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. documents obtained by bbc news show magistrates in england and wales were told to wave through a bulk of applications by energy companies to focibly install prepayment meteres in homes pope francis continues his visit to south sudan, trying to persuade political leaders to end the conflict that has gripped the country since independence.

health leaders in the uk 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. 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. dr thomas withington is an expert in electronic warfare, radar and military communications. he explains more about why it's so difficult to deal with the balloon the balloon is, judging by appearances, made of a soft probably rubber or plastic —like material that makes, does make it fairly difficult to detect and because it is difficult to detect it is hard to effectively guide either a surface to air 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 and follow it and guide the target and follow it and guide the target or guide the missile. joining me now is our north america correspondent, david willis. these calls from beijing to deal with the matter in a cool—headed and prudent way and yet they haven't taken the balloon out of us airspace as far as we are aware. that taken the balloon out of us airspace as far as we are aware.— as far as we are aware. that is ri . ht as far as we are aware. that is right and _ as far as we are aware. that is right and tracking _ as far as we are aware. that is right and tracking it _ as far as we are aware. that is right and tracking it has - as far as we are aware. that is i right and tracking it has become something of an armchair support for legions of people online here and around the world. it is thought to be heading eastwards over the carolinas and apparently it will end “p carolinas and apparently it will end up over the east coast some time later today. and of course, president biden has been under a lot of pressure particularly following the discovery of that second balloon over latin america. republicans have argued that this could be a way of

testing america's air defence systems, for example. there have been calls for it to be shut down as we heard in those reports but so far president biden has resisted those calls not least because it could ratchet up the tensions with china and it could shower debris. this is and it could shower debris. this is a building that is set to be the length of three buses, on to americans below. but there where some speculation once the balloon has passed over american aerospace and into us airspace over the atlantic ocean, if you like, that could prompt a rethink as far as the pentagon and officials at the white house are concerned. that is merely speculation. of course, the only way to really find out what this balloon is all about is to examine the pieces. is all about is to examine the ieces. �* ., , ., ~ ., pieces. and david, any talk about when the secretary _ pieces. and david, any talk about when the secretary of _ pieces. and david, any talk about when the secretary of state's - pieces. and david, any talk about | when the secretary of state's visit to beijing may be rescheduled for if indeed they are thinking of rescheduling yet? element not so far, ben but in actualfact, both

sides have said they are very keen to get those discussions back on track. this was to have been a very big visit as far as anthony blinken was concerned. he was due to sit down with the president and of course there is a lot on the agenda, not least taiwan and so on there is momentum on both sides to get the visit rearranged but no indication just at the moment as to when that might happen and of course events playing out here over the next few days could either bring it forward or push it back. thank you very much for the update. courts in england and wales were told to wave through bulk applications by energy companies for the power to forcibly install prepayment meters in domestic homes, in recent internal advice obtained by the bbc. previous guidelines requiring the very careful scrutiny of warrant applications are "now disproportionate".

the national leadership magistrate posted new advice in the magistrates section of the judicial intranet service in the last month saying it would be "irrational" for concerned magistrates not to grant energy companies such warrants, often a few hundred at a time. our work and money correspondent noor naji is with us. quite a lot of technical terms and terminology and references. just tell us more about what we have learned. we tell us more about what we have learned. ~ , , , ., , learned. we 'ust broken the story this learned. we just broken the story this afternoon _ learned. we just broken the story this afternoon and _ learned. we just broken the story this afternoon and it _ learned. we just broken the story this afternoon and it relates - learned. we just broken the story this afternoon and it relates to i this afternoon and it relates to forcibly and storing prepayment meters. that is something we've been talking about a lot in the last week. of course, we had that investigation by the times which exposed how they are broken into vulnerable peoples homes in order to fix these metres. there's been a lot of concern and discussion around oliver since then. to give your

sense of the scale here. every day last year over 1000 warrants of entry were granted in order to forcibly fit these metres in peoples homes. we have obtained this new internal advice to all magistrates to reflect that there was some sort of internal disquiet that the process had been watered down and magistrates were essentially being obliged to take energy companies claim is in good faith with little

or no questioning so the top magistrate duncan webster told his colleagues last month it would be irrational to block the claims made by energy companies under oath and when he was answering a question about what had changed from the days when such applications were scrutinised more carefully, very carefully, mr webster said old advice had not essentially kept up with energy companies procedures now in a way disproportionate. so it is also important to say that almost all of these claims are actually made through computerised systems. some times of the raised over telephone calls and up to 1000 claims can be processed with warrants than giving legal power of access to properties and those can beissued access to properties and those can be issued in a matter of minutes. wind energy companies pay a fee per case which helps fund the court system. case which helps fund the court s stem. ~ . .,,, case which helps fund the court s stem. ~ . .,, , ., case which helps fund the court s stem. ~ . , ., ., ., system. what has been a reaction to all others? — system. what has been a reaction to all others? some _ system. what has been a reaction to all others? some said _ system. what has been a reaction to all others? some said the _ system. what has been a reaction to all others? some said the advice - all others? some said the advice showed that _ all others? some said the advice showed that magistrates - all others? some said the advice showed that magistrates had - all others? some said the advice i showed that magistrates had been safeguarding process and of course thatis safeguarding process and of course that is a concern. campaigners say because that suggest that energy companies, systems are not correctly identifying those vulnerable customers to whom these processes should not apply. there have also been concerns, as we say, no light of everything they come out this week with that investigation by the times. this isjust adding on to that and the government said this was a matter for the that and the government said this was a matterfor the independent judiciary. the magistrate leadership initiative has been approved by the bbc for comment. judicial sources

suggested the comment was in expiration of her current beau and processes magistrates are bound to apply. processes magistrates are bound to a. .l _ ., ~' , ., , . processes magistrates are bound to a--l. . , . ., apply. thank you very much for brinuain apply. thank you very much for bringing us _ apply. thank you very much for bringing us up _ apply. thank you very much for bringing us up to _ apply. thank you very much for bringing us up to date - apply. thank you very much for bringing us up to date on - apply. thank you very much for bringing us up to date on the l bringing us up to date on the developing story. thank you. 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 400—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. let's bring you some live pictures now from south sudan, where pope francis is holding an ecumenical prayer and celebrating mass at thejohn garang mausoleum. we can speak to our correspondent he was at the location as well. is it well attended? tell us about the significance of what is happening there right now. 50. significance of what is happening there right now.— significance of what is happening there right now. so, i am outside there right now. so, i am outside

the mausoleum, _ there right now. so, i am outside the mausoleum, as _ there right now. so, i am outside the mausoleum, as you - there right now. so, i am outside the mausoleum, as you said, - there right now. so, i am outside i the mausoleum, as you said, behind me as a gate that goes into the mausoleum that is holding about 50,000 people now and on the streets there are thousands of others have not been able to access the venue where the paper is going to hold prayers. is actually holding prayers this evening. you bourbon walking, again, for a really long distances and heading to the mausoleum. they have been tracking, billy old people, people in wheelchairs, people, people in wheelchairs, people who are sick and they're going to just be people who are sick and they're going tojust be in the people who are sick and they're going to just be in the presence of the pope and the other two leaders so it is quite a busy evening here and people are seated waiting. outside there are big screens that have been put for people who are not able to be in the mausoleum to be able to be in the mausoleum to be able to be in the mausoleum to be able to follow what the paper saying and how the prayers will be unfolding. and how the prayers will be unfolding-— and how the prayers will be unfoldinu. , , ., ., , unfolding. just explain for us the significance- _ unfolding. just explain for us the significance. this _ unfolding. just explain for us the significance. this is _ unfolding. just explain for us the significance. this is a _ unfolding. just explain for us the significance. this is a symbolic i significance. this is a symbolic location for the pope to visit, isn't it? it location for the pope to visit, isn't it? , , ., .,

isn't it? it is. it is the father of the nation- _ isn't it? it is. it is the father of the nation. a _ isn't it? it is. it is the father of the nation. a man _ isn't it? it is. it is the father of the nation. a man who - isn't it? it is. it is the father of the nation. a man who really l isn't it? it is. it is the father of l the nation. a man who really led isn't it? it is. it is the father of - the nation. a man who really led the people when they were fighting for independence. i was only able to be president for less than a month before he was killed in a plane crash. he was president of the then autonomous south sudan region. a man who, i would say, his politics, and his acumen, his charisma is really missed in south sudan. i don't think he would be happy to see whatever is happening in south sudan now because he really wanted peace and one mission and one south sudan and the prayer is being held here since send a really strong message to the people of south sudan under the leadership to steal the country in the that he would have loved the country to go. the that he would have loved the country to go-— the that he would have loved the country to go. sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, here's chetan.

thank you. are going to start with a shock result in the english premier league. the leaders, arsenal, have lost for only the second time this season as everton made a winning start under their new manager. the former burnley boss only took over earlier this week following frank lampard's sucking and he made it a dream start with a 1—0 win. are like them one nails. they pretend they don't, they do, trust me. a lot of work done this week and have been very pleased with the players foot of their honesty has a staff to get the staff point as she is like and a base to work from. a few of them felt that they had let down the last staff and i appreciated that honesty. there had to be a base to work from. there had to be a base to work from. there had to be a feel of a group and

commitment to the cause and there was plenty of that tonight. i had made over 50 minutes played in the 3pm kick—offs in england in the premier league. liverpool's troubles continuing. they are without a league win year. they trailed 2—0 at wolves. both those goals down to all offending within the. leicester city leading at aston villa 3—2 at the moment. brentford are up against southampton. no goals between brighton and bournemouth. there late match is at newcastle take on manchester united. in scotland, rangers are looking to close the gap to celtic at the top to six points if they beat ross county. their 1—0 up in that one. aberdeen lead my motherwell. the

super league and manchester city beat bottom of the league leicester at the stadium to go third. aston villa drawing one all at home to brighton in the days of the match. it has not been a dream return for wales head coach warren gatland in the opening match of rugby union's six nations. ireland were a relentless in cardiff making it a miserable day for the welsh. ireland showing why they are the number one side in the world and the favourites. james ryan, james lowe and the first quarter for ireland. a bonus point fourth for the irish. 34-10. and bonus point fourth for the irish. 34—10. and less than half an hour, england begin their first six nations campaign against the scotland side hoping to win successive games at twickenham in the six nations for the first time.

they replaced eddiejones last month while in december and is relishing his first match.— his first match. there are a few fixtures invoke _ his first match. there are a few fixtures invoke the _ his first match. there are a few fixtures invoke the that - his first match. there are a few fixtures invoke the that have i his first match. there are a few. fixtures invoke the that have the ability to be more exciting than this fixture. the history, the rivalries within it, the memories within it and am looking forward to a packed twickenham. loud, packed twickenham this weekend. i will have more for you — twickenham this weekend. i will have more for you in _ twickenham this weekend. i will have more for you in the _ twickenham this weekend. i will have more for you in the next _ twickenham this weekend. i will have more for you in the next hour - twickenham this weekend. i will have more for you in the next hour but - more for you in the next hour but foreign now, back to you, ben. 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 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. our reporter olivia richwald joins

us live now from the village of st michael's on wyre in lancashire. what is the latest on the search, olivia? ~ , ., olivia? well, the light is fading now but it _ olivia? well, the light is fading now but it has _ olivia? well, the light is fading now but it has been _ olivia? well, the light is fading now but it has been another . olivia? well, the light is fading | now but it has been another day olivia? well, the light is fading . now but it has been another day of searching both from the police and also an army of community volunteers. the police were here from early this morning with a helicopter. it was hovering low overhead for quite some time. presumably scouring the river from above. we also saw police on foot walking the length of the river and they told me they were going to be walking the entire land from here to where nicola disappeared to the bit

where nicola disappeared to the bit where the weather joins where nicola disappeared to the bit where the weatherjoins the sea. it is about eight and a half mile so another day of searching from the police. we have not had any updates from the police today meanwhile there has been a big community operation going on. not very far from where i am standing, just over there, there is a tennis club and thatis there, there is a tennis club and that is where the community led effort has been coordinated from. you can walk in there as a volunteer and pick up one of about ten maps of the river to then go and do your own searches and volunteers we have been speaking to have come from quite far afield, actually, from across the north west and even cumbria. some have brought dogs and others about things like metal detectors and drones because everyone is just trying to do their bit to try to find out what happened to nicola. it is now eight days since she vanished. is now eight days since she vanished-— is now eight days since she vanished. . ., ~' , ., , vanished. olivia, thank you very much. 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. senior officials from the european union visited kyiv yesterday — they have said that "ukraine's future is inside the eu".

the comments were made at a summit hosted by president volodymyr zelensky. there was no mention of a timeline — eu pledged to support ukraine and its people for as long as it takes. meanwhile, portugal announced it will give its leopard tanks to ukraine — and president biden is expected to announce a visit to europe in the coming days. with me is radoslaw sikorski, the former polish minister of defence and foreign affairs, now serving as the chair of eu parliament's us delegation. very good to have you with us here. how likely, how soon do you think it will be that ukraine would join the eu and or nato? the will be that ukraine would 'oin the eu and or nato?�* eu and or nato? the visit by the colleae eu and or nato? the visit by the college of _ eu and or nato? the visit by the college of commissioners - eu and or nato? the visit by the college of commissioners is - eu and or nato? the visit by the college of commissioners is a i eu and or nato? the visit by the i college of commissioners is a very important signal to moscow that we will not be intimidated even though you are shelling to have we will do the summit and proceed with the preparation for negotiations on

membership with ukraine, and it will be ukraine's progress in changing, and adopting that will determine the pace of that process. very important. and, of course, this is a reward for ukraine's bravery but ukraine should know that there will be no short cut. ukraine needs to adopt the entire body of eu law which gets denser and denser with every decade because the eu evolves so they have a lot to do. i think it could be done by the end of the decade. ., .., decade. end of the decade. of course, decade. end of the decade. of course. such _ decade. end of the decade. of course, such unions, - decade. end of the decade. of course, such unions, shots- decade. end of the decade. of- course, such unions, shots blocks are funded in large part on trust between nations and there will be many in ukraine who will see the comments attributed to you that the polish government considered a partition of ukraine, you categorically rule that out? you

make that was a tricky questions by their journalist make that was a tricky questions by theirjournalist but i did not see anything like that. i'd make the polish government never considered a partition of ukraine proposed by putting in the early days of the work? ., ., ., ., ., ,~' work? you would have to ask the polish government _ work? you would have to ask the polish government that. - work? you would have to ask the polish government that. these i work? you would have to ask the i polish government that. these bugs are founded — polish government that. these bugs are founded on _ polish government that. these bugs are founded on trust _ polish government that. these bugs are founded on trust and _ polish government that. these bugs are founded on trust and death, i polish government that. these bugs are founded on trust and death, you j are founded on trust and death, you know, if they are to work then people need to know that the other countries they are working alongside, that they have absolute solidarity and cooperation and in that vein, do you feel that enough is being done to support ukraine militarily at the moment with the pledges of weaponry and arms that we have seen from various european nations? you limit the question is, are we delivering enough to counter russians in time? and secondly, i be giving the ukrainians enough for ukraine to win orjust to stop the russians? and i hope we will do more because there seems to be a russian

offensive coming along and we need to give enough to the ukrainians not only to stop the offensive but to recover sie think it is falling short to make a significant impact on the direction of the war? you make you saw yourself this endless debate about the tanks. and we need the contracts to be signed, for the tanks to be modernised for the battlefield. i would rather spend time on that than political wrangling. you deal with the us in your current role quite a lot. how do you see the current transatlantic relationship and strength of the nato alliance? you limit welcome i think we were lucky that we had, we have president biden in the white house. but have president biden in the white house. �* ~' , , ., house. but i think there seems to... if putin house. but i think there seems to... if putin was — house. but i think there seems to... if putin was counting _ house. but i think there seems to... if putin was counting on _ house. but i think there seems to... if putin was counting on our - if putin was counting on our disunity it was one of the things that he failed to predict. both

inside congress and between the united states and the eu there is consensus that putin should not benefit from this act of aggression. 0k, benefit from this act of aggression. ok, we must end it that by thank you very much and speaking to us. former minister of defence and foreign affairs. . ~ minister of defence and foreign affairs. ., ~' , ., minister of defence and foreign affairs._ thank- minister of defence and foreign affairs._ thank you i minister of defence and foreign i affairs._ thank you for affairs. thank you. thank you for watching- _ affairs. thank you. thank you for watching- i _ affairs. thank you. thank you for watching. i will _ affairs. thank you. thank you for watching. i will see _ affairs. thank you. thank you for watching. i will see very - affairs. thank you. thank you for watching. i will see very soon. i affairs. thank you. thank you for i watching. i will see very soon. bye 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 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 isles, 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.

this is bbc news, the headlines: officials from beijing and washington speak by phone to try to ease tensions over a suspected chinese spy balloon in american airspace. the us secretary of state has postponed a trip to china, saying the presence of the object was unacceptable. documents obtained by bbc news show magistrates in england and wales were told to wave through a bulk of applications by energy companies to focibly install prepayment meteres in homes. pope francis continues his visit to south sudan, trying to persuade political leaders to end the conflict that has gripped the country since independence.