this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. the us military shoots down a suspected chinese spy balloon that had flown into american territory. three airports were closed and airspace was shut down so it could be targeted over the atlantic ocean. china claimed it was a weather balloon that had flown off course. i ordered the pentagon to shoot it down. as soon as they decided without doing damage to anyone on the ground. they decided the best time to do that was... 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 metres 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. welcome once again. the us has shot down a chinese surveillance balloon that it says has been spying on key military sites across america. the department of defense confirmed its fighterjets brought down the balloon over us territorial waters on the east coast. we can see that moment in these pictures from our partners cbs in the united states.

we can see that moment in these pictures from our partners cbs in the united states. three airports were shut and airspace was closed off the coast of north and south carolina as the military carried out the operation, which was approved by president biden on wednesday. china had said the craft was a meteorological research balloon that had been blown off course. this is what president biden told reporters shortly after the balloon was taken down. i ordered the pentagon to shoot it down as soon as possible, they decided without doing damage to anyone on the they to do that when it got over water. it successfully was ta ken to do that when it got over water. it successfully was taken down and i want to complement our aviators who did it, and we'll have more to report on a little later. our north america correspondent, david willis, sent this update shortly after the initial news was confirmed. it's making its way to the salty waters of— it's making its way to the salty waters of the atlantic ocean as we

speak, _ waters of the atlantic ocean as we speak, and — waters of the atlantic ocean as we speak, and they are, the challenge really— speak, and they are, the challenge really comes into play — how to recover — really comes into play — how to recover what is on board. crucially, the mechanics, the machinery to be able to— the mechanics, the machinery to be able to work— the mechanics, the machinery to be able to work out what this device was actually doing — was it a surveillance operation coming out of china, _ surveillance operation coming out of china, or— surveillance operation coming out of china, orwas surveillance operation coming out of china, or was it simply collecting meteorological data? the united states _ meteorological data? the united states has been, or president biden has been _ states has been, or president biden has been under pressure to shoot this down from some on the right—wing of the conservative party — right—wing of the conservative party in — right—wing of the conservative party. in response to pressure of the military, who argued there was nothing _ the military, who argued there was nothing to— the military, who argued there was nothing to be gained, and it could have _ nothing to be gained, and it could have tteen— nothing to be gained, and it could have been dangerous to bring it down

over us _ have been dangerous to bring it down over us airspace. but now, it is over— over us airspace. but now, it is overthe... ocean. but they over us airspace. but now, it is over the... ocean. but they then sharply— over the... ocean. but they then sharply give _ over the... ocean. but they then sharply give way, there's a sharp pledge _ sharply give way, there's a sharp pledge thereafter, on the surface .oes pledge thereafter, on the surface goes down to about 6500 feet. so, the challenge, having shot this down, it— the challenge, having shot this down, it is to be able to recover... it has _ down, it is to be able to recover... it has to— down, it is to be able to recover... it has to be — down, it is to be able to recover... it has to be retrieved carefully. michael clarke is a defence and security analyst and joins me now. what do you make of what the motivation for bringing down balloon was, was it optics or didn't present

a danger? i was, was it optics or didn't present a dancer? ., �* ~' was, was it optics or didn't present adanuer? ., �* ~ , , a danger? i don't think it presented any danger- — a danger? i don't think it presented any danger. it wasn't _ a danger? i don't think it presented any danger. it wasn't going to - any danger. it wasn't going to pick up any danger. it wasn't going to pick up much from the midwest. there was nothing to be gained from that. this was clearly a chinese stunt of some sort. the chinese must�*ve known that this balloon would be easily detected because it was pretty low down and flying at 60,000 feet. it was visible to the naked eye from the ground. i think this was meant to be a challenge that went wrong for the chinese. the united states, i think whether biden has changed his mind about shooting it down. he has a perfectly straightforward explanation. they waited till the safest possible moment. they decided the legal limit was the time to shoot it down. he can make the case

that he has been completely rational, cool and calm, and it makes the republicans looking sort of adventurous... they know how to explain what benefit there would have been if shooting it down over montana when the debris might have fallen on people, i think that's an overstatement, but as opposed to doing it in this very careful, calculated way over water. how difficult would _ calculated way over water. how difficult would that _ calculated way over water. how difficult would that be - calculated way over water. how difficult would that be to execute? the recovery always has to be a problem. this is pretty deep in terms of recovering relatively small objects in the water, and it goes over the continental shelf. that would be a big job. over the continental shelf. that would be a bigjob. it over the continental shelf. that would be a big job. it may not be worth it. wouldn't have been anything very amazing, but it's

worth recovering. balloons are not easy to bring down. they failed in the past. this will take a lot of cannon shells, but they don't deflate them enough to bring them down. it looks as if it was f—22... that must�*ve been about 10,000 feet below it. they fired at least one missile. in the past, they have been known to surpass the rate through a balloon. maybe it was an approximate fuse, and it looked from the little bit of film we got, as if it was a single hit with the sidewinder

missile and it will be very interesting to know to make it work like that. well done to the us air force. , ., ., , ., ., ., force. they no doubt wanted to do that action, _ force. they no doubt wanted to do that action, make _ force. they no doubt wanted to do that action, make it _ force. they no doubt wanted to do that action, make it a _ force. they no doubt wanted to do that action, make it a clean - that action, make it a clean operation, because the next question is how it may not affect the trajectory of us—china relations. it putsit trajectory of us—china relations. it puts it into the deep freeze for a while. antony blinken's trip to beijing, this was something that the chinese wanted... i think in beijing, the left—handed know what the right hand was so they realised they had this military challenge going on at a time when lincoln was clear to go to china. —— blinken. it

means that the chinese will have to take the meeting... the us gets the benefit of pointing to the rest the world of china doing this all the time. there's one flying now as we speak over latin america. the chinese are spying all the time, they say, contravening their airspace. the chinese are on the defensive of this one. they can say is much as they want. then the relationship will get back on track, i think, and relationship will get back on track, ithink, and blinken relationship will get back on track, i think, and blinken will go to beijing and may agree not to talk about balloons.— beijing and may agree not to talk about balloons. someone who has certainly been talking _ about balloons. someone who has certainly been talking a lot - about balloons. someone who has certainly been talking a lot about i certainly been talking a lot about balloons. let's speak now to hayley walsh. she saw the balloon

and the jet from her house. tell us what happened. i could have never imagined _ tell us what happened. i could have never imagined that _ tell us what happened. i could have never imagined that it _ tell us what happened. i could have never imagined that it would - tell us what happened. i could have never imagined that it would be - never imagined that it would be going over myrtle beach, where i live. my mother and i located it, and that's where i have the video of the balloon being surrounded by three fighterjets. my the balloon being surrounded by three fighter jets. my stepdad the balloon being surrounded by three fighterjets. my stepdad is retired, and we let him know and went outside to watch it tomorrow —— some more. my stepdad said he suspected they would shoot it over once they were in the ocean, so it wouldn't hit any people in the population, and he was absolutely right. he stepped in for a second to watch the news and get updates and we heard a huge boom, the house shook. i grew up on a military base and i've never heard orfelt this

before. and i've never heard or felt this before. ~ , ., ., ., ., before. were you aware that something — before. were you aware that something was _ before. were you aware that something was afoot? - before. were you aware that something was afoot? your| before. were you aware that - something was afoot? your local airport was shut down. absolutely. that was definitely _ airport was shut down. absolutely. that was definitely a _ airport was shut down. absolutely. that was definitely a big _ airport was shut down. absolutely. that was definitely a big sign - airport was shut down. absolutely. that was definitely a big sign that. that was definitely a big sign that something was going to happen. previously when airlines were flying by, they pointed out. it definitely gave us of like that there was a plan. it was going away from the ocean... it all makes —— it started making sense of. ilttui’iiiii ocean. .. it all makes -- it started making sense of.— making sense of. will how do you feel about the _ making sense of. will how do you feel about the idea _ making sense of. will how do you feel about the idea of _ making sense of. will how do you feel about the idea of china - making sense of. will how do you i feel about the idea of china because my balloon feeling over the united state? do you feel unsettled? i’m state? do you feel unsettled? i'm not tuite state? do you feel unsettled? i“n not quite sure because we know we have satellites, so it's a bit strange they would find a balloon over... unless they had an issue with their satellite, so i think

they're trying to tested the usa. how difficult would be to retrieve information?— how difficult would be to retrieve information? they made sure they shot it down _ information? they made sure they shot it down during _ information? they made sure they shot it down during the _ information? they made sure they shot it down during the daytime. l information? they made sure they| shot it down during the daytime. is this something you and your neighbours have been talking about? or is it really something you sort of thought about for the first time in the balloon was close to where you in the balloon was close to where ou live? �* , ., . ~ in the balloon was close to where ou live? �* , . . ~ �* you live? i've been tracking it. and once we saw _ you live? i've been tracking it. and once we saw the _ you live? i've been tracking it. and once we saw the balloon _ you live? i've been tracking it. and once we saw the balloon and - you live? i've been tracking it. and i once we saw the balloon and headed home to observe it more, all our neighbours were outside talking about it. when the balloon got shot down, you could hear them screaming,

"oh, my god, it's going down, they shot it." i'm not sure how many other people have it on their radar. everyone in myrtle beach knows there was a chinese balloon overhead today. was a chinese balloon overhead toda . . ~ was a chinese balloon overhead toda . ., ,, i. was a chinese balloon overhead toda . ., ~' ,, , was a chinese balloon overhead toda. ., , . today. thank you very much indeed for “oinint today. thank you very much indeed forjoining us- _ i'm joined now byjohn parachini, a defence expert from rand corporation. what do you make about the nature of this operation? what do you make about the nature of this operation?— this operation? well, yes, it doesnt this operation? well, yes, it doesn't seem _ this operation? well, yes, it doesn't seem like _ this operation? well, yes, it doesn't seem like it's - this operation? well, yes, it doesn't seem like it's been l this operation? well, yes, it| doesn't seem like it's been a thought through operation. i'm intrigued to hear that planes were circling around the balloon several times. clearly, that's a way to learn more about it. by the time you shoot it down, you learn less, because it is not operational and you might not get all the pieces. this was clearly well thought out. we knew on january the 28th this was clearly well thought out. we knew onjanuary the 28th when it

entered, there was time to make appropriate preparations. do entered, there was time to make appropriate preparations.- appropriate preparations. do you think it was _ appropriate preparations. do you think it was necessary _ appropriate preparations. do you think it was necessary to - appropriate preparations. do you think it was necessary to shoot it down and why?— think it was necessary to shoot it down and why? well, the political o tics that down and why? well, the political optics that develops _ down and why? well, the political optics that develops over - down and why? well, the political optics that develops over the - down and why? well, the political. optics that develops over the course of the last 2a hours, i think made that an important part. but it also became a way to try to get some of the physical material and examine that. there's only so much you can do. i'm sure we were able to examine it in terms of signals and pictures, but getting your hands on some of the material might also be quite valuable. �* ,, , ., valuable. and if the us is china relations -- — valuable. and if the us is china relations -- us-china - valuable. and if the us is china relations -- us-china relationsj valuable. and if the us is china - relations -- us-china relations were relations —— us—china relations were looking... how might one get them

back on track? this looking. .. how might one get them back on track?— back on track? this is one of the really unfortunate _ back on track? this is one of the really unfortunate assets, - back on track? this is one of the i really unfortunate assets, because secretary blinken was slated to do have discussion with the chinese leadership. two major powers like the united states and china, that have so many ways where we're tied economically, this sets us back. it's very unfortunate. whether it was a clear provocation, not clear. whether it was a mistake and got away from them, possible. whether it was totally an accident and not planned, that's also possible too, and it's incumbent upon the chinese to explain the situation. it gives

them a chance for the united states and china to talk about what are the rules of the road for coming into the of one another �*s country. rules of the road for coming into the of one another 's country. john, thank ou the of one another 's country. john, thank you very _ the of one another 's country. john, thank you very much _ the of one another 's country. john, thank you very much indeed. - joining me now is our north america correspondent, david willis. we've been hearing about the balloon through somebody�*s garden. clearly very well thought through. i guess the next question is, what happens now? . �* , the next question is, what happens now? ., �*, ., , the next question is, what happens now? ., h ., , the next question is, what happens now? ., �*, ., , , ., now? that's a very good question, and the challenge _ now? that's a very good question, and the challenge is _ now? that's a very good question, and the challenge is to _ now? that's a very good question, and the challenge is to retrieve - now? that's a very good question, | and the challenge is to retrieve the data, that part of the balloon that contains all the information about its intent, before it sinks to the bottom of the atlantic ocean. there are parts of the ocean that go down as far as 6000 feet. this is really the big challenge that lies ahead. apparently navy crafter in the area liaising with local coastguard, but

it's going to be quite a battle that the us wants to win — needs to win, i should say — if it's to prove that this balloon was engaging in some sort of spying operation as distinct of the chinese alleged. he ordered it to be shot _ of the chinese alleged. he ordered it to be shot down _ of the chinese alleged. he ordered it to be shot down on _ of the chinese alleged. he ordered it to be shot down on wednesday, | it to be shot down on wednesday, that that order came from him and that that order came from him and that was his initiative, so there was a lot about optics here. titers; was a lot about optics here. very much so- — was a lot about optics here. very much so- the — was a lot about optics here. very much so. the president - was a lot about optics here. - much so. the president has come under increasing criticism from his republican adversaries for not acting sooner on this. it was explained at a pentagon regarding why he didn't —— pentagon briefing. believed to be brought down last wednesday, which is the day before his presence was even made public. but military officials decided to

hang on because there's a fear of it being brought down over the us mainland. they decided to wait cautiously until it crossed the south carolina coast, whereupon it cleared the airspace. they fire that one shot from a us fighterjet that brought the balloon down. for one shot from a us fighter 'et that brought the balloon down._ one shot from a us fighter 'et that brought the balloon down. for all of the messages _ brought the balloon down. for all of the messages to _ brought the balloon down. for all of the messages to china, _ brought the balloon down. for all of the messages to china, no - brought the balloon down. for all of the messages to china, no doubt i brought the balloon down. for all of| the messages to china, no doubt the concern is also to instill confidence in the american people. very much so. us—china relations and key to the next year's presidential election, most particularly if china does anything in regard to taiwan. so, there's a lot at stake here, but the clear message from the biden administration — which has been tougher on china than predecessors —

this sort of thing cannot be engaged with, and china... this was simply blown off course. itjust doesn't blown off course. it 'ust doesn't wash. . ., , ., . wash. the context is that in recent months it appeared _ wash. the context is that in recent months it appeared there - wash. the context is that in recent months it appeared there was - wash. the context is that in recent. months it appeared there was some hope for a better cause for us—china relations, the wider context is very fraught. it relations, the wider context is very frau . ht. , ., relations, the wider context is very frau:ht. , ., ~ ., , fraught. it is indeed, and antony blinken's much _ fraught. it is indeed, and antony blinken's much prepared - fraught. it is indeed, and antony blinken's much prepared for - fraught. it is indeed, and antony blinken's much prepared for trip| fraught. it is indeed, and antony l blinken's much prepared for trip to beijing, cancelled at the last minute because of this snafu over the balloon. that's regrettable as far as many diplomats concerned. there was a lot on the embedded ——

agenda. they were basically... this gathering to beijing, guardrails to prevent any escalation of any future conflict. that has been put on the back burner. they are both saying they are open to rescheduling and antony blinken made quite clear that before that happens, the balloon has to be done with.— to be done with. where does this leave us-china _ to be done with. where does this leave us-china relations? - to be done with. where does this leave us-china relations? he - to be done with. where does this l leave us-china relations? he often leave us—china relations? he often not to reply. do you think we will hear from them not to reply. do you think we will hearfrom them again? not to reply. do you think we will hear from them again?— not to reply. do you think we will hear from them again? that's right and that was _ hear from them again? that's right and that was like _ hear from them again? that's right and that was like there _ hear from them again? that's right and that was like there a _ hear from them again? that's right| and that was like there a throwaway comment. i think the point was really to make the point that he had given permission to be shot down on wednesday. that was the message he stuck to in that little interaction with reporters there on his way to the presidential retreat camp. we

may get more on this from the president, probably not today. he's let the pentagon officials to speak for themselves. they have come up with some interesting stuff, saying they believe this balloon was part of a fleet of blooms that had violated the sovereignties of countries across five continents. david willis, thank you very much indeed. daniel davis is a senior fellow for defense priorities and a former lieutenant colonel in the us army. he's in denver, colorado. president biden was very keen to congratulate the aviators who conducted this, and it was perhaps more complicated than normal people like me might have imagined. you know, it like me might have imagined. mt. know, it actually was. you wouldn't think a balloon... but so much of the targeting capacities of our

modern weapons used heat signatures and a balloon and 65,000 feet didn't have... when it was sitting over south carolina, it was neither here nor there whether they could have done it over a sparsely populated area. they chose to wait until it was over the water and that's exactly what happened. ihla was over the water and that's exactly what happened. no doubt it was important _ exactly what happened. no doubt it was important that _ exactly what happened. no doubt it was important that this _ exactly what happened. no doubt it was important that this was - exactly what happened. no doubt it i was important that this was executed in an effective and efficient and no fuss way. that puts them likely to be on the front when they resume the questions of us—china relations. i

questions of us—china relations. i would hope so. this is unfortunate issue. it's not the first time this issue. it's not the first time this is happened. it's been dealt with in the past. i believe there are so many really important issues between china and the us that need to be dealt with in an urgent manner. we talk about the potential for military conflict over taiwan, so i agree greta secretary mack to cancel this meeting, i would've rather have gone on schedule —— secretary blinken. then he could have dealt with the issues that were more important that matter to the national security interests. you say the matters — national security interests. you say the matters that... _ national security interests. you say

the matters that... the _ national security interests. you say the matters that... the fact - national security interests. you say the matters that... the fact of- national security interests. you say the matters that... the fact of the | the matters that... the fact of the united states _ the matters that... the fact of the united states and _ the matters that... the fact of the united states and china _ the matters that... the fact of the united states and china had - the matters that... the fact of the united states and china had bothl united states and china had both been on military over the potential a due of taiwan, it's been very clearfrom both sides, signed a deal with the philippines to expand the use of four additional military bases. they opened a new base for the first time in 70 years on lawn. —— guam. fighterjets up to the territory, they've been sending more ships in the water. we continue to do more and all this seems to be racking up tensions, and we need to get to a fine line of understanding and communications. that could potentially end up in an armed conflict, which would be cast or fall —— catastrophic.

conflict, which would be cast or fall -- catastrophic.— conflict, which would be cast or fall -- catastrophic. how important are these talks? _ fall -- catastrophic. how important are these talks? because _ fall -- catastrophic. how important are these talks? because although | fall -- catastrophic. how important. are these talks? because although it seems to be a thawing of relations, the broader picture is one of increased tensions. it the broader picture is one of increased tensions.- the broader picture is one of increased tensions. it is, and that's why — increased tensions. it is, and that's why i _ increased tensions. it is, and that's why i was _ increased tensions. it is, and that's why i was mentioned l increased tensions. it is, and i that's why i was mentioned that secretary blinken schedule this meeting. this would have been his first one since president biden took over. i think it's been a little late in coming. on the other hand, you have to wonder why china chose this moment to send that balloon. literally hours before sec. blinken got on his plane. we would be tracking it all the way, it might be coming up right before this happened, but... but coming up right before this happened, but...— coming up right before this happened, but... coming up right before this haened, but... �* , , happened, but... but you don't buy the line that _ happened, but... but you don't buy the line that it — happened, but... but you don't buy the line that it was _ happened, but... but you don't buy the line that it was a _ happened, but... but you don't buy the line that it was a mistake? - happened, but... but you don't buy the line that it was a mistake? no, | the line that it was a mistake? no, there's virtually _ the line that it was a mistake? no,

there's virtually no _ the line that it was a mistake? iifr, there's virtually no chance that that's the case. the fact that it stopped and hovered over our airport, that can't be an accident. thank you very much indeed. this is bbc news. good evening. 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'll see some spells of sunshine, albeit with a slightly chillier feel. but today has been unrelentingly cloudy in many places, 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, albeit with one or two showers, and some colder air. so, as the last of our rain band clears southwards during the night,

clear skies following on behind, we all 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, — here, it will stay pretty mild through the night. but 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 in the sky which could turn the sunshine hazy at times. but all in all, a brighter day, a slightly chillier one, 8, 9 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—eastwards. under the high, we could see fog patches developing but towards the north—west, for northern ireland, scotland, we'll see a bit 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 east — they 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 again between 710 degrees. now, 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. winds, particularly so, 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... the us shoots down a suspected chinese spy balloon that had flown into american territory. three airports were closed and airspace was shut down so it could be targeted. the us presidentjoe biden approved the plan. i ordered the pentagon to shoot it down on wednesday as soon as possible. they decided without doing damage to anyone on the ground, they decided that the best time to do that was as it got over water. 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. 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.