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 was an intentional incursion into american airspace. i'm very confident that the chinese communist party is more capable than that. i think i saw one of their statements that said it is mainly civilian. let's translate mainly civilian as into this is a spying effort 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 hegemony and they are intent on delivering it and the united states knows that they are conducting espionage against it. when they did it to us during the trump administration, from the houston consulate in the great state of texas, we shut it down. we should shut down

this spying as well. robert sutter is professor of practice of international affairs at the elliott school of george washington university. he thought antony blinken did the right thing cancelling his trip to beijing. one needs to understand what the us laws are in these sorts of things and we are in the midst of a large effort to counter chinese challenges across the board. but we want to establish guardrails and to do that, to avoid war. and to do that, we need a mutual understanding for that and we are still in the posturing phase with china. they were 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 incidents over the years. some of were very dramatic. the ep 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 a us reconnaissance vehicle in the ocean. they bump up against american ships. 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. to have guardrails to make sure that we don't go too far. 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.

it's his 40th foreign trip as pope, but it's a visit like no other. a journey that takes him to south sudan, but what makes it unique is that for the first time, leaders of other global christian denominations are visiting with him. when we landed, the moderator of the church of scotland, iain greenshields, and archbishop of canterburyjustin welby climbed on board to greet the pope. they're here together to persuade leaders in this young, troubled nation to put aside their differences for the sake of their people. "i've come with two brothers," said the pope, "stretching out our hands, we present ourselves to you and to this people." since independence in 2011, south sudan slipped quickly into conflict. it is along tribal and not religious lines, but the leaders are mainly christian —

catholic, anglican, and presbyterian. back in 2019, in one of the most powerful moments of his papacy, pope francis kissed the feet of the south sudan's rivals at the end of a meeting at the vatican. they promised to work for lasting peace, but little changed. so, the religious leaders came here. does the same thing happen — you make a dramatic gesture and you go away and things don't move forward? dramatic gestures are to kick open doors, to create momentum. they don't solve problems. what they do is they may unstick stuck situations and then they have to be followed up. and in response to the visit, south sudan's president says he'll meet rivals who for years he shunned. but in spite of the fanfare and celebration here now, there's much scepticism about long—term impact. aleem maqbool, bbc news, injuba.

our bbc africa correspondent mercy juma — is there in south sudan — she told us how the pope's visit is being received. very good afternoon from juba. 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, the number of people who are outside of their homes, who are not on the streets, the streets are prety clear, and they are in strategic posts just waiting for the pope. when you speak to the people ofjuba, 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 really taken up by their political leaders who 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 as the pope comes at a time when just a few days ago there was a clash somewhere outside juba in which seven people were killed, something that unfortunately is the norm in this country, that people can fight, people are killed and it is news that they hear everyday and they're really hopeful that, this time, and when the pope leaves tomorrow going forward, the news that they will be getting coming out of south sudan will be different. in the uk, 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. 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 9am. 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

our reporter olivia richwald joins us live now from the village of st michael's on wyre in lancashire. what is the latest in terms of research going on there today? well. research going on there today? well, the search is — research going on there today? well, the search is very _ research going on there today? well, the search is very much _ research going on there today? well, the search is very much still - research going on there today? -ii the search is very much still going on and this morning we have had police helicopters searching overhead. they have been quite low and they have said above us for quite a long time clearly scouring the river. we've also seen police officers walking very carefully and diligently the length of the river looking for any sign of nicola. it is now eight days since she vanished. she was walking along this footpath here just a little bit further, 400 metres from where i am standing is where she was last seen where her phone, her dog were last seen and you heard there from her good friend emma. i mean, what a novel eight days for her family and

friends. the police have been keen to stress they don't believe there is any suspicious circumstances. they don't believe there has been any criminal activity involved a's disappearance. they're working on a hypothesis that something happened and she accidentally fell into the water and they believe that is where she still is hence the police searches have been focused on the river today and they will continue to do so all weekend but her family and friends are remaining open minded and hopeful. they are appealing for people to come forward and still help with any cctv or dash cam footage and there is a very organised volunteer led community group here who are a little further along the village along there is a tennis club and you walk in there and there are ten different maps of this river. volunteers have been going on and picking up a map and going on and picking up a map and going out and searching and sections of that river. like i said, there has been a fantastic community response here and everyone isjust

hoping and praying that soon there might be some more positive news. there is this detail around the phone, where it was found, when it became stationary. what is the significance, ofanything, became stationary. what is the significance, of anything, that we can read into that?— significance, of anything, that we can read into that? well, there have been a lot of— can read into that? well, there have been a lot of hypotheses _ can read into that? well, there have been a lot of hypotheses as - can read into that? well, there have been a lot of hypotheses as to - can read into that? well, there have been a lot of hypotheses as to what | been a lot of hypotheses as to what might have happened but yesterday at the police press conference they were keen to stress they don't believe there is anything suspicious that has happened. they think has happened as she has joined a teams call, a big hole with lots of people on it. she hasjoined that collar she was walking along and joined on the bench and that coal was still going when she put her phone down on the bench. something happened and that's when she the phone was found still connected to that call. they've been analysing that phone and gathering any technological detail as to where she has gone and the police to believe that she has not left this area.— not left this area. olivia, thank ou ve not left this area. olivia, thank you very much- _ not left this area. olivia, thank you very much. the _ not left this area. olivia, thank you very much. the latest - not left this area. olivia, thank| you very much. the latest from not left this area. olivia, thank - you very much. the latest from saint michaels on wire in lancashire.

thank you. adults under—50 in england have a week left to get a free covid—19 boosterjab — that's a third dose of vaccine — before the scheme ends. it's the last opportunity for healthy people, aged between 16 and 49, to get a top—up if they haven't already. nhs england says almost 400—thousand appointments are still available. ukraine says it's recovered the bodies of two british men who were killed in the east of the country. the bodies of christopher perry and andrew bagshaw have been reportedly handed over by russian forces as part of a prisoners swap. they were killed by shelling last month while doing voluntary work, evacuating civilians from conflict zones. ukraine's president volodymyr zelenskiy said he discussed the �*further expansion ofcapabilities' of ukraine's military in a call with british primeminister rishi sunak on saturday. zelenskiy said he also thanked sunak for the start oftraining of ukrainian crews on challenger 2 tanks, the supply ofwhich to ukraine the uk announced injanuary.

a young youtube star in iraq that was killed by her father has sparked nation—wide outrage and calls for protests. tiba al—ali was killed on 31st of january according to a statement by the iraqi interior minister — after several attempts by the police to mediate the family dispute. tiba had seperated from herfamily on a trip to turkey in 2017, and refused to travel back to iraq with them. she gained following on youtube posting daily videos, which frequently featured herfiance. our arab affairs editor for bbc world service, sebastian usher is now with us. just tell us more about these

protest on the strength of feeling around this whole case. the protests have been called _ around this whole case. the protests have been called to _ around this whole case. the protests have been called to take _ around this whole case. the protests have been called to take place - around this whole case. the protests have been called to take place in - have been called to take place in baghdad tomorrow. and the strength of feeling that you're talking about, the outrages over the sense that this is something that has happened, obviously, many times before. this is a perennial problem in iraq that young women within theirfamily can be murdered in this way. in the past it was everything like virginity, over been seen with men and nowadays it is as much to do as you are saying, like a social media presence. this young woman seems to combine both as far as her family were concerned. appearing in videos on various social media outlets with her boyfriend in turkey. she was living apart and she came back to iraq on a visit to see herfamily. there was

came back to iraq on a visit to see her family. there was a several audio messages that were released, said to be with her voice, there is no reason to doubt that they are her voice, in which she essentially was saying that she feared for her life if she went back. now, you talked about the police mediating. they have come under a lot of criticism because with these warnings, with way that the sorts of killings happened so often, a lot of iraqis were asking why did they not do more? why did they not intervene? this is not about mediation, this is stepping in and taking some of his vulnerable away from people who might do harm to her. i5 vulnerable away from people who might do harm to her.— vulnerable away from people who might do harm to her. is what sort of resnonse _ might do harm to her. is what sort of response has _ might do harm to her. is what sort of response has there _ might do harm to her. is what sort of response has there been - might do harm to her. is what sort of response has there been from l might do harm to her. is what sort l of response has there been from the authority to these protests about the way the police handled the case and, isuppose, the the way the police handled the case and, i suppose, the protection that should be in place for people her situation. ., . should be in place for people her situation. .. ., ., , situation. the fact that it was announced — situation. the fact that it was announced by _ situation. the fact that it was announced by the _ situation. the fact that it was announced by the interior - situation. the fact that it was - announced by the interior ministry, i mean, shows an awareness of the gravity of what has happened. the issue in a rug among many of the people who are posting, here are speaking out about this notjust in

iraq but many places across the world, at least two other arab countries face this problem big time. egypt and jordan. penal code, time. egyptand jordan. penal code, as time. egypt and jordan. penal code, as it exists, does not treat these killings necessarily as seriously as murder. the father, apparently, according to reports in the iraqi media, he gave himself into the police immediately after the killing and essentially, said she shame does. as if he is not going to receive a major penalty, and major punishment for this. in the penal code in a rock there are elements that say that if you kill someone for honourable reasons, which many people obviously would say totally dishonourable in every possible way but the idea family honour than that can be taken into consideration and that this is what people want to

protest against saying this kind of leniency needs to come to an end. this is something that has been in place hundreds of years. it is a factor of the region, the way that society is organised there and it needs to change.— needs to change. thank you for talkin: needs to change. thank you for talking us _ needs to change. thank you for talking us through _ needs to change. thank you for talking us through all _ needs to change. thank you for talking us through all of - needs to change. thank you for talking us through all of that. l 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. 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. more now on the alleged chinese spy balloon , that's causing tensions to soar , between washington and beijing. our correspondent louisa pilbeam has been finding out a bit

more about them. the reason that they have a shut it down, the pentagon say, they do not want any civilians blow to be hurt so that is the official line from the pentagon but i spoke with someone in the pyrenees at the moment and he is an expert in electronic warfare and he said it is not as easy as you might think to get one of these things down from the sky. here's what he had to say. same at the blueness, judging by all appearances, made of rubber or plastic —like material that makes, i would imagine, does make it fairly difficult to detect and because it is difficult to detect it is hard to guide a missile onto it are fighter onto it because both of those capabilities require radar in some shape orform to be capabilities require radar in some shape or form to be able to fix the target, follow it and be able to guide the aircraft or missile in. so what is the us concern here? what do

they think the balloon might be doing? element that is just it. that is what they want to know. china have said about the first balloon that it have said about the first balloon thatitis have said about the first balloon that it is a weather balloon so taking scientific research from the atmosphere, for example, they have not made any official comments about the second balloon but when i spoke to him earlier he said that there is a significant possibility, in his opinion, that it could be used for spying. opinion, that it could be used for s- inc. , opinion, that it could be used for s. in, , ., opinion, that it could be used for s- inc. , ., ., ., opinion, that it could be used for spying. here is what he had to say. esionaue spying. here is what he had to say. espionage is _ spying. here is what he had to say. espionage is one _ spying. here is what he had to say. espionage is one possibility. - spying. here is what he had to say. espionage is one possibility. the i espionage is one possibility. the other_ espionage is one possibility. the other possibility is that the balloon _ other possibility is that the balloon is being used to test what the reactions and behaviour of us air defence is like. usually, how you do— air defence is like. usually, how you do this _ air defence is like. usually, how you do this as you fly a lot of miiitary— you do this as you fly a lot of military aircraft, usually quite provocatively, towards the country you're _ provocatively, towards the country you're interested in. this is something china does against taiwan's— something china does against taiwan's air defence zone quite often — taiwan's air defence zone quite

often it— taiwan's air defence zone quite often. it will fly a load of aircraft _ often. it will fly a load of aircraft into that zone in order to test what — aircraft into that zone in order to test what the reaction times of the taiwanese — test what the reaction times of the taiwanese air force is like. now, obviously. — taiwanese air force is like. now, obviously, doing this against the west_ obviously, doing this against the west coast of the united states becomes— west coast of the united states becomes fraught with danger if you decide _ becomes fraught with danger if you decide to _ becomes fraught with danger if you decide to fly a load of aircraft, people's — decide to fly a load of aircraft, people's liberation army aircraft towards — people's liberation army aircraft towards that stretch of territory, you're _ towards that stretch of territory, you're probably going to get quite a hostile _ you're probably going to get quite a hostile response.— hostile response. yeah, well, this is because — hostile response. yeah, well, this is because a _ hostile response. yeah, well, this is because a diplomatic _ hostile response. yeah, well, this is because a diplomatic row - hostile response. yeah, well, this. is because a diplomatic row despite china saying that we should approach this with a cool—headed manner. the us secretary of state has already called off a visit to beijing so i think that it is fair to say that theirs is not over yet and will rumble on. theirs is not over yet and will rumble on— theirs is not over yet and will rumble on. ., ~ i. ., , ., rumble on. thank you for the update and analysis — rumble on. thank you for the update and analysis of— rumble on. thank you for the update and analysis of that. _ rumble on. thank you for the update and analysis of that. thank - rumble on. thank you for the update and analysis of that. thank you. - sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, we will start with a huge result at the top and bottom of the premier league. the first match in charge of everton. they have beaten the league leaders arsenal 1—0 as ben croucher

reports. a new stadium on the way and new manager in the dug outs. this is an everton reconstruction, under new management. from the rubble of the previous regime, his side stretched the league leaders arsenal but not quite far enough to dominate. this was head and shoulders above what everton had been used to the season and improvement without anything to show for it. all it needed was the finishing touch. tchaikovsky, a player moulded at burnley, is first everton goal timed to perfection. arsenal now had a game, entitled to chase. whatever they threw at everton was thwarted. whatever ingenuity they tried was wasted. everton with a result and performance to build on for this was his day.

performance to build on for this was his da . , ., ., ., , , his day. every manager does, they do, trust his day. every manager does, they do. trust me- _ his day. every manager does, they do, trust me. a _ his day. every manager does, they do, trust me. a lot _ his day. every manager does, they do, trust me. a lot that _ his day. every manager does, they do, trust me. a lot that i've - his day. every manager does, they do, trust me. a lot that i've done l do, trust me. a lot that i've done this week, very pleased with the players. their honesty has been invaluable to us as a staff to get the start point and base to work from. iadmired the start point and base to work from. i admired that honesty so we built on the back of that and said we can correct that but we've got to do it together. with outside of the game, we can build that but there has to be a base to work from the feel of a group and a commitment to the cause and i thought there was plenty of that today. 2c! the cause and i thought there was plenty of that today.— the cause and i thought there was plenty of that today. 20 minutes now -la ed in plenty of that today. 20 minutes now played in the — plenty of that today. 20 minutes now played in the three _ plenty of that today. 20 minutes now played in the three o'clock _ played in the three o'clock kick—offs, the eye—catching scoreline there. will lead liverpool two goals to nil. manchester united 1-0 two goals to nil. manchester united 1—0 up at home to crystal palace. it is villa one and leicester one. james madison scoring the equaliser for leicester. they are goalless at

brentford and newcastle will take on west ham. scotland ranges can close the gap to celtic at the top to six points if they win. it is currently goal this there. hearts are bottom of the table and dundee united do have a 1—0 lead there. goalless between aberdeen and motherwell. saint mirren and hibernian. and the wsl manchester city beat their opponents at these stadium. mann said it was my first goal. just after the hour mark. putting them up 1-0 after the hour mark. putting them up 1—0 and a quick feet from the england international chloe kelly sealing the win with a second. and the other women's game was aston villa at home to brighton villa. one up villa at home to brighton villa. one up from an own goal. finishing 1— all. and in the opening match of the

six nations in cardiff it has not been a dream return for wales. ireland have been relentless in cardiff showing why they are the number one side in the world. the first try here. james lowe did the same in the first quarter, helping ireland to a 27—3 lead at half—time. there's been a try scored for wales and ireland are up with over 50 minutes played. it is live on bbc one and iplayer. and in around an hourand a one and iplayer. and in around an hour and a quarter is that the calcutta cup. england begin their first campaign under the head coach against a scotland side hoping to win successive games at twickenham in the six stations for the first time. he replaced eddiejones in september and said he is relishing his first match.— his first match. there are fixtures in world rugby — his first match. there are fixtures in world rugby that _ his first match. there are fixtures in world rugby that have - his first match. there are fixtures in world rugby that have the - his first match. there are fixturesl in world rugby that have the ability to make the rivalries, the memories within it and am looking forward to

pack twickenham loud. to pack twickenham this weekend. there will be live commentary _ twickenham this weekend. there will be live commentary from _ twickenham this weekend. there will| be live commentary from twickenham on bbc radio 5 live from 4:45pm. i will have more later but that is all your support for now. 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