this is bbc news broadcasting to viewers in the uk and around the world. i'm lewis vaughan jones. the headlines. presidentjoe biden says that the united states is, in his words, "going to take care of" a suspected chinese spy balloon that has been tracked flying over american airspace. 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 led prayers for peace, unity and justice at the mausoleum ofjohn garang, the founding father of south sudan. the service was part of a "pilgrimage of peace" to the country torn by internal conflict.

china has called for a cool—headed handling of the dispute about a chinese spy balloon that's been seen over the united states. a senior chinese foreign ministry official has spoken with the us secretary of state antony blinken by phone, after he cancelled his trip to the country this weekend. presidentjoe biden says the united states is in his words "going to take care of" the balloon. beijing insists it is largely for meterological purposes and had been blown off course. a second balloon has been spotted over latin america. and in the last few minutes, the us has shut down three airports in relation to the matter. we'll get more on that from our correspondent in washington shortly, but first barbara plett usher has sent this report 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 defence officials say it's not the only one. the balloon 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. 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 chinese made some pointed comments in their defence but they also really made an effort to salvage the trip because they wanted it to happen. it was important to them, and that is why analysts here believe the balloon crisis could very well have been the result of some sort of mistake. antony blinken said he still plans to come when conditions are right. first, the balloon has to exit us airspace and it is nearly there, then work starts to reschedule the trip. but this has been a huge missed opportunity to try and stabilise a damaged but crucial relationship. barbara plett usher, bbc news, beijing.

we bbc news, beijing. saw in barbara's report aboutt location we saw in barbara's report about the location of the balloon and we can catch up with that. we have the latest pictures of when it reached north carolina. 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 all appearances, made of a soft, probably rubber or plastic—like material that makes, i would imagine, does make it very difficult to detect. and because it's difficult to detect, it's hard to effectively guide either a surface—to—air missile or a fighter onto it. both of those capabilities require radar in some shape or form, to be able to fix the target, follow it and then to be able to guide the aircraft or the missile in. joining me now is our north america correspondent, david willis.

we've had this news in the last 15 minutes about airports being shutdown? fix, minutes about airports being shutdown?— minutes about airports being shutdown? , ., ., shutdown? a bit of background, president biden _ shutdown? a bit of background, president biden has _ shutdown? a bit of background, president biden has been - shutdown? a bit of background, president biden has been under| president biden has been under pressure to do something about this over the last few days, especially following the discussion of another balloon over latin america. the announcement was made yesterday. there was a fear of raining baby from the balloon on americans —— raining debris from the balloon on americans below. it is on the coastline of north carolina and it is about to go into us territorial waters if it isn't already. this has prompted speculation that the us might be preparing to down the balloon over us territorial waters, where there is no risk to human

life. basically back—up that theory we've heard that flights to three airports in that region of north and south carolina have been suspended for the time being, raising speculation that there is some sort of operation being planned here, but we'll wait and see what happens. interesting, i know that you will be keeping across it. give us a flavour of how it's being viewed there. it's being seen around the world as a slightly extraordinary event. how is it playing in the public and reporting in the us? it playing in the public and re-uortin in the us? ., , reporting in the us? there have been a lot of calls — reporting in the us? there have been a lot of calls as— reporting in the us? there have been a lot of calls as you _ reporting in the us? there have been a lot of calls as you might _ reporting in the us? there have been a lot of calls as you might imagine i a lot of calls as you might imagine from republicans. donald trump among them. they want this thing to be blown out of the skies, some days ago, when it was first reported over the state of montana. republicans contend and indeed some national security advisers also that this

could have been put up to test america's air defence radar systems and to try and pinpoint any holes in that system. that is of course meant speculation. bringing it down, provided pieces can be recovered of course, intact, will help the us to determine whether a not this was indeed a spite craft as pentagon sources have alleged —— whether it was a spy craft as the pentagon has suggested or whether it was meteorological.— the bbc has seen internal guidance to magistrates in england and wales which said they should wave through bulk applications by energy companies who want to forcibly install prepayment meters in people's homes. earlier this week the regulator ofgem asked firms to suspend the compulsory installation of the devices — after a times newspaper investigation showed

british gas subcontractors breaking into the homes of vulnerable people. the magistrates�* leadership executive has been approached for comment. here's our work and money correspondent noor nanji. the first signs of spring. a six nations match in cardiff is guaranteed lift the winter gloom. dark days on the field last year... just to check you were watching, that was a mistake. we did not mean to run that story about the rugby going on in the uk and wales. the story about the prepayment meters is very important and we'll come back to it later. 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 400,000 people have been killed in violence

since independence 12 years ago. 0ur 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. at a meeting with displaced people the pope has urged all parties in the conflict to work for peace. translation: i want to renew with all my strength _ a heartfelt appeal to stop conflict and renew the peace process in a serious way so that the violence can end and people can live in dignity. only with peace and stability and development can there be social integration. there is no room forfurther delay. bbc africa correspondent merchuma has the latest from thejohn garang mausoleum.

an estimated 50,000 people are at thejohn garang mausoleum behind me. some of them were coming from 7am, coming and waiting to hear what the pope and other religious leaders have to say. there are messages of peace and reconciliation they want to pass to the people. it is very significant that these prayers are being held at this mausoleum named afterjohn garang who is a liberation hero who people in south sudan say they miss his charisma and political acumen. south sudan is a divided nation along ethnic lines. it isn't something john garang would be proud of and they hope the fact that the prayers are being held here is symbolic and sends a message to the political leaders of the country as well as to the people of south sudan that they need to change.

more now on the bbc having seen internal guidance to magistrates in england and wales which said they should wave through bulk applications by energy companies who want to forcibly install prepayment meters in people's homes. earlier this week, the regulator 0fgem asked firms to suspend the compulsory installation of the devices after a times newspaper investigation showed british gas subcontractors breaking into the homes of vulnerable people. the magistrates�* leadership executive has been approached for comment. here's our work and money correspondent noor nanji. this was the footage that thrust

energy companies firmly under the spotlight for prepayment meters. an undercover reporter from the times showed debt collectors working for british gas, breaking into the home of a single father with young children, to fit the device. the times found evidence of other stories like this, too. energy suppliers can legally force fit prepayment meters. it should be a last resort if people are in arrears and vulnerable customers should not be switched. every day last year over 1,000 warrants of entry were granted to energy companies, mainly in order to forcibly install prepayment meters. energy companies identify customers who are in arrears, then their agents apply for a warrant by telephone. they send in large spreadsheets with between 100 to 1,000 cases. according to evidence from pilot, the hearings will sign off, issue and send all the electronic warrants in a maximum of 15 minutes. this new advice to all magistrates, obtained by the bbc, reflects internal disquiet that the process had been watered down and that magistrates were being obliged to take energy companies' claims in good faith with little or no questioning. advice was issued by the top magistrate leadership executive to other magistrates,

saying it would be irrational to block the warrant because they had been made by energy companies under oath. some legal experts said the advice showed that magistrates had no safeguarding role in the process. i don't think this is what the public would reasonably expect of a process that empowers a private company to come and break your front door down. this is turning the process, has turned it into a rubber stamp when it should be a safeguard. campaigners said energy companies' systems were not correctly identifying vulnerable customers to whom these processes should not apply. vulnerable customers when faced with energy companies forcibly entering their homes to fix in a prepayment meter expect protection from the courts. that appears to not be happening and that is very concerning. the government said this was a matter for the independent judiciary. judicial sources said the document

was an explanation of the current law and processes that magistrates are bound to apply. the magistrates leadership executive have been approached for comment. noor nanji, bbc news. simon francis is the co—ordinator of the campaign group end fuel poverty coalition. thanks for coming on the programme. what do you make of these recent revelations? i what do you make of these recent revelations?— revelations? i think that the crisis is curowin revelations? i think that the crisis is growing day — revelations? i think that the crisis is growing day by _ revelations? i think that the crisis is growing day by day _ revelations? i think that the crisis is growing day by day and - revelations? i think that the crisis is growing day by day and hour. revelations? i think that the crisis is growing day by day and hour byj is growing day by day and hour by hour and the latest document the bbc obtained, what strikes is how nonchalantly magistrate seem to be taking this. it is like they are operating parking fines whereas actually it's an incredibly serious issue. if someone is in a vulnerable household, they might be using their energy for life—saving equipment such as a ventilator or medicines. if their power goes off because they can't afford to top up their meter

that becomes a life and death situation, something magistrates have to take incredibly seriously. it's a safeguard people need to ensure those vulnerable households aren't being put onto meters that aren't being put onto meters that are inappropriate for them. {sheen are inappropriate for them. given that potential _ are inappropriate for them. given that potential risk _ are inappropriate for them. given that potential risk that _ are inappropriate for them. given that potential risk that you - that potential risk that you highlighted, what do you want to see happening now? we highlighted, what do you want to see happening now?— highlighted, what do you want to see happening now? we need a complete ban on enforced _ happening now? we need a complete ban on enforced transfer _ happening now? we need a complete ban on enforced transfer of _ happening now? we need a complete ban on enforced transfer of people i ban on enforced transfer of people onto prepayment meters, by court warrant and through smart meter mode switching which is another element of this. the latest revelations about magistrates are proving these in back rooms without people being present to contest a decision or prove their vulnerability really highlights a really worrying issue with the magistrates courts and i think the ministry ofjustice will look at this because the minister of justice himself wrote to mps just last month stressing how important these vulnerability safeguards were.

0ne these vulnerability safeguards were. one thing that the document also shows is the fact that this is something that energy firms are giving evidence under oath. if an energy firm has gone to a magistrates�* court and said this is something where there are no honourable households and we know from the evidence that there are vulnerable households, then that technically means there�*s somebody who is lying under oath and the guidance says they are personally guilty of perjury and liable to the regulator. that�*s a very serious development in the scandal and one that the minister will want to look at. g , ., ,., that the minister will want to look at. , ., ., that the minister will want to look at. , ., ., at. just to point out, we don't have at. just to point out, we don't have a direct response _ at. just to point out, we don't have a direct response to _ at. just to point out, we don't have a direct response to that _ at. just to point out, we don't have a direct response to that at - at. just to point out, we don't have a direct response to that at the - at. just to point out, we don't have| a direct response to that at the bbc at this time. taking a step back and looking more widely, you�*ve called for an end to this practice completely. what do you want to see in its place? what kind of system would work so that energy companies

aren�*t left with these debts, but there�*s still those safeguards provided? there's still those safeguards rovided? ~ ~ ., �* provided? well, i think what we've seen is that _ provided? well, i think what we've seen is that this _ provided? well, i think what we've seen is that this is _ provided? well, i think what we've seen is that this is an _ provided? well, i think what we've seen is that this is an example - provided? well, i think what we've seen is that this is an example of i seen is that this is an example of an energy system that isn�*t fit for purpose and isn�*t helping people who need it the most and not giving anyone any comfort. the telegraph reported today that energy firms have 9 billion in overpaid direct debits sat in their bank accounts from customers. it�*s another example of a broken system and we need a completely fresh way of looking at how we pay for our energy. that could be in the form of social tariffs, those who are vulnerable get a discount as happens in other industries or it could be energy for all allowances where everybody gets all allowances where everybody gets a basic allowance to stay warm and dry in their homes. i think that really now, the time has come to have a proper look at the energy system and how we move forward in

terms of more energy efficiency for buildings and how we move away from oil and gas and onto the renewables. it should be an opportunity for us to reset how we work our energy system in the country.— to reset how we work our energy system in the country. thanks for cominu system in the country. thanks for coming on _ system in the country. thanks for coming on the — system in the country. thanks for coming on the programme. - police investigating the disappearance of mother—of—two nicola bulley say they want to trace a "key witness" who was seen pushing a pram in the area near where the dog walker went missing in lancashire. nicola was seen by a fellow dog—walker last friday morning shortly before 9am. she was last seen at ten past nine, in a field further along 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 dog�*s 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. 0ur reporter 0livia richwald has been in the village of st michael�*s on wyre in lancashire. the light has faded now but it�*s been another day of searching here in lancashire. the police have had their helicopters up above the river and they�*ve walked the length of this riverfrom here, near where she was last seen, to eight and a half miles out to sea. it is eight days since the 45—year—old mum of two was last seen. only in the last half—an—hour

the police have had a drone up. it�*s very much a search in progress. the community have also been helping out. not far from here there�*s a tennis club where volunteers have been turning up all day to get maps to do their bit to look for nicola bulley. the searches are likely to continue for the rest of the weekend. 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 health leaders have warned that strikes in the nhs are making it harder to clear the treatment backlog. the industrial action is believed to have led to the delay or cancellation of about 90,000

appointments and operations — and more walk—outs are due next week. the government has urged unions to carefully consider the impact of any action on patients. 0ur political correspondent jonathan blake reports. escalating strikes across the nhs in england. next week, nurses, paramedics, physiotherapists and others, will walk out demanding higher pay in some of the most widespread industrial action the health service has seen. the impact on patients has been clear, and so far figures suggest nearly 90,000 operations and appointments have been cancelled. health leaders say it is getting harder for hospitals and other services to cope. it�*s absolutely vital in the interests of patients in terms of those waiting for operations and those coming in as urgent cages, 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, but to do that we do need negotiations at a national level. i mean, it is all brilliant. rishi sunak has promised to bring down nhs waiting lists but says his main priority is halving inflation and argues paying public sector workers more would keep prices rising. the health secretary steve barclay has urged unions to keep talking and described previous discussions as constructive, but there is clearly an impasse on pay. what do we want? fair pay! - when do we want it? now! _ in wales, most of the strikes planned for next week have been postponed as union members consider a new pay offer from the welsh government of an extra 3%. for now, any similar pause to ongoing action in england looks unlikely. jonathan blake, bbc news. 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 a9, to get a top—up if they haven�*t already. nhs england says almost 400,000 appointments are still available. a 16—year—old girl has died after being attacked by a shark in western australia. she was pronounced dead after being pulled from the swan river in perth. reports say the girl was riding jet skis with friends when the incident happened and local police say it�*s possible the girl had jumped in the water to swim with dolphins nearby. it�*s believed to be the first fatal shark attack in the swan river in a hundred years. the royal navy is conducting an investigation after sailors on a warship needed hospital treatment for drinking contaminated water. hms portland returned to portsmouth after the incident, which is thought to have been caused when a crew member put the wrong chemical into the ship�*s drinking water system. nearly all of the sailors have been discharged from hospital. the ministry of defence said it�*s taking measures to safeguard personnel.

and how�*s this for beginner�*s luck? 18—year—old juliette lamourjust scooped nearly $36 million in canada�*s gold ball lottery jackpot on her first try. although she�*s the youngest canadian to ever win such a big prize, she still plans to finish her university studies and become a doctor. good on her. grey skies have featured heavily in saturday�*s weather, but i�*m hopeful that for sunday, blue skies should be a little more widespread. we shall see some spells of sunshine, albeit with a slightly chillier feel. today has been unrelentingly cloudy in many places, in fact the cloud on the satellite picture has been thick enough to produce the odd spot of drizzle, and this band of rain pushing its way south—eastward. behind that, notice clearer skies with one or two showers, and some colder air.

as the last of our rain band clears southwards during the night, clear skies following on behind, we get into that colder air, so temperatures will drop down to around freezing, maybe a touch below freezing. the one exception, the south of england, which will stay pretty mild through the night. into tomorrow, the last of that cloud will clear away and we will see some spells of sunshine. that said, it may well be that across northern ireland, northern england and scotland we see some areas of high cloud which could turn the sunshine hazy at times. all in all, a brighter day, a slightly chillier one, eight, nine or 10 degrees. if you do keep blue skies overhead, it is not going to feel too bad. what we have for tomorrow is an area of high pressure in charge. during tomorrow night that high is likely to slip a little further south—east. we could see fog patches developing but towards the north—west, for northern ireland, scotland, we will see more of a breeze and more cloud creeping in.

that will hold the temperatures up, whereas for england and wales, monday morning will get off to a cold and frosty start. one or two fog patches, particularly in the south each which will tend to clear. for england and wales plenty of sunshine through the day, northern ireland, and scotland, particularly the west of scotland, seeing more in the way of cloud. more of a breeze, maybe the odd spot of drizzle, and temperatures between seven and 10 degrees. as we head deeper into the week, high pressure will hold on in southern areas, keeping it mostly dry, but giving the risk of some fog patches. towards the north—west of the uk we see these frontal systems pushing in, with a chance for some rain, and certainly some stronger winds, particularly in the north of scotland. the greatest chance of wind and rain through the week towards the north and west of the uk, further south mainly dry, but with some patchy fog.

this is bbc news, the headlines all flights to and from three airports on the us east coast, on the route of a suspected chinese spy balloon, have been halted because of a national security operation. documents obtained by bbc news show magistrates in england and wales were told to wave through a bulk of applications by energy companies to forcibly install prepayment meteres in homes thousands of people join pope francis, and other christian

leaders, to pray for unity and justice at the mausoleum of south sudan�*s founding father, john garang.