hello, a warm welcome to you. this is bbc news with me, mark lobel. for viewers in the uk and around the world, here are your headlines: the us house of representatives votes overwhelmingly in favour of providing an additional $40 billion in aid for ukraine. as putin desperately accelerates his campaign of horror and brutality, just horror and brutality, just horror and brutality in ukraine, time is of the essence. shoot on sight — the orders for security forces in sri lanka, amid violent protests calling for the president to step down. spain's top spy loses herjob, following a phone—hacking scandal that involved the country's prime minister. and, hitting the right note.

ukraine qualifies for the final of the eurovision song contest. hello, and welcome. we begin in the states. members of the us house of representatives have voted overwhelmingly in favour of providing another $40 billion in aid for ukraine. most republicans joined democrats in supporting the deal. such is the bipartisan support for ukraine that lawmakers took president biden�*s request for aid and added nearly $7 billion to it. the funds will be used to provide military support to ukraine and humanitarian assistance to the civilians affected by the russian invasion. the speaker of the house, nany pelosi told fellow

democrats it was important to act quickly. as putin desperately accelerates his campaign of horror and brutality, there has just been abhorrent brutality in ukraine, time is of the essence. that why we were so pleased to hear we could proceed immediately with this bill today so it goes through to senate and the president's desk, so the assistance can reach the people of ukraine and eastern europe. david willis joins us from la. david, this was not only swept through, unlike otherfunding appeals that hit the buffers, like funding to tackle the latest coronavirus spike, but added to. that's right, republicans and democrats can agree, of course on virtually nothing, they can't agree on the amount of money, for example that should be combating the latest bike in

the coronavirus cases here, but on one subject, all as unanimously, they agree on supplying aid to ukraine. once again, they have taken president biden�*s request for funding and they have heightened it, they have added to it. in this case, an additional $7 billion on top of the $33 billion that he had originally requested. of the total of $40 billion, about one third will be going to military assistance, that is training, weapons, and so on. another third going to humanitarian assistance, that is dealing refugees and so on, and $5 billion has been earmarked for making up the lack of food supplies that have been compromised because of the war there in ukraine. this is the largest foreign aid package of its kind in several decades,

according to analysts, people are saying that given the fact that us officials are saying that us officials are saying that russia could prolong this conflict, that it could drag on for months, this may not be the last such enormous package of its kind. . ~ last such enormous package of its kind. ., ~ ,, last such enormous package of its kind. . ~' ,, ,., last such enormous package of its kind. ., ~ i. . last such enormous package of its kind. ., ~ . ., its kind. thank you so much for the breakdown _ its kind. thank you so much for the breakdown david. - its kind. thank you so much for the breakdown david. to - its kind. thank you so much for. the breakdown david. to discuss this further, we are nowjoined by andrew d'anieri, assistant director at the atlantic council's eurasia centre. andrew, what you think this incredible amount of money is going to be spent on the battlefield and what kind of impact is this going to have on ukraine? , ~ , ukraine? yes, i think this will have a significant _ ukraine? yes, i think this will have a significant impact - ukraine? yes, i think this will have a significant impact on l have a significant impact on the battlefield in ukraine, but it does depend in part on the speed at which this aid can be disbursed. the house of representatives voted on at this package earlier this evening. it still has to be taken up by the senate, although we do expect it to pass, and then it will go to

president biden�*s desk. it should happen pretty quickly but until that happens, this big package will remain on the table but not signed into law. i think the speed, as speaker pelosi said earlier in the clip, is the big deal, that this needs to get quickly to donbas and the south to help ukrainian forces to replenish their stocks and fight off russian invaders. h0 their stocks and fight off russian invaders. no doubt welcome — russian invaders. no doubt welcome help _ russian invaders. no doubt welcome help to _ russian invaders. no doubt welcome help to those - russian invaders. no doubt - welcome help to those fighting in the ease. this came at a time when us intelligence was saying this was going to be a long conflict, this is surely a move to sustain it as well? yes, absolutely, ithink move to sustain it as well? yes, absolutely, i think this is a really sober recognition by washington that this war is likely going to take a longer time. ukraine bravely fought off russia in kyiv, nor the new grave and other parts of

ukraine, rocket attacks in lviv, western ukraine, and now things are likely to settle into a more grinding, long, ground kind of campaign in the eastand ground kind of campaign in the east and south. this is dc, this is congress and the president recognising that it is likely and in the us and western interests to help ukrainian that fight. and what is your assessment of how unified the international community can remain in their battle against russia, when what president zelensky was talking about global food supplies being shocked, and all of the extra economic pressures the world is dealing with on top of that now? i think unity will remain, it has been a pleasant surprise that the us, its european allies and other western partners have been so unified. not only on military aid but also on the sanctions, on economic aid, and i think you are right, on food aid. this is kind of an emerging issue that we will see, and i do expect that the us along with its

allies in europe will banded together to tackle this problem because we should remember that it is russia that is causing these global food shortages, in large part, and so it is up to ukraine's allies and partners, and the west, and north america do band together to pool resources to mitigate the issues. that is one side, briefly, the migration issue, ukrainians wanting to get into the states, what is your assessment of how thatis what is your assessment of how that is panning out? the biden administration unveiled validate uniting for ukraine programme to admit 100,000 ukrainian refugees, which is great. the only problem is that the package itself actually bars millions of ukrainians from actually being eligible. if you were ukrainian living outside of ukraine two weeks prior to the invasion you are ineligible for the programme, which is now the only way for ukrainian refugees to enter the us. and even for

those who are eligible, there are number of roadblocks that slow down the process and make it more difficult for ukrainian refugees to enter the us, which is not the policy we should be pursuing. we should be making this as easy as possible for ukrainians seeking refuge from war to come to the united states. so money flowing easily one way but more difficult for refugees coming the other way. andrew d'anieri from _ coming the other way. andrew d'anieri from the _ coming the other way. andrew d'anieri from the atlantic - d'anieri from the atlantic council, thank you so much for joining us. thank you. security forces in sri lanka have been ordered to shoot anyone seen looting or damaging public property in the latest attempt to stop anti—government protests. since last month, the country has been rocked by demonstrations over soaring prices, power cuts and a lack of medicines. at least eight people have died in the violence and 200 have been injured, as our correspondent rajini vaidya nathan reports from colombo. a capital under curfew. troops told to shoot at sight at anyone who damages public

property or threatens lives. the skeletons of a bustling city scorched by an economic crisis. reeling after a day of violence. yesterday, supporters of the prime minister attacked anti—government protesters, who until that point had been peacefully demonstrating. at the city's main hospital more than 200 have been wounded, many were beaten up. this man fractured his leg after a tear gas canister landed on it. war veterans yigit and assuncao are out of hospital. men who lost their legs in mines during sri lanka's civil war say they were beaten up by the very people they made sacrifices for. "they started punching me. "i was left with only one crutch. "they pushed me and i fell."

"when we served in the army, people used to pray for us. "now we're being attacked." with trust in the government shattered, the homes of at least two dozen politicians who backed the ruling party have been torched. this was one of the houses that was vandalised last night. it belonged to a supporter of the government, a local mayor. and this was the bedroom. it was set on fire. all you can see now is the metal that forms the coils of the mattress. and if we just move into the living room, completely trashed — just look around. tonight, a resort belonging to the son of sri lanka's former prime minister mahinda rajapaksa, who quit yesterday, was set alight. and clashes broke out in the city of negombo. protesters want the president gotabaya rajapaksa to resign — as long as he stays, tensions on this island will be inflamed.

rajini vaidyanathan, bbc news, sri lanka. spain has dismissed its spy chief after a phone hacking scandal that engulfed the government. the mobile phones of the prime minister, defence and interior ministers were infected with the notorious pegasus spyware. the bbc�*c azadeh moshiri reports. the bbc�*s azadeh moshiri reports. spain's spy chief is out, and it is a big shift at the top. it all comes down to a hacking scandal that became too unwieldy to handle. translation: unwieldy to handle. tuna/mom- unwieldy to handle. translation: ., ., , translation: the government has a . reed to translation: the government has agreed to change — translation: the government has agreed to change and _ translation: the government has agreed to change and that - translation: the government has agreed to change and that the - agreed to change and that the leadership of the national intelligence centre is very important to me to emphasise that this is my position as minister of defence but also the position of a government that we have an intelligence service made up of 3000

responsible, hard—working, professional, generous men and women who put their lives at risk every day. paz esteban was the first woman to lead the cni, but accusations that she and the agency stepped over the line and made too many mistakes made her position untenable. it all started when pegasus hacking software was found on the phones of spain's top politicians. some are legally hacked by the spy agency itself, and include 18 a catalan separatists. but, spain's spy agency buckled under the pressure of another scandal. turns out, they were the only ones using pegasus software. foreign minister pedro sanchez became the first world leader known to have been hacked, allegedly by an external actor. spain's defence minister and its interior minister and its interior minister were also victims,

adding to the embarrassment. translation: it adding to the embarrassment. translation:— adding to the embarrassment. translation: it seems logical to me that _ translation: it seems logical to me that she _ translation: it seems logical to me that she was _ translation: it seems logical to me that she was dismissed, | translation: it seems logical| to me that she was dismissed, i think it would also be good to declassified documents that are also being linked to the press by the cni itself, and i think an enquiry would be a good thing. the scandal also adds to the growing debate around pegasus software. it was developed by a private israel farm called nso group, and they insist pegasus is meant to be used against criminals and terroristss. but, the us commerce department had already blacklisted it and the european parliament is now investigating its use for alleged breaches of eu law. for now though, innisplain, despite accusations paz esteban was simply a scapegoat, it promises its people will work within the law to keep its people say. azadeh moshiri, bbc news. stay with us on bbc news,

still to come: we'll have all the sport, including, not out of the race yet. liverpool keep their title hopes alive, with a 2—1 win over aston villa. the pope was shot, the pope will live — that's the essence of the appalling news from rome this afternoon, that, as an italian television commentator put it, terrorism had come to the vatican. the man they called the butcher of lyon, klaus barbie, went on trial today in the french town where he was the gestapo chief in the second world war. winnie mandela never looked like a woman just sentencedl to six years injail. the judge told mrs mandela there was no indication - she felt even - the slightest remorse. the chinese government has called for an all—out effort to help the victims of a powerful earthquake — the worst to hit the country for 30 years. the computer deep blue has tonight triumphed over the world chess champion, garry kasparov. it is the first time a machine has defeated a reigning world champion in a classical

chess match. america's first legal same—sex marriages have been taking i place in massachusetts. god bless america! cheering this is bbc news — the latest headlines: the us house of representatives votes overwhelmingly in favour of providing an additional $40 billion in aid for ukraine. tens of thousands of military personnel have been deployed in the sri lankan capital colombo as the government struggles to contain protests against the spiralling cost of living. for more than three decades, scientists have investigated the cause of so—called gulf war syndrome — a collection of chronic health problems that affected more than a quarter of the coalition troops deployed during the first gulf war in 1991.

now a new study by researchers in texas indicate the nerve gas sarin is to blame. caroline hawley has this report. the ward to dislodge iraq from kuwait was short was described as the most toxic in history and have had devastating long—term consequences for many soldiers. for30 long—term consequences for many soldiers. for 30 years, long—term consequences for many soldiers. for30 years, no—one knew exactly why. this person was one of them, a fit 26—year—old at the time of the war. now it is a battle just to get out of bed. war. now it is a battle 'ust to get out of bedfi war. now it is a battle 'ust to get out of bed.* get out of bed. was getting illness after _ get out of bed. was getting illness after illness, - illness after illness, breathing problems, chronic fatigue, rundown of the time and when i questioned whether it had anything to do with my service in the gulf war or what we are exposed to, the military line was you are talking nonsense, there is no evidence, two paracetamol, crack on

he suffered excruciating joint pain but there is more to it than than that.— pain but there is more to it than than that. the chemical aaent than than that. the chemical agent sarin _ than than that. the chemical agent sarin was _ than than that. the chemical agent sarin was released - than than that. the chemical agent sarin was released in l than than that. the chemical. agent sarin was released in the air and scientists say it is a breakthrough that vindicates the veterans. the breakthrough that vindicates the veterans.— the veterans. the ones who became ill. _ the veterans. the ones who became ill, the _ the veterans. the ones who became ill, the study - the veterans. the ones who | became ill, the study show, the veterans. the ones who - became ill, the study show, the ones _ became ill, the study show, the ones who— became ill, the study show, the ones who have the weak form of a gene _ ones who have the weak form of a gene that normally protects you from _ a gene that normally protects you from nerve gas so people with _ you from nerve gas so people with a — you from nerve gas so people with a strong form of the gene, most _ with a strong form of the gene, most of— with a strong form of the gene, most of them did not get ill. you — most of them did not get ill. you say— most of them did not get ill. you say that definitively now, no ifs or buts? this is the end of the mystery as far as you are concerned.— of the mystery as far as you are concerned. due to all the controversy _ are concerned. due to all the controversy over _ are concerned. due to all the controversy over the - are concerned. due to all the controversy over the many i controversy over the many studies — controversy over the many studies that have been done and so forth, — studies that have been done and so forth, all of which had different defects of one type or another, we designed this study— or another, we designed this study over a number of years to be the — study over a number of years to be the definitive study. to answer _ be the definitive study. to answer all the criticisms of

studies _ answer all the criticisms of studies in the past, so we would _ studies in the past, so we would get itjust right, we hope _ would get itjust right, we hope that what our findings will do _ hope that what our findings will do will lead to a definitive treatment for this disease _ definitive treatment for this disease that would relieve them of some — disease that would relieve them of some of their symptoms. i carry— of some of their symptoms. i carry has— of some of their symptoms. i carry has not only a huge array of symptoms, including memory loss but— of symptoms, including memory loss but an arsenal of medication to help with them. daughter rebecca has to go to doctors appointments with him because he struggles to process the information he is given. he now wants the ministry of defence to act on the american findings. i defence to act on the american findinus. .,, , ., ,, findings. i hope they take it seriously — findings. i hope they take it seriously and _ findings. i hope they take it seriously and do _ findings. i hope they take it seriously and do the - findings. i hope they take it seriously and do the right i seriously and do the right thing, and understand that for most of us it is not about money. it is about being able to access the right medical treatment. not a lot to ask for

what we did. treatment. not a lot to ask for what we did-— treatment. not a lot to ask for what we did. the mod says he is indebted to _ what we did. the mod says he is indebted to all _ what we did. the mod says he is indebted to all who _ what we did. the mod says he is indebted to all who served - what we did. the mod says he is indebted to all who served like i indebted to all who served like kerry and already sponsored what they call significant research but he was tangible help and fears the latest study will simply be swept under the carpet. caroline hawley, bbc news. eurovision song contest favourites ukraine have been voted through to the final on saturday, following the first semi—final which has been held in the italian city of turin. the band delivered an energetic performance of their song stefania to secure a place in the final. at the end of the performance, the folk—rap group thanked everyone for supporting ukraine amid the russian invasion. let's speak to alasdair rendall, former president of the uk

eurovision fan club. how did you feel when ukraine got through? it how did you feel when ukraine got through?— got through? it was a very emotional— got through? it was a very emotional moment - got through? it was a very emotional moment and i got through? it was a very emotional moment and an emotional moment and an emotional performance. the band walked on getting ready to perform in the whole crowd was on their feet, perform in the whole crowd was on theirfeet, applauding, they applauded the whole way through the song and by far got the biggest reception of the night. i don't think we were too surprised at qualified boats till a very emotional moment nonetheless and you can see why they are one of the big favourites to be the overall winners on saturday. i favourites to be the overall winners on saturday. i guess ou're winners on saturday. i guess you're not — winners on saturday. i guess you're not surprised - winners on saturday. i guess you're not surprised becausej winners on saturday. i guessl you're not surprised because i already listed in the top five before the russian invasion of ukraine. is it even a fair contest anymore? i ukraine. is it even a fair contest anymore? i think it still is a — contest anymore? i think it still is a fair _ contest anymore? i think it still is a fair contest. - contest anymore? i think it still is a fair contest. there j still is a fair contest. there i still a number of songs in contention, the uk been one of them for the first time. looking at the betting odds, it is looking very difficult for anything to be ukraine on saturday but still shaping up to be a pretty strong contest.

symbolically, this is a message that ukrainian culture is still alive and russia has been banned by the organisers, they say, because it could bring the competition into disrepute? that is true and there is always comments about the role of politics in eurovision and its political impact and i would say the vast majority of times there isn't the best songs doing well generally but it would be impossible for a contest like eurovision song contest to ignore the wider political things going on and the terrible situation in ukraine and no surprise that russia and belarus as well were not invited to take part in the contest. , , , , ., , not invited to take part in the contest. , , , , contest. the surprise is as you mentioned _ contest. the surprise is as you mentioned is _ contest. the surprise is as you mentioned is that _ contest. the surprise is as you mentioned is that the - contest. the surprise is as you mentioned is that the uk's - mentioned is that the uk's potential rival for the crown! are you sure they will not come last this year! can you guarantee that? i last this year! can you guarantee that? i cannot guarantee _ guarantee that? i cannot guarantee but _ guarantee that? i cannot guarantee but i - guarantee that? i cannot guarantee but i am - guarantee that? i cannot i guarantee but i am 99.99% guarantee that? i cannot - guarantee but i am 99.99% sure we will not come last this

year. sam ryder is a fantastic singer. we have a great song and it's an unusual feeling to be here in the eurovision host city with the uk being genuinely talked about is one of the favourites! after so many years of, well, less than great results. it many years of, well, less than great results.— great results. it is always a treat great results. it is always a great night _ great results. it is always a great night watching - great night watching eurovision, not everyone agrees, but what are the striking performances, which countries should we looking out for? , ., ,. for? things are coalescing about four _ for? things are coalescing about four or _ for? things are coalescing about four or five - for? things are coalescing i about four or five countries, ukraine, the uk, sam ryder is the best singer in the contest. a simple but effective song from sweden, and very good song. italy, they could potentially do the double after winning with a heavy rock song last year they have a gentle ballad sung by two men, and they are the ones likely to be but a few potential outsiders as well. quite a bit of variety in the final on saturday. alastair, thank you so much,

we're looking forward to that in a few days time. time now to get the latest sports news. hello, i'm chetan pathak with your sports news. liverpool's premier league title hopes are still alive after they came from behind to beat aston villa by two goals to one. former liverpool captain steven gerrard, now in charge of villa, saw his side take an early lead beforejoel matip equalised minutes later. the winner came in the second half — sadio mane heading in to move liverpool level on points with the leaders man city, who stay top on goal difference and play at wolves on wednesday. after that, both title contenders have two games remaining. i couldn't be more part of the boys, to be honest. a massive, massive performance in the middle of may and it is massive. yeah, were on top and obviously for us very important. manchester city have reached an agreement to sign

norway striker erling haaland from borussia dortmund. the 21—year—old willjoin injuly for around $60 million after city activated a release clause in his contract. haaland, who passed his medical in belgium on monday, has scored 85 goals in 88 appearances for dortmund since joining them from red bull salzburg injanuary 2020. inter milan take on juventus on wednesday in the final of the coppa italia at the stadio olimpico in rome. it's the first head—to—head between the two teams in this final since 1965. juventus will be chasing a record 15th victory in the competition — it's their only remaining chance to win a trophy this season. inter can still complete a league and cup double but they trail ac milan by two points in serie a, with two games remaning. novak djokovic is into the third round of the italian open after straight sets victory over aslan karatsev. the top seed took just over 90 minutes to chalk up his 60th career win on the clay in rome,

as he looks to win the title for a fifth time. djokovic turns 35 later this month and responded well to last week's defeat by carlos alcaraz. he'll play the winner of the match between laslo djere and stan wawrinka. ons jabeur, who became the first african player to win a wta 1000 title in madrid over the weekend, is into the second round in rome after beating romania's sorana ci rstea. jabeur looked set for a comfortable victory when she won the first set 6—love and was 5—2 up in the second with 45 minutes played but cirstea fought back to force a tiebreak but the tunisian eventually prevailed to win a seventh consecutive match for the first time in her career. dryness after the break and we will talking about tackling inflation in the us. —— join

us. hello there. tuesday was a day of sunshine and showers — most of those showers were across scotland and northern ireland. and there was quite a lot of rainfall across parts of western scotland at times — some of these showers quite heavy, even some rumbles of thunder, too. for the next few days, it's going to remain breezy, rather unsettled, low pressure nearby, and we'll see showers or even longer spells of rain. now for wednesday, this feature could bring some significant rainfall to parts of england and wales throughout the day. now some of that rain really will be quite heavy across parts of wales, south—west england through wednesday morning. and then, that rain will push in towards the midlands, parts of eastern england into the afternoon — i think the northern extent of it being around the greater manchester area, not further north than that. but as this rain band begins to move south—eastwards into east anglia

in the southeast, it will begin to fragment. again another windy day to come, particularly across southern britain with that rain band. quite gusty, as well, across the northwest of scotland, where we'll see sunshine and showers. and temperatures will range from around 14—17 celsius. pollen levels on wednesday, again, will be rather high, but maybe not quite as high across england and wales as we'll have that rain band. now, that rain will clear away from the south—east as we move through wednesday night, then skies will clear. winds will turn a little bit lighter, as well, but there'll be further showers across the north and the west of scotland in particular. now, with the clearer skies, a slightly cooler air mass — it'll be a fresher night to come for wednesday night, with temperatures down into single figures for most. the pressure chart for thursday, then, shows more weatherfronts affecting northern parts of the uk — so again, it'll be quite breezy and showery here, a little bit drierfurther south. so, best of the sunshine for england and wales throughout thursday. after that fairly fresh start, temperatures will begin to rise. more cloud, though, for northern england, northern ireland, and scotland — there's the north—west of scotland, which will see most

of the showers and also the strongest of the winds. after that cool start, temperatures will reach highs of 14—18 or 19 celsius across the south. for friday, again, weather fronts bring more showers and blustery conditions across the north of the uk, but as we head into the weekend, this area of high pressure begins to build in. it turns sunnier and warmer, but we could see potential of some thundery showers across southern areas, especially on sunday. so, those temperatures will be building as we head on into the weekend, as that area of high pressure starts to establish itself. and there'll be increasing amounts of sunshine, but also some heavy showers in the south.

this is bbc news with the latest business headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. tackling inflation. us president biden says cooling prices is his top priority. can africa replace russia as a supplier of rare metals needed for electric cars and other high—tech products? we go live to cape town for a major mining conference there. the end of a beautiful friendship. fifa and games maker ea part ways as they can't agree on licensing fees.