this is bbc news — welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. our top stories: china has made another attempt to calm the diplomatic dispute over the presence of a chinese surveillance balloon in american airspace. the presence of a surveillance balloon in us airspace is a clear violation of us sovereignty and international law. pope francis continues his visit to south sudan, trying to persuade political leaders to end the conflict that has gripped the country since independence.

hello and welcome. china has tried to calm tensions after two chinese spy balloons were spotted over the united states and latin america. the chinese foreign ministry has spoken to the us secretary of state, antony blinken, after he cancelled his trip to china this weekend. beijing says the matter must be dealt with in a "cool—headed and prudent" manner. our north america correspondent barbara plett usher reports from beijing. americans are looking up to spot the spy balloon in the sky. it's actually a weather balloon that blew off course, the chinese said. but the pentagon's convinced it's more than that — and that it's not the only one. we're seeing reports of a balloon transiting latin america. we now assess it is another chinese surveillance balloon. the ballon burst plans for america's top diplomat antony blinken to travel to beijing for rare talks about covid, trade disputes and the security situation over taiwan, but mostly

to calm sky—high tensions. this crisis shows just how fragile relations are. because of the fact that it stopped over the us air force base, it stopped over some of the strategic missile silos for icbm, intercontinental ballistic missiles, that's not a mistake, and i think they knew we would see that. so, i think that it's probably some kind of an intentional message, but i think it went way off course and blew up far more than they expected. i think that they're embarrassed by this. the chinese have dismissed what they call "groundless conjecture" and accused american politicians of hyping things up. but they've also expressed regrets that the balloon flew over us territory. wind patterns took it on an epicjourney, from china across the pacific. then floating over alaska and canada, before arriving in the us. the balloon lingered over rural montana, and this could be why — you're looking at a satellite image of an air force base that houses intercontinental missiles. the americans are focused on getting

the balloon out of their airspace, but say they will try to reschedule blinken�*s beijing trip. mike pompeo was secretary of state under donald trump and also served as director of the cia. he told the bbc the balloon an intentional incursion into american airspace. i'm confident they are more capable than that. i think i saw one of their statement saying it is mainly a civilian. . , ., ., , a civilian. translate mainly civilian- — a civilian. translate mainly civilian. this _ a civilian. translate mainly civilian. this is _ a civilian. translate mainly civilian. this is a _ a civilian. translate mainly civilian. this is a spy - a civilian. translate mainly| civilian. this is a spy efforts a civilian. translate mainly - civilian. this is a spy efforts on the united state of america and frankly, regardless of whether it is civilian or military, the chinese communist party does not separate between those two things. they have a unified theory of hedge enemy and they are intent on delivering it and they are intent on delivering it and the united states know they are conducting espionage against it. and they did it to us during the trump

administration, from the houston consulate, we shut it down and we should shut down this spying as well. should shut down this spying as well. isabel hilton is the founder of china dialogue and visiting professor at the lau institute. she explained why this balloon was such a cause of concern for the americans. i think it raised the alarm when it was passing over montana which has 150 intercontinental ballistic missile sites. that, i think, 150 intercontinental ballistic missile sites. that, ithink, is what made it particularly sensitive balloon because whatever the american military might think about the seriousness or not of the appearance of this balloon, and they seem to feel that they've got it pretty well contained and can presumably cancel any signals that it is sending, but unfortunately, the political reaction in the united states is not so easily containable and hours of this news be in public, we can see the american republican

right and donald trump, you know, being very, very loud about the failure of the biden administration to take a strong line on china so, had anthony lincoln proceeded with the visit as planned, that would simply have left the biden administration hostage to these attacks about its failure to deal with china even as blink and would be sitting down in beijing, american right would say, the republican right would say, the republican right would say that they were allowing a spy balloon to hover over the us�*s most sensitive military site so you can see this created an impossible situation, better to postpone, let the thing die down. robert sutter is professor of practice of international affairs at the elliott school of george washington university. do you think the secretary of state was writing cancelling his trip to

beijing in light of what has happened?— beijing in light of what has happened? beijing in light of what has ha ened? , ., ~' beijing in light of what has ha ened? , ., ~ .,, happened? yes, i do, think it was riuht. happened? yes, i do, think it was right- one — happened? yes, i do, think it was right. one needs _ happened? yes, i do, think it was right. one needs to _ happened? yes, i do, think it was right. one needs to understand i happened? yes, i do, think it was i right. one needs to understand what us goals are in the sorts of things and we are in the midst of a large effort to counter chinese challenges across the board and we want to establish guardrails and to do that to avoid war and to do that, we need a neutral understanding for that and we are still in the posturing phase with china. there is still manoeuvring and so we have to wait a little bit before we can have meaningful consultations on setting up meaningful consultations on setting up guardrails. has meaningful consultations on setting up guardrails-— up guardrails. has the sort of thing ha--ened up guardrails. has the sort of thing happened before, _ up guardrails. has the sort of thing happened before, and _ up guardrails. has the sort of thing happened before, and in _ up guardrails. has the sort of thing | happened before, and in particular, between the us and china? this kind of thing happens _ between the us and china? this kind of thing happens all _ between the us and china? this kind of thing happens all the _ between the us and china? this kind of thing happens all the time. - between the us and china? this kind of thing happens all the time. we - of thing happens all the time. we have had these kind of incidents over the years. of them were very dramatic. the bp three episode was a big episode that took place at the

beginning of the bush administration and we have had these confrontations in the south china sea where they capture us reconnaissance vehicle in the ocean and we have had bumping up against american ship, we have all sorts of things like this, it is a very dangerous situation and so we need to have guardrails to make sure that we don't go too far. {iii need to have guardrails to make sure that we don't go too far.— that we don't go too far. of china is ura in: that we don't go too far. of china is urging calm — that we don't go too far. of china is urging calm and _ that we don't go too far. of china is urging calm and prudent - that we don't go too far. of china i is urging calm and prudent approach to resolving this, why don't they simply move the balloon out of american airspace immediately? i guess they don't have the ability to do that. i don't know. but you are absolutely right. if they had the ability i would think they should do it but apparently they are not because this is just worsening the overall attitude of american people

about china's policies so this is something that will just about china's policies so this is something that willjust deepen the antipathy of american people to china and it will make it more difficult for those in the business community and elsewhere that want to keep a close engagement with china, it will make it more difficult for them to sustain their positions and i hope the chinese are well aware of this. i think they are but if that is the way they want to manipulate the american situation well, that is what is going to happen. bud the american situation well, that is what is going to happen.— what is going to happen. and how much this damage _ what is going to happen. and how much this damage relations - what is going to happen. and how i much this damage relations between washington and beijing, do you think? i washington and bei'ing, do you think? ~' washington and bei'ing, do you think? ~ ., , ., think? i think it adds to... there is a strong _ think? i think it adds to... there is a strong momentum - think? i think it adds to... there is a strong momentum on i think? i think it adds to... there is a strong momentum on the i think? i think it adds to... there - is a strong momentum on the american side to build the aspects of competition with china in an acute way, build up american strains, to counter china and build alliances

and partnerships and help the united states in dealing with china. these things have been going on now for five years and this year, this five year has been a banner year of success and so the momentum on the us side is very strong and there is going to be more. we are going to be cutting off us investment in china. they're going to be doing of other things that are going to take place over the next year. that will now have very strong public support. the chinese actions are just reinforcing this broad momentum that you see in washington and you see it in the country. washington and you see it in the count . ., ~ ,, washington and you see it in the count . . ~' ,, , washington and you see it in the count . ., ~ , . thank country. thank you very much. thank ou ve country. thank you very much. thank you very much- _ thank you very much. the pope, archbishop of canterbury and moderator of the church of scotland are on an historic three—day visit to south sudan. they've called it a pilgrimage of peace to the country, where more than [too—thousand people have been killed in violence since independence 12 years ago. our religion editor, aleem maqbool

is travelling with them. how much optimism as there are around what these faith leaders can achieve on this trip? titers; around what these faith leaders can achieve on this trip?— achieve on this trip? very good afternoon- _ achieve on this trip? very good afternoon. so _ achieve on this trip? very good afternoon. so there _ achieve on this trip? very good afternoon. so there is - achieve on this trip? very good afternoon. so there is a - achieve on this trip? very good afternoon. so there is a lot i achieve on this trip? very good afternoon. so there is a lot of. afternoon. so there is a lot of optimism, a lot of expectation from the pope's visit and you can judge this especially from, you know, just the amount in the number of people who are outside of their homes and they are in strategic postjust waiting for the pope. when you speak to the people they only have one expectation, that the message of hope and reconciliation that the pope and the other two leaders are bringing will be embraced and fully taken up by their political leaders to the pope has already met and had very, very strong words to say to so most of them hope that this will

mean something for their country. as much of the pope comes at a time whenjust a few much of the pope comes at a time when just a few days ago there was a clash somewhere outside to buy and people were killed, something that unfortunately is the norm in this country, that people can fight and people are killed and it is news that we hear everyday and they're really hopeful that, this time, when the pope leaves tomorrow, the news that they will be getting coming out of south sudan will be different. just briefly, are the highlights of the trip likely to be?— just briefly, are the highlights of the trip likely to be? come again? sor , the trip likely to be? come again? sorry. missed _ the trip likely to be? come again? sorry, missed the _ the trip likely to be? come again? sorry, missed the question. i i the trip likely to be? come again? | sorry, missed the question. i think we may have _ sorry, missed the question. i think we may have to — sorry, missed the question. i think we may have to leave _ sorry, missed the question. i think we may have to leave it _ sorry, missed the question. i think we may have to leave it there, i we may have to leave it there, actually. we will try again, actually, if the technology holds. i was just asking you what some of the key highlights might be of this trip? what other key point begin the go ahead and people will be expecting?

go ahead and people will be exneeting?_ go ahead and people will be exectin: ? , , expecting? definitely the highlight ofthe expecting? definitely the highlight of the tri- expecting? definitely the highlight of the trip is. _ expecting? definitely the highlight of the trip is, for _ expecting? definitely the highlight of the trip is, for me _ expecting? definitely the highlight of the trip is, for me and - expecting? definitely the highlight of the trip is, for me and for- expecting? definitely the highlight of the trip is, for me and for the i of the trip is, for me and for the people, are people who have walked hundreds of kilometres to come and see the pope but what the people will remember is definitely the fact that the paper and two other leaders came for the first time to their country. it has never happened before that three top leaders have come to their country so definitely thatis come to their country so definitely that is a highlight and the fact that is a highlight and the fact that he had an audience was not only the president but also the five vice presidents of the country so definitely a big dealfor south sudan. definitely a big deal for south sudan. ., ~' ,, , . here in the uk, lancashire police investigating the disappearance of mother—of—two nicola bulley believe she fell into a river. a major search for 45—year—old continues, but no trace of her has been found. nicola was seen by a fellow dog—walker last friday morning shortly before 9:00am. she was last seen at 10 past 9, in a field further along the riverbank. at 9:20, police have now established,

her phone became stationary at a riverside bench. 13 minutes later, her phone is found along with her dogs harness. in response to the police's theory, nicola's friend of ten years emma white said it's important to keep searching for evidence. we can't be talking about a life and basing it on a theory. we can't go and tell those girls, well, the theory could be x, y and z. we need some evidence. whatever the news is, then we'll deal with whatever the evidence is. so again, we're out in force today and raising that awareness. if anybody does see anything, hear anything, jogs the memory of last friday, please share. but on the bulletin yesterday, we're asking for factual information so that influx of calls yesterday, we want the facts. i spoke earlier to our reporter olivia richwald, who's at st michael's on wyre in the north of england. well, just since we've been here this morning, we've seen the police helicopter overhead — flying very low,

actually, and hovering for a long time, presumably scanning the river for any signs of nicola. we've also seen police search teams on foot. just a few minutes ago, they've passed this section further up the river. they tell me they're walking the entire length of the river today. nicola bulley is a 45—year—old mum of two young girls. it is now eight days since she vanished. she'd just dropped her children off at school and was walking back along this footpath, a popularfootpath here next to the river. she disappeared from a spot around about 400 metres further upstream. she was walking her dog and she had her phone with her. the phone and dog were found, but there's been no sign of nicola ever since then. yesterday, the police held a press conference here in the village, and they were keen to stress there were no suspicious

circumstances that they can ascertain at the moment. they don't believe there is any criminal involvement. so their working hypothesis is that nicola has accidentally fallen into the river, and that's why their searches today and this weekend will be focusing on the river itself. but there's a huge team of volunteers also searching, and like nicola's friend, emma, they don't want to give up hope. they say they're looking at all possibilities to try to find out what has happened to nicola, and find her. yesterday, the police confirmed that they had very thoroughly searched this one kilometre stretch, but the river from here to the sea, it's about ia kilometres long, so clearly there's a lot more work that needs to be done to search the river. it's not an easy river to search, because although it looks narrow, it's quite deep and it's very murky. so police have been using sonar and using underwater search teams. they've also been consulting river flow experts to try to work out where nicola might be. meanwhile, the volunteers are still coordinating a detailed search of the area — everyone hoping that there

is a positive outcome to this curious case. nhs leaders are warning that there will be a struggle to clear backlogs and improve emergency care — unless industrial action by thousands of staff is brought to an end. it comes as nhs england prepares for the biggest round of strikes in its history next week, with thousands of nurses, paramedics and physiotherapists planning walkouts. health leaders have called on ministers and the unions to urgently find a resolution to break the deadlock. earlier, julian hartley, chief executive of nhs providers, gave us his view on the industrial action. i think first of all, to be clear, pay is nationally negotiated and trust leaders have been doing all they can to, obviously, manage the challenges of this industrial action and want this to come to an end as soon as possible. it is absolutely vital,

in the interests of patients, in terms of those waiting for operations, those coming in as urgent cases, that we see a resolution to the industrial action and all trust leaders across the country really want to make sure that we can find a resolution to this. to do that we do need negotiations at a national level. we need to see this resolved quickly because, looking ahead, the big challenges we are facing with urgent emergency care, and of course getting patients through to have their operations, requires us to have our hospitals and health services fully staffed. we really do need to see progress. official complaints about energy firms across the uk have reached a record high as the cost of living crisis continues to impact bills. figures seen exclusively by the bbc show the number of grievances have gone up more than 50 % injust two years. all of this comes at a time when energy suppliers are under intense scrutiny, as dan whitworth reports.

as energy bills soar, so too do the number of complaints being made. a customer can take their case to the energy ombudsman after they first complain to their supplier. 105,000 complaints were registered with the ombudsman last year, up from fewer than 70,000 in 2020. the most complained about topics? bills, switching suppliers and customer service. debbie expected an energy bill of around £300 to £350 just before christmas, only to see british gas take nearly £1,200 from her bank account instead — not once, but twice. it's been the most worrying, stressful time. the impact, you know, has been so severe, financial worries ten days before christmas anywhere — but any time, it would've been, you know, a shock and a worry and a stressful time to get through.

and it was the promise that they kept saying that they were going to pay it back and they didn't pay it back. there was just one reason after another why it was delayed. british gas has since apologised for the month—long delay in refunding debbie's money and offered her £200 in compensation. of the cases that reach the ombudsman, a majority are ending in a customer's favour. this varies a lot depending on the type of complaint and, as you can imagine, from supplier to supplier but roughly, on average, somewhere in the region of three—quarters of consumers who come to us, either we find in their favour or, during our process, the supplier realises that they could've fixed this sooner and decides to fix it for the consumer during the process, so i would say around three—quarters of the people who come to us leave with something more than they had when they came in. all of this comes at a time when energy supplies are under intense scrutiny. the industry regulator ofgem has asked them to suspend the forced installation of prepayment meters in the homes of vulnerable people following an undercover investigation by the times

newspaper. dan whitworth, bbc news. joining me now is harry kind, from the consumer choice group, which? are you surprised by this rise in the number of complaints? hat are you surprised by this rise in the number of complaints? not at all. this match _ the number of complaints? not at all. this match is _ the number of complaints? not at all. this match is exactly - the number of complaints? not at all. this match is exactly the i all. this match is exactly the story that we are hearing from consumers, from our members, from people out on the street to say that, not only are they having pay extortionate energy bills, but they are getting terrible customer service. that that is getting bills have far higher than what they are actually using, people with really confusing energy bills are people who try and fix a problem and end up on hold for hours and hours with call centres when, frankly, that is not good enough. i mean, i think i will speak for many

mean, i think i will speakfor many people who try get hold of the energy company and describing a situation where you wait for long recorded message telling you to go online for a problem that you know cannot be solved online, you hold and then you're automatically cut off after whatever 20 minutes, 30 minutes and you are right back where you started. minutes and you are right back where ou started. ~ ,,., , minutes and you are right back where you started-— you started. absolutely. and we hear stories. i you started. absolutely. and we hear stories- i was — you started. absolutely. and we hear stories. i was in _ you started. absolutely. and we hear stories. i was in a _ you started. absolutely. and we hear stories. i was in a food _ you started. absolutely. and we hear stories. i was in a food bank- you started. absolutely. and we hear stories. i was in a food bank with i stories. i was in a food bank with an advisor the other day. she had a client who had racked up thousands of pounds of debt because they had been given confusing bills, they were a second by english and when they tried to get hold of someone, there was just no ability to talk to someone to solve this problem, to try to sort out a payment plan. our advice to people is always, if you're struggling to pay, reach out to your energy supplier. they have an obligation to get you onto a payment plan. the problem is, getting is a struggle. 54% of consumers that we spoke to were satisfied with the energy industry. that is an incredibly low score and

it is much lower than it has been and there is no reason for that. you know, we are seeing the energy generators, shell, making huge profits and then their retail arms are clearly underfunded, understaffed and it is not good for consumers. understaffed and it is not good for consumers-— consumers. what is your advice, then, to anyone _ consumers. what is your advice, then, to anyone who _ consumers. what is your advice, then, to anyone who is - consumers. what is your advice, then, to anyone who is in - consumers. what is your advice, then, to anyone who is in a i then, to anyone who is in a situation where they have an issue, they don't feel it has been dealt with properly they feel they are being treated fairly by the energy firm? ,, . ~' being treated fairly by the energy firm? ,, .~ , a firm? stick with it, stick with those complaints _ firm? stick with it, stick with those complaints minds i firm? stick with it, stick with those complaints minds for. firm? stick with it, stick with l those complaints minds for as firm? stick with it, stick with i those complaints minds for as long as it takes. using social media you can sometimes get through faster than a phone call. and then going to the ombudsman. as we say, 75% roughly have their complaints upheld when they are not upheld by the energy company so perceiving that is also useful but then, if you're struggling to pay, reaching out through your local councils, your local charities like step change you

might be able to point you in the direction of grants that you are entitled to, switching to direct debit is often the cheapest way appealing, for people. but really, it should not be up to consumers to have to have this constant struggle and what i would have to say is that there is 30% of prepayment meters, energy bill support voucher sitting unclaimed. that is a £66 most of us are getting of our bills automatically. if you're one of those people and you had something to the post that you have not had the money off your bill, contact your supplier urgently because you could be missing out on money that is rightfully yours.— is rightfully yours. thank you very much. thank you very much. a murmuration of starlings is one of mother nature's greatest displays — but you don't necessarily have to trek miles into the countryside to see one. bird—watchers have been enjoing some epic aerial entertainment on a trading estate in the west of england. tracey miller went to join them.

they have been before. these birds were travelling a long way. they're coming from miles in all directions unable bill coming in to roost communally. they'll be sharing information about their feeding places they have been that day and by commemorating above the roosting site, make sure that they can avoid predators like vulcans. it is never a guarantee that they will show up but as dusk began to fall, huddles of hopeful humans began to gather.

very hopeful. expectant, even. iuntimely very hopeful. expectant, even. when ou see very hopeful. expectant, even. when you see the — very hopeful. expectant, even. when you see the birds _ very hopeful. expectant, even. when you see the birds fly _ very hopeful. expectant, even. when you see the birds fly over— very hopeful. expectant, even. when you see the birds fly over hard - very hopeful. expectant, even. when you see the birds fly over hard and you see the birds fly over hard and you hear— you see the birds fly over hard and you hear the sound of their wings heating. — you hear the sound of their wings heating. it — you hear the sound of their wings beating, it is quite an incredible, powerful— beating, it is quite an incredible, powerful feeling. you get goose bumps — powerful feeling. you get goose bum s. , .., powerful feeling. you get goose bum s. , .. �* , bumps. then they came. building up until we were — bumps. then they came. building up until we were treated _ bumps. then they came. building up until we were treated to _ bumps. then they came. building up until we were treated to this - bumps. then they came. building up until we were treated to this aeriali until we were treated to this aerial ballet and the sound that gives it the name my relation. that is wing beats creating a murmur of sound. flying at speeds of up to 50 miles an hour, the cameraman did well to keep up. an hour, the cameraman did well to kee--u. ,, keep up. absolutely awe-inspiring. beautiful. absolutely _ keep up. absolutely awe-inspiring. beautiful. absolutely beautiful. i keep up. absolutely awe-inspiring. beautiful. absolutely beautiful. so| beautiful. absolutely beautiful. so my canal in the middle of an industrial estate as well. we make a fantastic experience. they could be back tomorrow if you want to come down as well. back tomorrow if you want to come down as well-— back tomorrow if you want to come down as well. then moment they all landed to roost _ down as well. then moment they all landed to roost in _ down as well. then moment they all landed to roost in the _ down as well. then moment they all landed to roost in the trees. - landed to roost in the trees. utterly mesmerising, isn't it? adults under—50 in england have a week left to get a free covid—i9 boosterjab — that's a third dose of vaccine — before the scheme ends. it's the last opportunity for healthy people, aged between 16 and a9, to get a top—up

if they haven't already. nhs england says almost 400—thousand appointments are still available. and here's the weather with helen. hello there. a tale of two halves with the weather for this weekend. there's a lot of cloud around today, and that's because we've got a weather front slipping southwards, it's mild air as well. it's mostly cloudy. but tomorrow behind our weather front, it looks as if we'll see a good deal more sunshine. but we do change from this mild air ahead of that weather front to this colder air coming in behind under a ridge of high pressure. but again, i do think it'll feel decent enough in the sunshine. this is the weather front that's slipping southwards through today. the rain starting to peter out. brighter skies and a few wintry showers following on behind. a little bit of sunshine ahead of it, but more limited. and overnight, the cloud will allow southern areas to just about escape a frost. but under that high pressure further north, temperatures will fall away under the starry skies, and we're looking at a fairly widespread rural frost at the very least. so we start off on a rather chilly

note first thing sunday, quite a keen wind coming through the north sea as well for eastern areas, still that brisk—ish wind towards the north and west. but for mostjust a day of dry and bright weather with hazy spells of sunshine for the most part. and temperatures will obviously not be as high as today because they're starting at a lower level, about eight, possibly ten degrees celsius in east anglia. but some pleasant—feeling weather, light winds, if you're out and about. during the evening and overnight, we do pick up a little bit more cloud ahead of the next weather system in the north and the west. so it won't be quite as cold for the far north west of scotland, northern ireland, the west of northern ireland. but elsewhere, another cold night and this time it will be frosty further south as well, possibly one or two mist and fog patches, because that high pressure's sat with us just slipping away towards the south and allowing more of an atlantic influence, if you like, on monday across parts of scotland and bringing a bit more cloud, perhaps a few spots of rain and drizzle. but eastern scotland, east of northern ireland, much of england wales,

after the clearance of any morning fog in england and wales, will have plenty of sunshine, dry and bright as well. light—ish wind. so feeling pleasant enough in that sunshine. but the high pressure stays with us pretty much for the rest of the week. but we will have some strong winds at times and those weather fronts brushing the far north. but as i say, with the high pressure staying firm in the south, at least it looks like very little rain here. some chilly nights with frost and fog, but by day, some good spells of sunshine. a little bit more unsettled and windy, though, in the northwest.

this is bbc news. the headlines: china has again made an attempt to calm the diplomatic crisis caused by the sighting of a chinese surveillance balloon over the us. china's top foreign policy official has discussed the dispute with the us secretary of state antony blinken.

pope francis is continuing his visit to south sudan. he is trying to persuade political leaders to end the conflict that has gripped the country since gaining independence 12 years ago. forest fires in chile sparked by a devastating heatwave have left at least 13 people dead. hundreds of homes have been damaged. the government has declared a state of emergency in two regions. a usjury has found elon musk not guilty of fraud over a tweet. mr musk was being sued by tesla shareholders who claim they lost billions of dollars after he tweeted he was taking the company back into private ownership. you're watching bbc news. now it's time for the new space race. 50 years ago, astronauts would regularly go to the moon. back then, many thought it wouldn't be long before people lived there.