the judge who has been chairing this inquiry, now the hearing part of the inquiry has

been over. he says we are expecting a final report with recommendations from the inquiry in the summer, it looks like that's been put back now till the autumn, and one of the reasons he talks about needing extra times is because someone is officially criticised by the inquiry, they have to be given notice so they can respond, and he made it clear in the final statement that people would be criticised, which i think many victims and families of people have lost their lives will be thankful to hear, as we have that process, and as we said before, various witnesses in this whole process of talked about what other action can be taken, most notably andy burnham, another mayor of manchester, a former labour secretary, he gave evidence and talked about maybe corporate manslaughter charges being necessary in the future. even though this part of the inquiry is over, that we have

seen the last of people and organisations being potentially brought to account. you organisations being potentially brought to account.— organisations being potentially broutht to account. ., ., .., brought to account. you have covered the story for— brought to account. you have covered the story for a — brought to account. you have covered the story for a while _ brought to account. you have covered the story for a while now, _ brought to account. you have covered the story for a while now, what - brought to account. you have covered the story for a while now, what has i the story for a while now, what has it been like for the victims, the people in their finally having their day in court? t people in their finally having their day in court?— day in court? i think it's been hutel day in court? i think it's been hugely significant, _ day in court? i think it's been hugely significant, actually, l day in court? i think it's been i hugely significant, actually, for the victims. one major criticism that has been made is that they haven't had an opportunity to put their side of the story and explain what has happened, and that is one thing this public inquiry has allowed them to do. looking at statistics, they've taken live witnessed hearings from 370 people over the last five years, many of those people have been infected, relatives who have been infected. as one whole week that a factory which was all about school in hampshire, where a number of young haemophiliac pupils went, and we now know that 72 pupils went, and we now know that 72 pupils at that school went on and

lost their lives. 380 children were infected with hiv. hearing the testimony of some of the parents and families of those children has been particularly powerful. trier?r particularly powerful. very sobering- _ a man who was caught on the grounds of windsor castle with a loaded crossbow has pleaded guilty to treason. jaswant singh chail was arrested on christmas day in 2021, after telling a royal protection officer that he was there to kill the queen. our home affairs correspondent daniel sandford was at the old bailey. jaswant singh chail appeared by video link here at the old bailey from the high secure broadmoor hospital. he pleaded guilty to three charges. the first was under the 1842 treason act. the offence is intending to injure the queen. the second was possessing an offensive weapon and the third was making threats to kill. he had been stopped in the grounds of windsor castle carrying a loaded crossbow at 8.10am on christmas day 2021. when challenged by an armed officer, he said, "i am here to kill the queen". in a video that he'd recorded four days earlier and posted on snapchat, he'd said that it was to do with wanting to avenge a massacre in india in 1919.

he said, "i am sorry for what i have done and what i will do, i will attempt to assassinate elizabeth, queen of the royal family. this is revenge for those who died in the 1919 jallianwala bagh massacre." he was also carrying a note which said, "please don't remove my clothes, shoes and gloves, masks, etc, don't want postmortem, don't want embalming. thank you and i'm sorry." he will be sentenced on the 31st of march and the judge has asked for reports from two psychiatrists. a plan to house asylum seekers in a punt and upon thames park in south merseyside has been abandoned by the government. ministers have been trying to reduce the amount of people held in hotels.

the convicted paedophile gary glitter has been released from prison after serving half his 16 year sentence. the 79—year—old, who was once one of the uk's biggest pop stars, was jailed in 2015 for sexually abusing three schoolgirls. at the time, the judge said it was clear his victims "were all profoundly affected" by the abuse. the headlines on bbc news: lancashire police have said they believe mum—of—two nicola bulley fell into the river wyre — and there are no suspicious circumstances. victims have lived through 'the worst times' say representatives at a public inquiry into the contaminated blood scandal of the 1970s and 80s. us secretary of state, antony blinken, has postponed an upcoming trip to beijing after a chinese surveillance balloon was detected above montana. china says a balloon spotted over the us is a chinese "civilian airship" which had deviated from its planned route us

defence officials said they believe the balloon, seen above sensitive areas in recent days, was a "high—altitude surveillance" device. but china's foreign ministry said it was used for "mainly meteorological" purposes and it regrets the unintended entry" of the balloon into us airspace. it also added china will continue communicating with the us side. the us secretary of state antony blinken has postponed his visit to beijing, which was expected to to start on friday. our china correspondent steven mcdonnell gave me the latest response from the chinese explaining the existence of the balloon. it's been a few dramatic few hours here in beijing, initially they were saying they're trying to investigate whether this balloon, which us officials had said was a sort of spy bullying, which was floating over us

territory, was a chinese intelligence gathering device, the chinese government said it was trying to get to the bottom of this but urged calm on all sides while they tried to work out what it was. now the chinese foreign ministry has put out a written statement, and i will do is read some of it. according to beijing, this is a civilian airship used for research, mainly meteorological research, for the weather, that it had been affected by the westerlies, westerly winds, and with limited self steering capability the airship had deviated far from its steering capability the airship had deviated farfrom its planned course, we have seen it is over the midwest of the united states currently, but according to the chinese government it regrets the unintended entry of the airship into us airspace, and the chinese side will continue to communicate this

with the us government to handle this unexpected situation caused by force majeure, so caused by unexpected causes, essentially, so now the chinese government is admitting it is one of its balloons by saying it's a research balloon, mostly used for weather research. the question of course is the extent to which this will be accepted in the united states, and now crucially this new statement has come out days before what was to be a planned trip by antony blinken, the us secretary of state, to china. now being reported, that trip is actually being postponed. this seems to be an attempt by the chinese side to try and hold things together, but of course you know this has caused extra tension, the idea of having a

balloon floating over us airspace at this time, with the capacity to research who knows what according to the chinese side, the weather, according to the us side some other types of intelligence gathering, and now we are here to see what the two sides can make of it in terms of what they now have to do to ease tensions on yet another front. like i say, the trip, the planned trip by antony blinken was supposed to move relations forward, to ease tensions, and yet here we are again, stuck with the two biggest superpowers in the world is at loggerheads over a sort of security issue. senior officials from the european union have said ukraine's future is inside the eu as president zelenskiy has been hosting a summit in kyiv. there was no mention of a timeline —

but the eu says it will support ukraine and its people against what it calls russia's ongoing war of aggression for as long as it takes. president zelensky has been holding a news conference with eu leaders where he has been also speaking about the fighting. but first here's the european council's charles michel speaking earlier. today, the summit has made two things absolutely clear. the first is a message for you, and for the people of ukraine, the eu will support ukraine in every way we can for as long as it takes. we are not intimidated and will not be intimidated by the kremlin. because ukraine and the eu, we are family. my second message, the future of ukraine is within the european union. the ukrainian people, you have made it clear choice for freedom, for democracy, and the rule of law, and we in the eu have also made a clear decision,

your future is with us in our common european union. your destiny is our destiny. we focus, of course, on ukraine's accession path. your determination to forge ahead is impressive. you are taking important steps with all the reforms forward to meet the recommendations, and we should not forget you are doing this while you are fighting against an aggressor. we will continue to support you on every single step. we discussed the details. besides reforms, it is important to have a good track record on implementation. i know you are working hard on that, too, and rest assured that your progress will be reflected in our important enlargement report that is due in autumn for the member states.

translation: no one boag giveaway black mats, we will fight as much as we can we consider it to be a fortress, we consider our heroes have fell there, they are heroes. if we speed up the weapons delivery thatis we speed up the weapons delivery that is the long range weapons, then we won't only not get pulled back from bakhmut, we will di occupied on bass, which was occupied since 2014. we have specific needs and we thank all the states that are on this way close to us. let's got live now to kyiv and our correspondent james waterhouse.

we know what ukrainians would love, thatis we know what ukrainians would love, that is to rejoin ukrainian treatment european union, that won't happen in the short—term, but it is they cling on on to longer term. tt they cling on on to longer term. tt really is, and you know these diplomatic visits on an afternoon in kyiv are often a show of unity, but the key word this afternoon with integration. you have president zelensky flag the words of two officials in the european union, and they said, let's make it happen, ursula von der leyen struck a more cautious tone, and i think president zelensky privately knows it is a process that is likely to take years, but there is a broader political game for him here, because

in striving tojoin political game for him here, because in striving to join the european union, it is ukraine effect exercising its sovereignty, reflecting the will of the people, which for the last few years has been to join bodies like the european union and nato, and that is that sovereignty which continues to come under threat on a daily basis, so there is a lot in play and what is such a loaded subject. is such a loaded sub'ect. president zelens is such a loaded sub'ect. president zetensky arse _ is such a loaded subject. president zelensky also making _ is such a loaded subject. president zelensky also making the - is such a loaded subject. president zelensky also making the point - is such a loaded subject. president| zelensky also making the point that joining the european union is in the future, we have to keep the weapons coming out. future, we have to keep the weapons coming out-— coming out. that's exactly right, and we are _ coming out. that's exactly right, and we are in — coming out. that's exactly right, and we are in a _ coming out. that's exactly right, and we are in a phase _ coming out. that's exactly right, and we are in a phase now - coming out. that's exactly right, | and we are in a phase now where coming out. that's exactly right, i and we are in a phase now where it is russian fortune is forces that are making gains right across a vast eastern front line, there are cities and towns right across the eastern south, which is encircled by russian

forces. ukrainian forces are finding themselves outlined and underequipped, frankly, so have had a succession of significant western pledges, we've had battle tanks, we know they are on their way, 80 more on the way from germany, we don't know when, though, but this long—term commitment is there, and this meeting with the european union came with another big package, billions of euros of further financial and military help, the training of 30,000 troops, so the still coming, but we we are is a time like between commitment and dates translating to any kind of potential successful ukraine on the battlefield, and when you are under a full—scale invasion, time is not yourfriend. rail passengers face severe disruption again today because of another strike by train drivers belonging to the aslef and the rmt unions. many services across england and into scotland and wales have no trains all day, and it's likely that tomorrow

morning's services on some lines will also be affected. passengers affected by the strikes can apply for refunds. the gmb union in wales has postponed their strike action involving nhs workers on monday to consider an improved pay offer from the welsh government. although full details of the offer haven't been disclosed, the bbc understands a one off pay deal as well as an improved consolidated pay rise for workers has been put forward. around a quarter of the ambulance service in wales, including paramedics, callroom staff and ambulance technicians, are represented by the gmb union. let's get more on this now with our wales correspondent, tomos morgan. a bit of light at the end of this particular tunnel. those strikes early next week called off. yeah, that's right. _ early next week called off. yeah, that's right. a — early next week called off. yeah, that's right, a big _ early next week called off. yeah, that's right, a big development i early next week called off. yeah, i that's right, a big development here late on friday, we knew the talks were ongoing, i don't think we

expected this to come so late in the day on the friday. there were rumours all morning, some of the union is saying something would be on the way, but i think now that we know that almost all of them have confirmed their strike action has been postponed, not completely caught off, postpone, which means monday and tuesday's strikes are off, this includes the gmb union, the ambulances, physiotherapists, the ambulances, physiotherapists, the royal college of nurses, they have also called off, and in the last couple of minutes, the royal couege last couple of minutes, the royal college of midwives who were due to stage their very first strike ever in wales on tuesday, they've called theirs off as well. the only union which is still going ahead is the unite union, which has some ambulance workers, they are still due to strike at the moment on monday, they say, unless a better pay deal is negotiated over the weekend. unite members make up

around a quarter of ambulance workers across wales. some detail has emerged from the unions as to what the pay deal is, so it is 3% in total, half of that would be consolidated, which means it would go into the existing pay rise on the pay packet, and half of that, the other 1.5%, would be some sort of one—off pay offer, as such. you write remember some of the health unions, had at one point said they wanted up to a 19% pay rise, that was a pay rise as well as on top of inflation. there was talk that they would be willing to negotiate around half of that, ten or 11%, but this offer, taken into account what they have already been given is under six or 7% mark, so way of what they originally wanted. they say they

will go to the members and give it a vote, but this is not the end of the line for this stage of their union disputes with the welsh government, there will still be negotiations ongoing, but we'll see what they say when they are given the offer and it is put to about long term. now it's time for a look at the weather with tomasz. hello. a fairly overcast day today, but it will be getting brighter as we go over the next few days. not necessarily sunny all the time, but predominantly dry, and the night—time frosts are expected to return. but 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 parts of the uk, and no frost tonight. in fact, quite a mild night, with temperatures between around 5 and even 9 degrees in the western isles. here's saturday, starts

off pretty cloudy. later in the day we are expecting thicker cloud and some outbreaks of rain in northern ireland and also western and perhaps central scotland, but across england and wales, saturday will be dry, mild, temperatures in the south—east could get up to around 14 degrees. sunday will be sunnier. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines... lancashire police have said they believe mum—of—two nicola bulley fell into the river wyre and there are no suspicious circumstances. victims have lived through "the worst times," say representatives at a public inquiry into the contaminated blood scandal of the 1970s and '80s. us secretary of state, antony blinken, has postponed his upcoming trip to beijing after a chinese surveillance balloon was detected above montana. the government has abandoned plans to house asylum seekers in a pontins holiday park, on merseyside. a warm welcome in south sudan for pope francis as he continues what's described

as a pilgrimage for peace in africa. sport and for a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre. good afternoon. uk athletics has issued its position in relation to trans— athletes. it is in response to world athletics. our sports correspondence joins me. what have they said? this our sports correspondence 'oins me. what have they said?_ what have they said? this follows a review by uk _ what have they said? this follows a review by uk athletics _ what have they said? this follows a review by uk athletics of _ what have they said? this follows a review by uk athletics of the - review by uk athletics of the participation of transgender women in the female category back in 2021 and they concluded it isn't fair for trans women to compete in female events. they say the suppression of testosterone does not remove a physical advantage gained by athletes who have gone through male puberty. they are also unsure whether it is safe for transgender women to take testosterone

women to ta ke testosterone su ppressa nts women to take testosterone suppressants are what they want to do instead is create an open category which will include men and athletes of all sexes while the female category will be protected and will be restricted to only athletes who were born female. but there is a problem looming, they say. the chairman of uk athletics said he fears they would lose any legal challenge. they want to change in british equality laws because of the gender recognition act that allows people with gender recognition certificates to be allowed to be treated as females for or purposes including sport. some have said the 2010 equalities act addresses that issue and allows the protection of the female category. but clearly uk athletics not convinced by that.-

but clearly uk athletics not convinced by that. but clearly uk athletics not convinced b that. ., ' , convinced by that. how different is this to the world _ convinced by that. how different is this to the world athletic _ convinced by that. how different is this to the world athletic stance? l this to the world athletic stance? it's the same as what british triathlon have said and similar to rugby and international selling but it's very different they came up with a statement. they have said they were allowed transgender women to compete in the female category as well as as long as they suppress testosterone for a two—year period at least. there was a lot of pushback on that and they did say that they would be open to other proposals and that consultation has gone out to the national governing bodies. a decision is expected in march and some insiders have suggested that the end of the process what they will have indeed are two categories, for men and all sexes and anotherfor are two categories, for men and all sexes and another for women born female at birth.

erik ten hag has asked players to focus on football after mason greenwood had all criminal charges against him dropped. greenwood denied the charges of attempted rape, assault and coercive in controlling behaviour. the 21—year—old had been due to face trial this year. greenwood said he was relieved and thanked his family and friends for supporting him. man united say they will conduct their own process before deciding what to do next. erik ten hag was asked about greenwood earlier. no. nothing. i can add nothing. i refer to the statement of the club. have you... ever spoken to mason or met himl and will you be part of the process that manchester united... outlined yesterday? at this moment, i cannot give comment about the process. have you ever spoken to mason? i cannot see anything about it. i refer to the statement of the club. at this moment,

i cannot add anything. that is the sport for now. britain's men's tennis team have one of their toughest test over the weekend. they're playing colombia in bogota, meaning it is at altitude. because of that, they have to use special pressureless balls. they have the stronger line with dan evans due to play in the singles and doubles, but playing over 2,500 metres above sea level using different balls and on a clay surface, which will not suit the british team, meaning it will be very difficult for them to reach the group stages in september. you can watch it on the iplayer this evening at 8pm. that is it from me.

in an interview with the bbc, they said it's important western countries stayed united in their boycott of russia. translation: t boycott of russia. translation: ,, ., , translation: i think it would be dee-l translation: i think it would be deeply uniust _ translation: i think it would be deeply uniust s — translation: i think it would be deeply unjust s as _ translation: i think it would be deeply unjust s as a _ translation: i think it would be deeply unjust s as a result - translation: ! think it would be deeply unjust s as a result of- translation: i think it would be deeply unjust s as a result of an i deeply unjust s as a result of an armed aggression of one state against the and the other the attack to state more consequences and the attacker enjoyed themselves at international events. we remain in constant contact with our uk friends

and it is the british government who are tasked with dealing with the us and canada because of the long—standing uk—us special relationship. we are in communication with our regional partners in central and eastern europe. on friday the tenth we will meet with partners at a conference initiated by the uk who decide how far we should move in our opposition to their decision on russian and belarusian participation in the olympics. i do not consider it possible for a scenario where dozens of states with the uk and us at the forefront refused to participate and ioc considered it is more important for russians and belarusians to compete even under any neutral flag. i think a civilised country. if we stay united we will not give ioc any choice and it will be russia who will not be at the olympics.

the energy regulator 0fgem has called on companies to suspend the forced installation of pre—payment metres for customers who are in arrears with their bills — and the association representing the firms has said the metres should never be put into vulnerable households. it comes after an undercover investigation by the times saw debt agents breaking into homes to fit metres. here's our business correspondent, emma simpson. the undercover story of debt collectors breaking into the home of a single father with young kids to fit a prepayment meter. 0fgem has now asked all energy suppliers to hit the pause button on forced installations. but one former boss says the regulator should have acted sooner. it's been brewing for quite a while and i think that anybody in the industry will have seen quite a large increase in the number of prepayment meters that have been installed, and i think that should have set off alert signals at 0fgem, and 0fgem should have required that the companies were making the due processes and the right checks to make sure the customers who were vulnerable were not having

prepayment meters forced on them. we had a text from a mum who said this had happened to her daughter just the day before... and she then told them how she found out. she's been in hospital- for three weeks and i went up to her house last night, | just to check on her mail and to make sure her house was ok, and i thought somebody _ had broken in. if she comes home and feels that somebody can get into her housej without her permission, _ when her door's locked, you know, next time she's in a psychosis, she's going to be thinking - about that and that's going to be detrimental to her health. - the company involved is looking into her case. it stays in there, it stays on the machine. prepayment meters are more expensive than direct debits. you have to pay up front too. customers should only be forced onto them as a last resort. but the surge in energy costs mean many more people are falling behind with their bills. citizens advice says more than 3 million people across great britain ran out of credit last year

because they couldn't afford to top up their metre. and more than 2 million are being disconnected at least once a month. the whole system needs to be rewired so the regulation of the energy market starts with the principle that the greatest protection is in place for the most vulnerable households. we're 1 million miles from that, so good the temporary injunction on forced installations. but we need a whole root and branch review of prepayment so it works for householders — notjust for suppliers concerned about bad debt. the regulator is already looking into the use of prepayment meters. it's also now telling all suppliers to get their house in order to protect their most vulnerable customers. emma simpson, bbc news. we can talk now to emma pinchbeck, the chief executive of the industry body energy uk.

thanks for being with us. one wonders what the point of 0fgem is if this wonders what the point of 0fgem is if thi ~' wonders what the point of 0fgem is if thi ~ ., wonders what the point of 0fgem is ifthi ~ ., , .,,, if this kind of activity has been allowed to _ if this kind of activity has been allowed to go _ if this kind of activity has been allowed to go on _ if this kind of activity has been allowed to go on for— if this kind of activity has been allowed to go on for so - if this kind of activity has been allowed to go on for so long. l if this kind of activity has been - allowed to go on for so long. what are the way for? me allowed to go on for so long. what are the way for?— are the way for? we have been raising concerns _ are the way for? we have been raising concerns about - are the way for? we have been raising concerns about the - raising concerns about the affordability crisis and the number of customers we can see moving at a prepayment but also the number of customers struggling to pay bills for some time. and we have previously raised concerns about whether the regulatory environment is fit for purpose in retail and there is not much we would disagree with in the piece we just heard, including the citizens advice saying we need a root to ranch review at retail and that was promised by the government over a year ago. we would still like to see that story be recognised that there is a need to do more of vulnerable customers but also to properly invest in systems, staff, customers, all the things you would want a successful energy industry to be able to do. when you have raised —

industry to be able to do. when you have raised these _ industry to be able to do. when you have raised these concerns - industry to be able to do. when you have raised these concerns to - industry to be able to do. when you i have raised these concerns to 0fgem, and to the government, over i don't know how long, what has been their response? what have they said? i was hired for this — response? what have they said? i was hired for this job _ response? what have they said? i was hired for this job in _ response? what have they said? i was hired for this job in 2019 _ response? what have they said? t —" hired for this job in 2019 and response? what have they said? t —" hired for thisjob in 2019 and might hired for this job in 2019 and might then board chairman said we are very worried about retail space we don't think the regulations that for purpose and that has been a message i have taken to government i would say every week since i took the job. the reasons for doing that have shifted every time and with the energy crisis that has become acute but we lost 29 suppliers a year ago. we have known there are issues with the market for years now and i suppose proof is in the pudding. we still have the same basic market structure. now we are in an energy crisis, the problems that is creating our acute and they are acute for customers, particularly the most vulnerable. that's not to say we don't need to do our bit. of course we do and i have seen things that have qualified the industry but we have to get around the table with

consumer groups and the government and sort this out for good. yes. consumer groups and the government and sort this out for good.— and sort this out for good. yes, my toint is and sort this out for good. yes, my point is are — and sort this out for good. yes, my point is are they — and sort this out for good. yes, my point is are they turning _ and sort this out for good. yes, my point is are they turning around - and sort this out for good. yes, my| point is are they turning around and saying when you take this catalogue of problems to them, are they simply saying we're not interested? or they simply putting on the and saying we will talk to you down the line? i am interested in the mechanics, because what we saw in that times report was frankly utterly disgusting. and it should not be happening. tote frankly utterly disgusting. and it should not be happening. we would atree should not be happening. we would at ree with should not be happening. we would agree with you _ should not be happening. we would agree with you about _ should not be happening. we would agree with you about that, - should not be happening. we would agree with you about that, i - should not be happening. we would agree with you about that, i am - agree with you about that, i am certainly not here to defend any of the behaviour we saw in that report at all ever. but your point about what has been the reaction when we have raised concerns about the scale of our debt, supply failure, struggles to invest in the things we need to invest into keep customers safe in the customer experience, how many people are phoning call centres, i think it is the same answer as you might get from across

the economy in that this feels like a real acute crisis. but we have had many changes in government over the last couple of years and a focus on the immediate, understandably, the immediate here and now. gas price crisis spiking bills. not doing that hand—in—hand when you need to do long—term reform and i think getting policymakers attention on that long—term reform thing there is also the solution to the acute crisis and so that's what we were saying before christmas, we had had meetings with the minister, we welcome that process continuing and at the end of the day it is government that has to send a signal to the regulator about the structure of the market. but it's the regulator needs to make sure they carry out regulation effectively. it is all of us, we need to get around the table but we recognise there is a need for change.

recognise there is a need for chan . e. ,, recognise there is a need for chante. ,, ., fashion designer paco rabanne has died at the age of 88. he was best known for his 1960s work, which included metallic ensembles and space age designs. his death was confirmed by puig, the parent company of his brands, which said he had "marked generations with his radical vision of fashion and his legacy will live on". the australian tennis player nick kyrgios has pleaded guilty to assaulting his then girlfriend in 2021. a court in canberra heard that kyrgios pushed chiara passari to the ground during an argument. he avoided a criminal conviction because the magistrate said the offence was a "single act of stupidity", and not premeditated. the world number 20 said he was sincerely sorry. the headlines on bbc news... lancashire police have said they believe mum—of—two nicola bulley fell into the river wyre and there are no suspicious circumstances.

victims have lived through "the worst times," say representatives at a public inquiry into the contaminated blood scandal of the 1970s and '80s. us secretary of state, antony blinken, has postponed his upcoming trip to beijing after a suspected chinese surveillance balloon was detected in montana. large crowds have welcomed pope francis on his arrival in south sudan, at the start of what the vatican is calling a pilgrimage of peace. the pope wasjoined at the airport injuba by the leaders of the churches of england and scotland. together on this historic visit they are seeking to promote reconciliation in a largely christian country that has been ravaged by tribal conflict since it became independent 12 years ago. pope francis is honouring a 2019 promise to visit south sudan, when in a dramatic gesture, he kissed the feet of the country's rival leaders at the vatican. earlier i spoke to our correspondent

merchuma who was atjuba airport to witness the pope's arrival. that is such a big deal and if anything else has failed, the people of south sudan and the leadership of south sudan, they hope and pray that this is it, because it's really a big deal to have the three top religious figures in the country right now. being in south sudan, you can feel the air, the difference, the expectation of the people, their happiness that the leaders are here, the question is what happens at the end of the trip? will they go back to normal? a divided country, a country that there is a lot of conflict, or will this turn the tide for the country? expectation and hope comes with the three leaders being here. what was the reaction at the time when pope francis kissed the feet of the rival leaders, at the vatican when they were there?

when that happened at the vatican, even president salva kiir at the time said he trembled, he felt shivers going down his spine when pope francis kissed his feet and for many people, that was the it moment. unfortunately that did not happen because they came back and still there was a lot of violence a lot of turmoil in south sudan, people not seeing eye to eye, communities not seeing eye to eye so that was a significant moment, and it actually shocked many people, notjust in south sudan but elsewhere. it shocked many people. this one comes with so much help and you can see on the streets, the streets ofjuma were lined with thousands of people miniature flags bearing the pope's image. headscarves, the image of the pope on them. and in the 36 degrees weather, the sweltering heat and all of that,

they still remained and you can see the hope on their faces that this means a lot for them as a nation. indeed. it's going to be difficult, isn't it? even for these men of god to try to bring the warring factions together. very briefly, if you could, just explain what the intercommunal problems are between the different factions. these are problems which have persisted for a really long and come around issues of leadership, who should lead the country, who should take the top leadership, it has led to issues like postponing elections for a couple of times. there is a lot of resources in south sudan, it is an oil—rich country, that is also one thing causing a lot of fighting between communities. it is a multitude of

things making people in south sudan fight and yes, it's a big task for leaders to forge a path to make people ci to i and ease things down. yesterday's bank of england rate rise pushed the uk's main interest rate up to its highest level in over 14 years. but fixed rate mortgage offers have been falling and the early response to yesterday's announcement suggests the good news on mortgages may keep coming. robert cuffe, our head of statistics, told us more about who could benefit from it. people looking for new fixed—term mortgages, but i will get the bad news out of the way first. all right, go on! if you are on a variable rate or a tracker mortgage, when the bank puts the rates up, you are going to get a shock. but the good news is, their expectations are improving, and i think we can show that, what people think will be happening to the base rate over the next few weeks. hopefully it will come through, you'll see it has been running at around 4% recently. you can see, overjune and july it is starting to come down. we probably expect to see another

shock before the summer, and then it will start to turn. now, i would say, these are what we expect, these are what analysts expect. injune orjuly last year, they expected rates to peak at 3%. in september or october, they predicted they'd peak at 6%. so this is all still very much a moving feast. yeah. but there is a silver lining to the otherwise bad news for the people on trackers at the moment. all right, ok, so, if rates are going up, why are some prices going down? because if you look at the price of a fixed—rate mortgage, two years or five years, it does notjust depend on today's interest rates, it depends on what they're going to be doing over the next five years. if you look at the cost of borrowing for a bank, they arejust middlemen. we show it here. they get a loan and pass it on to you at a higher rate. the cost for a bank of getting a five year fix, it was down at very low levels through 2018 and '19, down during the pandemic and then started to rise as we came up, that big,

sharpjump around the mini budget, and has been coming down since then. if we zoom in to the last few weeks we can see that downward trend, little bits and bobs every day — look at yesterday. that very far last bit of the chart, you see a big drop after the bank of england announcement. there are two parts to it. one, they announced the rates. as you said, rates went up. two, they publish what they think is going on in the economy, their expectations, and those expectations were sunnier than people expected. you saw quite a sizeable drop in a single day in the price of borrowing from a bank. the hope is that gets passed on. exactly. how does that filter through to people trying to fix a mortgage? well, that is one day, that's a swallow, not the summer. so, you want that pattern to hold for a while before you see them fall. how long? i don't know... i am asking for a friend! have come down as well. i think we saw today a ten year fixed deal coming in at under 4%, that is way better than we thought. you remember the reports of september and october seeing 6% plus. it is way better than back then,

things are better, but still quite a good deal worse than last year when you were fixing at 2%. someone who comes off a two—year fixed now is still looking at a bit of a nasty shock. so, these interest rates will probably weigh down house prices, just not as much as we thought they would. now here's a cautionary tale about letting children play with your phone. a six—year—old in michigan in the us has managed to order more than £800 worth of takeaway food from his dad's mobile. mason stonehouse fancied a snack while playing, multiple orders later, and the stonehouse family was inundated with pizza, sandwiches and so much more. karen morrison explains. this is a six—year—old with a very big appetite for spending.

i gave him my phone to play and i wasn't paying attention, i was watching my show. mason stonehouse spent more than £800 within minutes, using a delivery app on his dad's phone. he made multiple orders from several food outlets. pizzas and rice and chilli cheese fries. i looked out the window and he popped up and said, "who's here? who's here?" and cars were coming in the driveway while cars were leaving the driveway. i looked down at my phone and it said "chase fraud alert, $439 for pizzas." and then he tipped 25% on every single order. but mason's actions had consequences. his parents raided his piggy bank to repay some of the money. they took my money. how much money did you have in your piggy bank? _ 115. and how much do you have now? uh...0ne dol—... uh, 1 cent. this is my lesson, you know, first and foremost, and hopefully parents out there see and learn from this. the main takeaway, think twice about who you give your phone to. karen morrison, bbc news.

iam i am starving as well actually. a 30—year—old portuguese dog has been named as the world's oldest ever. bobi is a purebred rafeiro do alentejo, i think i got that wrong, a breed that has an average life expectancy of 12 to 14 years. his owners say the secret to his longevity is the "calm, peaceful environment" he lives in. just like this office. now it's time for a look at the weather. with tomasz. the weekend is upon us and most of us hope for a bit of fine weather and it is actually not looking bad at all for most of us. it should be dry and bright, certainly on saturday for most of us, not everybody. sunday i

think is going to be the sunny day. let's look at the picture. this is what we call the air mass, the temperature of the atmosphere. relatively mild but a change in the wind direction. it means those temperatures will ease, it will turn a bit colder but i don't think it's going to be hugely noticeable. let's look at the satellite picture. a lot of cloud across the country, some of the cloud thick enough to produce a bit of drizzle here and there, particularly around western coasts. a few breaks in the cloud but i showed you the air mass graphic, the yellow colour, that basically means absolutely no frost through the night. temperatures in the western isles, around nine. seven in liverpool. about that for cardiff and london. really mild start to saturday. relatively speaking for the time of year. a lot of cloud will be breaking, thin in places with brightness across england and wales. rain at least for a time in belfast, glasgow, possibly reaching

the lake district by three or 4pm. this will push at brief spell of rain. moving southwards through the course of the evening but notice what happens. it moves across wales, the peak district and lincolnshire. the south of the country not getting rainfall. sunday, a large area of high pressure establishes itself across the uk or as meteorologists say it anchors itself because it's almost a stone in the atmosphere, stopping weather systems coming in, it puts a stop on everything. the wind slows down. very light wind in the centre of the high pressure. that also means sunny skies for many of us and with temperatures at eight, those light winds and that bit of sunshine is starting to feel now it's not going to be bad at all. that means lower temperatures overnight, a touch of frost into next week. the next few nights. an indication of mist and fog. settled

weather coming our way with high pressure over us, sunny by day, a touch of frost at night and possibly some troublesome fog during the morning. whenever you are, have a great weekend.

this is bbc news. i'm jane hill. the headlines at 5pm: lancashire police have said they believe mum—of—two nicola bulley fell into the river wyre and there are no suspicious circumstances. our main working hypothesis, therefore, is that nicola has sadly fallen into the river, that there is no third—party or criminal involvement and that this is not suspicious. victims have lived through "the worst times", say representatives at a public inquiry into the contaminated blood scandal of the 1970s and '80s. us secretary of state antony blinken has postponed a much—anticipated trip to beijing after a chinese surveillance balloon was detected above montana.