hello, i'm samantha simmonds. after months of stalling, the us house of representatives, has finally approved a multi—billion dolar military aid package for ukraine, in its fight against russia. president zelensky said it was a "solution for saving lives". the vote had been delayed for six months by some republicans, who said they objected to the money being sent overseas, instead of being used at home. the aid is likely to be approved by the senate tomorrow, before being signed into law, by president biden. sarah smith has the very latest, live from washington. this is a five minute vote. as representatives voted on aid for ukraine, the country's blue and yellow flags appeared across the chamber, celebrating finally getting

the much—needed money approved. flag—waving on the floor is not...is not appropriate. democrats have wanted to send more aid for months. i fear that if you choose the putin route, you will have blood on your hands. the problem was a split within the republican party, with some of their members totally opposed. the problem was a split in the republican party, with some of their members totally opposed. this was a business model that requires congress - to continue to vote for money, . to continue to fund foreign wars, and this is a business model- the american people do not support. the house will be in order! over 100, just under half of the republicans in the house, did support the aid to ukraine. sir, do you expect the motion to vacate against you today? the republican leader, mikejohnson, put his job on the line to get this motion passed, and he may now face

a vote to remove him. it's an old military adage, but we would rather send bullets to the conflict overseas than our own boys, our troops. and i think this is an important moment, an important opportunity to make that decision. the us is already the largest provider of military and humanitarian aid to ukraine, sending over $74 billion in the first two years of the war. this new bill sends over 60 billion in addition, including money to replenish stocks of us weapons already sent to ukraine. almost $14 billion will be used to buy advanced weapon systems and defence articles for the country. president zelensky made this plea to nato yesterday. ukraine has asked and asks all of you to support our actions with sufficient numbers of weapons and shells — and it is a realistic request. ukraine's defence relies on weaponry sent from abroad, especially america. there are real fears that now they're running desperately short of rockets and artillery, they face defeat.

a separate vote, on $26 billion worth of military aid for israel, was less controversial. some democrats opposed it, though, because of how israel's conducting the war in gaza. the nays are 58, the bill is passed. both bills still need to get approval in the senate, but now the biggest political hurdle has been cleared, that's likely to happen early next week. sarah smith, bbc news, washington. for more, i spoke to our correspondent in washington helena humphrey who has been following the vote from capitol hill. what finally got this over the line was that rare display of bipartisanship which we saw. if you take a look at the vote tally, what you will nevertheless see with a vote tally is you we had more republicans voting against it than voting in favour of it when it came to the bill for ukraine, and it was the democratic votes that essentially got it over the line. this has been the crux of it for all of those months, with regards to speakerjohnson�*s previous apparent reluctance to bring it to the floor

were republican concerns about passing more foreign aid to ukraine at a time when they were calling for more stringent border regulations. nevertheless, we saw it pass, it now heads to the senate, president biden has called on senators to sign off on it quickly. there is a vote expected on tuesday so then it can go to his desk. we know that weaponry has been pre—positioned by the pentagon in an effort to try and get those much—needed air defence systems to kyiv in the coming days as opposed to weeks, but this was multipronged as well so also what we saw signs of today, aid to israel, also a provision for more humanitarian assistance when it comes to gaza, and also security aide for taiwan amid concerns about china's intention for taiwan. all of this will be sewed back together, now heads to the senate and the present�*s desk. president zelensky has welcomed this, he has visited washington just

months ago to try and get this pushed through. talking of timings, how soon do you think they could see any munitions that they so desperately need? so, it could potentially be days, because ofjust exactly how the pentagon has been looking at all of this political chaos, trying to do what they could behind—the—scenes to put weapons in the right places. if you look at the bill and how it breaks down, what you will see is billions, actually, which are intended to replenish us defence coffers. but this has been going on for such a long time. president zelensky was at the white house back in september when we were still having the same conversation about some $60 billion in us funding and questions about missiles, for example. but to talk more, i am joined now by dr nola haynes. she is a senior fellow at the centre for new american security. a warm welcome to you, dr haynes,

thank you forjoining us here on bbc news. i would like to get your reaction to what we have seen today, this foreign aid bill passing in the us house of representatives, what does it mean? well, first of all, thank you for having me. this is a wonderful day, not just for us democracy, for bipartisanship, but a wonderful day for the world because the us has shown the world that we are keeping our word and we are standing by our allies and partners, so it's an exciting day today. keeping its word but after a long time coming, i think, many people would say. america said it would stand with ukraine for as long as it takes but getting this sign—off has taken a long time, and it has onlyjust passed in the house, what does this mean for the war effort in ukraine? is there the risk that america could be perceived as being an unreliable partner?

listen, you are not wrong there, democracy is incredibly messy, and a lot of people around the world are watching for the moment that they think the us is declining, so i think two statements were made here today, yes democracy is messy but we came to the table and we delivered, and it made a very clear resounding sound to folks in congress who were not as willing to stand behind a bill without domestic infrastructure border concerns being attached to this bill, but the statement that was made today is that we have made a commitment and a promise to ukraine, and not only a commitment and promise to ukraine, i want to make it very clear, this is a three—tiered show of us strength — we are talking about deterring china in taiwan with our security package, we are talking about the security package we are sending to israel to deter more iranian aggression and also with the war that was started years ago in ukraine that russia thought it was going to end within a few

days, and that did not happen, so, yes, while democracy is incredibly messy, the showing of strength today showed the world that our commitments and our promises can circumvent and can definitely be the core thing that is most important to americans versus all the kind of political infighting, so i think two very important messages were sent today, very clear, very loud. let's talk about that point of political infighting then, ijust wonder there might have been some kind of collective sigh of relief among western allies, allies of ukraine, but do you think there is the potential here that this could all change with a new administration? that is a reality, that is a reality of democracy and a lot of conversations are happening about that reality. but here is the situation, here is the large international security situation, if russia is not

stopped in ukraine, russia will continue. i have said this many times since the start of the war, it is very similar to the late 1930s when britain was faced with hitler at the start of world war ii, we do not want a world war iii, in the same regards that if russia is not stopped in ukraine, then we could be looking at another situation where the world has to come together and repel russia, so my hope is even if there is a change, even if there is a new administration, that the larger picture that global security, international security, and us national security will be the most important thing over whatever political backbiting and infighting that politics will take a seat to international security concerns because what happens in ukraine is notjust an issue for ukraine, it is an issue for our partners

and allies and it is also an issue for us soldiers also whose moms and dads and cousins and aunts and everyone is worried if their loved ones will have to go off and fight a fight to protect nato so this is an all hands on deck situation and even if there is a switch in the administration, i am hoping that the professionals, let the experts will be able to be the adults in the room and be able to explain why it is important to continue to support ukraine. i do just want to come back to a point you made at the start of our conversation with regards to the southern border, the border between the united states and mexico, there was a vote on that, it failed, it needed a two thirds majority, how important do you think action on that border is as well for us national?

——well for us national security? it is incredibly important. but there are those who say this is little bit of political theatre because a recent bill was passed in the house recently and their concerns that the senate would not pass it so to hold a critical security aid to our partners and allies, taiwan, israel, and ukraine, that we can no longer, as you pointed out, it has been six months since folks like me and a lot of people in our country and allies around the world have been pushing for the supplemental, so the supplemental can no longer be held hostage to what is happening on the border, and i am not trying to make light of our critical infrastructure security because our national security is just as important as foreign policy and international security. however, there is a concern that this was a little bit of political theatre, and again ijust want to say that today was definitely a huge win for democracy and again it shows people around the world not only that the us keeps its words to our partners and allies, but it was three tiers of us strength sent today by the passage of this bill.

dr nola haynes, thank you, very good to get your thoughts, thank you for speaking to us. dr haynes was saying that in her view, this is a win for democracy, certainly, samantha, i can tell you the atmosphere here on capitol hill outside the chamber where we saw supporters of ukraine waving the blue and yellow flags, we saw the same scenes, in fact, inside the chamber largely from the democrats so, certainly a feeling at last some progress here for a key ally. helena humphrey there. 0ur correspondent in kyiv, james waterhouse, has been telling us the funding has been welcomed by the ukrainian president, volodymyr zelensky. yes, he'sjust said, "i'm grateful to the united states house

of representatives, both parties and personally speaker mikejohnson, for the decision" he says, "that keeps history on the right track." he talks about democracy and freedom always having global significance and will never fail as long as america helps to protect it. and a slight reagan quote where he says, "just peace and security can only be attained through strength." he hopes, he says, the bill will make it to president biden�*s desk and he signs off by saying, "thank you, america". so this is a long—awaited moment, i think the past six months where ukraine has had to sort of look increasingly inward when it's come to fighting on the ground, when it's come to manufacturing weapons domestically, because increasingly america's help has waned. i don't think it's been helped by a lack of military progress on the battlefield, but it's been a sort of deadly cycle for ukraine, where after the failed counter—offensive last year, president zelensky was denied that crucial bargaining chip when it came

to western allies to say, look, look at what progress i can make with your help, keep it coming," which i think has led us to this six—month political delay. nevertheless, it is quite the turnaround. you could hear many ukrainians criticise speaker mike johnson online. and now, over the last few days, when they're hearing what he's been saying about the need for ukraine to prevail and for vladimir putin to be defeated, you know, he's now gone from sort of villain to hero in these parts. and i think that's the kind of currency ukrainians are after now — military help, how much are you going to give it, give for us to continue this fight? so it is a moment, it is an undeniable significant changing of the tide, politically. is it going to be enough to change momentum in the same way in a battlefield sense? i don't think so in the near to medium term. it simply, and in the simplest way,

it keeps ukraine in this fight because all of the discussion here in kyiv certainly has been about what happens if ukraine loses. and there have been calculations by generals over how much territory it could potentially give up to preserve cities, for example. i think the approval of this bill allows ukraine to keep the negotiating table at bay. it allows ukraine. it extends its window, i think, to continue defending itself, to continue to take the fight to russia in the hope that it could put the pressure back on invading forces, back on vladimir putin to make his invasion unsustainable and to force a concession on the russian side. the pressure is still absolutely on ukraine and now there is a lot of logistical pressure to get that weaponry and ammunition here and deployed by soldiers, but ukraine is also having to straddle with its own mobilization issues and getting enough men trained, called up

to the front line to replace exhausted soldiers who've been there for up to two years in some cases, so this is welcome good news. this will be celebrated as much as you can in times of war. but now eyes will focus to when this kit will arrive and what difference it will make in the long term. you wonder when history books are written how costly this delay might be or how significant this bill's passing could be in terms of helping ukraine in its goal of trying to to stand up against russia. during today's vote the us house of representatives has also passed over $26 billion dollars in new military aid to israel. the country continues to prosecute its war against hamas, despite growing international concern for the fate of civilians in gaza. the bill would provide funds mainly to reinforce israel's iron dome air defense. prime minister benjamin netanyahu said the decision showed strong

support for israel and defended western civilisation. meanwhile in gaza, there've been more israeli air strikes in rafah in the south of the territory. this is the moment an israeli air strike hit rafah on saturday. there were more air strikes overnight, when nine people including at least four children were killed after their homes were hit. the israeli war cabinet has been planning a large offensive against hamas in rafah, which is where an estimated 1.5 million displaced palestinians are sheltering. the us and other allies have warned israel against a full—scale assault on the city. rafah isn't the only city to come under attack — israel has carried out air strikes across the strip. these images show the entrance of the al—aqsa hospital in central gaza where many of the injured or dead were taken. one of the main un agencies responsible for getting aid to palestinians, the united nations relief and works agency, is warning that the risk of disease

is increasing across gaza because of the lack of sanitation and aid. 0ur correspondent in jerusalem wyre davies reports. the effect of six months of war has created a desperate humanitarian crisis in gaza. but amid the ruins of conflict, in some areas, aid is now getting through and can make the difference between surviving or dying of hunger. a flour delivery, organised by the world food programme, allowed this bakery in gaza city to reopen for the first time since the war began. translation: finally, i there is something to eat. you can go to the bakery and buy bread. just a few days ago, it was hard, we were looking for wood, flour and you couldn't find anything to feed the children. but for most gazans, the brutal reality of war is a constant companion. at najar hospital in rafah, parents and siblings consoled each other after several civilians, including children, were reported killed in overnight air strikes.

israel said fighterjets and other aircraft struck dozens of terror sites. among the targets, it said, was military infrastructure, compounds and armed terrorists. the us has repeatedly urged israel not to launch what is expected to be a major offensive in rafah. we cannot support a major military operation in rafah. we believe that a major military operation, with a large presence of a civilian population, would have terrible consequences for that population. words that seem to have little impact on benjamin netanyahu. he has repeatedly said the offensive in rafah must happen if hamas is to be defeated and israeli hostages released. for most gazans, survival is still a daily struggle. retrieving food parcels from the sea — after an air drop — shows how chaotic the delivery of aid often is, as agencies warn

of a worsening humanitarian crisis. wyre davies, bbc news, jerusalem. scott anderson, unrwa's affairs director who is now in gaza, told us about the situation in rafah, and the prospects of a bigger israeli offensive. i think very much it's a daily struggle for people here in rafah. there's close to 1.5 million people that have been displaced, most of them multiple times. they spend most of their day trying to find food, water, toilets. and as the weather starts to get hotter now, they're trying to find shade as a means to keep cool. so i think that we've had increased aid coming in, which is welcome. i don't think we're at the scale that we need to be at yet to ensure that the 2.2 million people that reside across gaza are cared for. but the other thing that you see in rafa is there's a kind of a palpable aura of fear as they wait to see what will happen with an idf operation in rafah. thus far, there has not been any communication. 0ur expectation is that they will give the innocent civilians that are here in rafah

an opportunity to relocate. they'll probably be given instructions to do so. our hope is they'll be allowed to take their belongings with them as they try to find somewhere safer than would be in rafah. but at this point, other than believing this operation will happen, we don't have any indication around the timing of the operation, nor what the plan is for the innocent civilians and to deal with the humanitarian outfall of such an operation. the palestinian authority will reconsider bilateral relations with the us after washington vetoed a request forfull un membership. the palestinian authority has had observer status since 2012 but cannot vote in proceedings. on thursday, 12 countries voted in favour of the resolution with the us opposing. meanwhile, israel has said it will will summon ambassadors of countries that voted for full palestinian un membership "for a protest talk. " iran's foreign minister has questioned whether israel was involved in friday's attack

on iran, saying the weapons used were like "toys our children play with". but in an interview with nbc news, hossein amir—abdollahian said if israel did take decisive action against iran, the response would be immediate and to the maximum. us officials said an israeli missile hit iran on friday. israel reportedly targeted an air defence radar system near the city of isfahan, which protects the natanz nuclear facility. it follows weeks of tensions between the rivals, during which israel attacked an iranian compound in syria, and iran launched an unprecedented assault against israel. here in the uk — the outgoing head of the government's climate change watchdog, says rishi sunak has set back the cause of tackling global warming in the uk and is risking the uk falling behind other countries, in the battle against global warming. here's justin rowlatt. we had a stark reminder of the impact of climate change this week, a warning that the world's coral reefs were at risk of dying because of a global bleaching event

caused by exceptionally high sea temperatures. it comes as the head of the government watchdog on climate change had some stern words for the prime minister. the reason — in the autumn, rishi sunak delayed a ban on petrol and diesel cars and watered down targets for phasing out gas boilers. we seem to have defaulted to an approach which will impose unacceptable costs on hard pressed british families, costs that no one was ever really told about. here is what mr stark had to say about that. i think it set us back. so i think we have moved from a position where we were really at the forefront, pushing ahead as quickly as we could on something that i believe to be fundamental to the uk economy, fundamentally beneficial to the people living in this country, whether you care about the climate or not. a government spokesperson said the uk was the first major economy to halve greenhouse gas emissions since 1990 and said that record speaks for itself.

and mr stark was critical of other parties too. he said politicians across the political spectrum had a collective fear of talking about climate and he said he was desperately disappointed by the snp government in edinburgh's decision to drop a key carbon cutting target this week. "the targets were overambitious right from the start," said mr stark. the scottish green party is to vote on whether to leave its coalition with the snp in response. today, the snp said it would form a minority government if the greens do pull out. an snp spokesperson told the bbc it remained steadfast in its commitment to reaching net zero by 2045. mr stark is standing down at the end of this month after six years at the climate change committee. he says his fear is that without stronger support from politicians, climate denial could creep into the uk debate. justin rowlatt, bbc news.

that's it from me for the moment, do stay with us here on bbc news, i'm samantha simmonds, thanks for watching. hello. it's been a chilly start to the weekend. temperatures may be higher in scotland because we've seen this cloud moving down from the north and we will continue to see a bit of light rain or drizzle on the week with a front there as it runs into our area of with a front there as it runs into ourarea of high with a front there as it runs into our area of high pressure. in between those two weather fronts, the potential for some slightly warmer air across scotland where we get some sunshine and particularly northern ireland but for england and wales we are still in the cold air so it won't be too hot for the runners in the london marathon. it

should stay dry, there will be a cool north—easterly breeze and a top temperature of 11 or 12 degrees. some cloud in east anglia and the south—east could bring the odd light shower here and there but sunny spells for other puzzling lead and wales, plenty of sunshine for northern ireland, more cloud in scotland, drizzle pushing into the far north of england, pegging temperatures back here. warmer and west of scotland with brighter skies, the highest temperatures will be in land in northern ireland, a pleasant 17 or 18 degrees. high pressure pushed to the west of the uk allows the weather fronts to take the cloud and rain southwards and this time we got a cloudy picture on monday, rain and drizzle at times for england and wales, turning drier and brighter with sunshine in northern scotland. it may stay dry in northern ireland but there is more cloud on monday. some semblance of warmer air more cloud on monday. some semblance of warmerair in more cloud on monday. some semblance of warmer air in western scotland and northern ireland but pretty cold elsewhere, particularly so across

the south—east of england after the chilly night and the cloud, coming over the top. the cloud pushes southwards together with the weather fronts and with the high out towards the west we are left with a northerly breeze again on tuesday, still patchy light rain or drizzle to clear in the south, otherwise the northerly wind will bring a lot of cloud to eastern areas and may be the odd shower at the coast but in the odd shower at the coast but in the west we have the best of the sunshine and the temperatures getting up to 13, may be 1a degrees, but cold on the eastern side of the uk, eight to 10 celsius. through the rest of the week, we're still in this cold air and in anything with a pressure tending to fall, there is the risk of a bit more as well. —— a bit more rain as well.

this is bbc news, the headlines: lawmakers in the us house of representatives have voted in favour of billions of dollars in us military aid for ukraine after months of delay. the us $61 billion package passed by 311 votes to 112. palestinians take cover as israel strikes homes in rafah, in southern gaza. nine people have been killed, including at least four children. meanwhile, the un agency for palestinian refugees warns of the growing threat of disease. thousands of people take to the streets of the canary islands to protest what they say

are unsustainable levels of mass tourism. they say over—tourism is harming the environment and conditions for local people. the head of a uk government watchdog has told the bbc that rishi sunak has "set us back" on climate change. chris stark says the pm has left the uk at risk of falling behind other countries. now on bbc news, in an exclusive bbc newsnight interview, arsenal and ukraine national team footballer 0leksandr zinchenko speaks about the war in his home country with kirsty wark. commentator: zinchenko. he's been a premier league star for manchester city... zinchenko will claim it. ..and now arsenal. and he's a proud ukrainian. 0leksandr zinchenko says he'll swap football for fighting against russia if he's called up. i think it's a clear answer.