this is bbc news. i'm sally bundock with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. the united states prepares to announce the largest single military aid package, to ukraine, estimated to be worth around $3 billion. the conflict approaches the six months�* mark as ukrainians try to observe their independence day. there are warnings of renewed russian attacks.— russian attacks. how independent - russian attacks. how independent is - russian attacks. how i independent is ukraine russian attacks. how - independent is ukraine with russian attacks. hm: independent is ukraine with the russians occupying one fifth of the country and it being almost completely reliant on weapons from the west? europe is on course for its worst drought in at least 500 years.

that's the stark warning of a new eu global report. twitter�*s former security chief says users' personal data has been put at risk, along with us national security. the company denies the allegations. and nearly 10 million us viewers watch the game of thrones prequel, because of the dragon, become the most watched show in history. hello and welcome. the united states is expected to announce its largest single military aid package for ukraine later today, as the country marks its independence day, and the war there hits the six—month mark. us officials said the new package, which is worth about $3 billion, is aimed at helping kyiv

secure its long—term defence. 0ur washington correspondent, chi chi izundu, has been telling us more about the military aid package. this is the largest military aid package the united states is offering the ukraine, and it's basically similar to other packages that they have handed over to the ukraine, but more importantly there's a slight difference in this one because it is looking towards the longer — medium to longer term defence strategy that ukraine has. it's going to include weaponry, ammunition, training for troops, and also it's going to include some drone packages — several different types — although these could change overnight, we are told. some of those drone packages could be the british vampire drone which could be launched from ships. the united states has already offered a package of $10.6

billion to—date since the biden administration came into power. the only difference with this package is because it's looking to the medium to longer term it means that the biden administration is going to go through its ukraine security assistance initiative, which allows them to procure weapons directly from contractors rather than having to go through the stocks of the us defense department. so it may take a longer time to get to europe, and it also means that us military may have to stay in europe for a longer period of time as well. as we've been hearing, today marks 31 years since ukraine declared independence after the collapse of the soviet union in 1991. usually, ukraine's independence day brings celebrations, but this year there's a ban on public gatherings over warnings that russia could step up its attacks. the country is still standing but at a huge cost.

james waterhouse reports from kyiv. as history has shown, the more russia tries to pull ukraine in, the stronger the sense of identity becomes. 0n the outskirts of kyiv, this factory used to make hotel uniforms. now it is flags, lots of them. translation:— now it is flags, lots of them. translation: these are very dee - translation: these are very deep colours _ translation: these are very deep colours to _ translation: these are very deep colours to us. _ translation: these are very deep colours to us. every - deep colours to us. every ukrainian sees them in everything, in the sky, in the wheat. we have been making flags every day for the past few days and it gives us pleasure and joy because our work is useful.— pleasure and joy because our work is useful. welcome to the another symbol _ work is useful. welcome to the another symbol of _ work is useful. welcome to the another symbol of ukrainian i another symbol of ukrainian defiance _ another symbol of ukrainian defiance kyiv independent, a english — defiance kyiv independent, a english language new site set ”p english language new site set up weeks before the invasion.

within— up weeks before the invasion. within days, their online following went from tens of thousands, to millions. the editor— thousands, to millions. the editor describes it as the voice _ editor describes it as the voice of— editor describes it as the voice of ukraine and the world's_ voice of ukraine and the world's window into it. we are also very _ world's window into it. we are also very much _ world's window into it. we are also very much aware - world's window into it. we are also very much aware of- world's window into it. we are also very much aware of the i also very much aware of the sacrifice it took to get is here to independence day and our thoughts are with those killed, civilians and military. i think it is probably the most important independence day were within our lives. fin important independence day were within our lives.— within our lives. on this day last year. — within our lives. on this day last year, president - within our lives. on this day i last year, president volodymyr zelensky donned his now unfamiliar dark suit, with the military pressing on its show of strength. russia had already started to gather trips on the border and the resilience of ukraine would soon face the ultimate test. this is the same square today, with rows of captured or destroyed russian tanks in a display of defiance. but how independent is ukraine,

with russians now occupying one fifth of the country? and it being almost completely reliant on weapons from the west? for one former president, he campaigned against russian influence, sovereignty is not aboutjust influence, sovereignty is not about just weapons and territory. translation: ., , ., translation: for me, first of all, the benchmark _ translation: for me, first of all, the benchmark of - all, the benchmark of independence is the strength of spirit, the power of national spirit. today i can say with confidence that the 42 million ukrainians speak in one voice and that allows us to face any enemy, including russia. this independence _ enemy, including russia. this independence day _ enemy, including russia. this independence day poses some difficult realities. criticisms over why ukraine did not act from warnings from the west and the country's continued dependence for help, to stay independent. james waterhouse, bbc news. an eu agency has warned

that europe is on course for its worst drought in at least 500 years. in a new report, the global drought 0bservatory says two thirds of the continent is under some form of alert. gareth barlow has more details. from increasingly empty reservoirs, to rivers, the drought in europe is gripping almost the entire continent and for 15 countries, including france, spain and ireland, the uk and moldova, the situation continues to get worse. 5s uk and moldova, the situation continues to get worse. 47% of the territory — continues to get worse. 4796 of the territory remains _ continues to get worse. 4796 of the territory remains in - the territory remains in drought warning and this means precipitation has been less unusual and soil moisture is in deficit, 17% is in alert condition. deficit, 1796 is in alert condition.— deficit, 1796 is in alert condition. ., , , ., condition. from distribution issues from _ condition. from distribution issues from drinking - condition. from distribution issues from drinking water. condition. from distribution | issues from drinking water is in france to rising numbers in wildfires and warnings of risk of keeping nuclear power stations call, the warns almost all of europe's rivers has tried to some extent and as the

rains fail to fall, the harvests are also falling, putting further pressure on rising prices and the cost of living. rising prices and the cost of livina. n... rising prices and the cost of livina. ., living. according to scientists, - living. according to scientists, it - living. according to l scientists, it remains living. according to - scientists, it remains warmer and drier in the western regions until november and it appears to be the worst, at least in 500 years. figs appears to be the worst, at least in 500 years.- least in 500 years. as the summer _ least in 500 years. as the summer slowly _ least in 500 years. as the summer slowly slipped i least in 500 years. as the | summer slowly slipped by, least in 500 years. as the i summer slowly slipped by, the warning is that autumn will not bring an instant reprieve meaning reservoirs like this one in spain are not expected to fill any time soon. gareth barlow, bbc news. let's get some of the day's other news. a special prosecutor in the us state of georgia has ruled that two white police officers who were involved in the fatal shooting of a black man two years ago shouldn't face criminal charges. rayshard brooks was shot in the back as he ran from the police, after taking one of the officer's tasers. his death, shortly

after the police killing of george floyd, sparked protests in the georgia city of atlanta and elsewhere. police in liverpool have appealed to criminals to help identify the person suspected of killing nine—year—old 0livia pratt—korbel in a shooting on monday. officers say the girl was shot dead by a gunman who burst into her home, chasing another man, before opening fire. it's the third fatal shooting in the city in the past week. people in angola are going to the polls today to vote in presidential elections. poverty, inflation and corruption are the main issues in what are predicted to be some of the most competitive elections in the country's history. at least 16 police officers have been injured after a dangerous liquid spill in the german city of mannheim. police said it caused a 150—metre high gas plume to rise above the city's harbour area. residents in the area were told to stay indoors and keep all windows and doors shut.

the former head of security at twitter has accused the company of hiding negligent practices, misleading federal regulators about its safety, and failing to properly estimate the number of spam accounts that exist on the social media platform. peiter zatco's whistleblowing testimony, which has been passed to the us regulators, could have serious consequences for the company. twitter says mr zatko's allegations are inaccurate and inconsistent. it says he was sacked in january for what it called ineffective leadership and poor performance. 0ur north america technology reporter, james clayton, has this assessment. peiter zatco is a legend here in san francisco, and has the nickname marge and the former head of security at twitter and the chief executive of twitter is to call him marge but things

soured between the two. now we have this extraordinary situation where the former head of security is alleging all sorts of things about twitter —— mudge. he is saying things about security for example that many twitter employers have personal information about users that they should not have. the really damaging accusations here are about bots because what he alleges is that twitter has far more fake accounts and they allege. they also say that they are paid handsomely to undercount both fake accounts and why does that matter because that is exactly what elon musk is alleging. he is trying to pull out of the purchase of twitter and he alleges that bots are much higher than what twitter had stated and a have the former head of security saying the same thing. it is usually damaging for twitter. twitter say that peiter zatco was fired from the company and there are

many inconsistencies with what he has alleged. clearly, what this will do is damage twitter. a terrible day for them in san francisco and an excellent one for elon musk. james clayton, bbc news. we will have some analysis of that in the business coverage beginning in under 20 that in the business coverage beginning in under20 minutes time. polls have closed in the states of florida, new york state, and oklahoma, where voters have been deciding who will represent their party in the upcoming mid—term elections in november. 0ur north america correspondent, antony zurcher has been following the vote in florida and sent this report from miami. in his victory speech in florida, ron desantis told supporters it was time to put on the armour of law. if the republicans are getting warmed up republicans are getting warmed up and that was a message her time and time again on stage in front of republicans, that the battle is just getting started.

they know that he is pivotal to efforts to take back the house of representatives, the us senate and set the stage for a presidential contest in 2024. ron desantis let the name of his opponent tonight in the gubernatorial contest in california, charlie crist, the veteran democratic politician since the 1990s and once served as a republican governor in the early 2000 and ran again as a democrat and lost and is running a third time now is a democrat. he ran as a centrist, and democrats are looking at someone in the middle to unseat rob to santos and that is ron desantis. still to come, the prequel to game of thrones' becomes the most watched premier in the

history of hbo. he's the first african—american to win the presidential nomination of a major party, and he accepts exactly 45 years to the day that martin luther king declared, "i have a dream." as darkness falls tonight, an unfamiliar light will appear in the south—eastern sky. an orange glowing disc that's brighter than anything, save the moon — our neighbouring planet, mars. horn toots there is no doubt that this election is an important i milestone in the birth- of east timor as the world's newest nation. it will take months, and billions of dollars, to repair what katrina achieved injust hours. three weeks is the longest the great clock has been off duty in 117 years, so it was with great satisfaction that clockmaker john vernon swung the pendulum to set the clock going again. big ben bongs

this is bbc news, the latest headlines: the us is expected to announce its biggest single military—aid package to help ukraine, worth around $3 billion. as the conflict approaches the six months mark, ukrainians try to observe their independence day amid warnings of renewed russian attacks. refugees from ukraine are still making their way to the uk and other countries. 0ur correspondent, jon kay caught up with some of the families trying to build a new life in south—west england. 2000 miles from ukraine, the somerset village of oak hill,

now home to dozens of refugees. robin's front room is no longer his own. ., ., his own. so, here we have our famil , his own. so, here we have our family. what _ his own. so, here we have our family, what we've _ his own. so, here we have our family, what we've got - his own. so, here we have our family, what we've got over. family, what we've got over from the ukraine, so this is natasha. from the ukraine, so this is natasha-— from the ukraine, so this is natasha. ., �* . ., . natasha. hello, i'm john, nice to meet you- _ natasha. hello, i'm john, nice to meet you. so _ natasha. hello, i'm john, nice to meet you. so there - natasha. hello, i'm john, nice to meet you. so there is i to meet you. so there is natasha, her daughter and her grandchildren who have moved in and their cousins are all staying next door. what do you think of this place, of this village of oak hill and the welcome you have had? i village of oak hill and the welcome you have had? i was amazed how _ welcome you have had? i was amazed how many _ welcome you have had? i was amazed how many people i welcome you have had? iii-033 amazed how many people opened their houses and invite us. robin and his wife sue were among the first in the village to offer their home. it’s among the first in the village to offer their home.— to offer their home. it's a lovely sound _ to offer their home. it's a lovely sound to _ to offer their home. it's a lovely sound to how- to offer their home. it's a i lovely sound to how children playing and laughing, that's the best gift.—

playing and laughing, that's the best rift. �* ~ ., ., the best gift. and knowing what that come from _ the best gift. and knowing what that come from as _ the best gift. and knowing what that come from as well, - the best gift. and knowing what that come from as well, what i that come from as well, what you have been able to get them. absolutely, yes. sue you have been able to get them. absolutely, yes.— absolutely, yes. sue and robin's generosity i absolutely, yes. sue and| robin's generosity means absolutely, yes. sue and i robin's generosity means tania can feel safe again. but opening up their home has not been straightforward. it opening up their home has not been straightforward.- been straightforward. it has been straightforward. it has been a lot _ been straightforward. it has been a lot harder _ been straightforward. it has been a lot harder than i been straightforward. it has been a lot harder than whatj been straightforward. it has i been a lot harder than what we thought. been a lot harder than what we thou . ht. been a lot harder than what we thought- we _ been a lot harder than what we thought.- we knew - been a lot harder than what we thought. fiur�*? we knew there thought. our? we knew there would be some _ thought. our? we knew there would be some extra - thought. our? we knew there would be some extra work looking after them and when they first came, there was a lot of extra work because we were ferrying them here, there and everywhere, get the bank account set up, sort out the mobile phone contract to get set up so that they can use a phone over here.— phone over here. bills have one phone over here. bills have gone on — phone over here. bills have gone up inevitably - phone over here. bills have gone up inevitably because | gone up inevitably because you've got more people in the house to stop you get a bit of help from the government towards that. are you out of pocket? towards that. are you out of ocket? ., �* ., ., ., pocket? no, we're not out of ocket pocket? no, we're not out of pocket at _ pocket? no, we're not out of pocket at the _ pocket? no, we're not out of pocket at the moment, i pocket? no, we're not out of pocket at the moment, we . pocket? no, we're not out of- pocket at the moment, we break even. ,, , ,

pocket at the moment, we break even-_ local- pocket at the moment, we break even._ local children | even. (singing). local children have been _ even. (singing). local children have been learning _ even. (singing). local children have been learning about i even. (singing). local children have been learning about the i have been learning about the war at school and have written a special song which they performed in the village song for their new neighbours. i for their new neighbours. i feel sad for the people of ukraine but they also feel happy because we are supporting them. its happy because we are supporting them. , . . happy because we are supporting them. , ., ., ., ~ them. its amazing making new friends because _ them. its amazing making new friends because really - them. its amazing making new friends because really you i them. its amazing making new friends because really you just| friends because really you just -et friends because really you just get to— friends because really you just get to share everything with them — get to share everything with them and then you never know, they— them and then you never know, they could — them and then you never know, they could be your bff someday. when _ they could be your bff someday. when we — they could be your bff someday. when we think about our relatives— when we think about our relatives in— when we think about our relatives in our— when we think about our relatives in our country. when we think about our i relatives in our country every single — relatives in our country every single day— relatives in our country every single day and _ relatives in our country every single day and hope - relatives in our country every single day and hope for- relatives in our country every. single day and hope for better. i single day and hope for better. i found — single day and hope for better. i found friends _ single day and hope for better. i found friends in— single day and hope for better. i found friends in oak- single day and hope for better. i found friends in oak hill- single day and hope for better. i found friends in oak hill and. i found friends in oak hill and i found friends in oak hill and iwant— i found friends in oak hill and i want to— i found friends in oak hill and i want to stay— i found friends in oak hill and i want to stay in— i found friends in oak hill and i want to stay in touch - i found friends in oak hill and i want to stay in touch with i i want to stay in touch with everyone _ i want to stay in touch with everyone in _ i want to stay in touch with everyone in oak— i want to stay in touch with everyone in oak hill, - everyone in oak hill, especially— everyone in oak hill, especially with- everyone in oak hill, especially with my i everyone in oak hill, i especially with my hosts. everyone in oak hill, - especially with my hosts. for the ukrainians _ especially with my hosts. the ukrainians and their especially with my hostsm the ukrainians and their host families, the months ahead will undoubtedly see more challenges. but in this peaceful corner of somerset, there is a real determination to stick together and help out for as long as they are needed.

time for a look at the sport now. hello, i'm tulsen tollett and this is your sports news where we start with football and double european cup winners benfica are through to the champions league group stage after a 3—0 win in their second leg over dynamo kyiv. the portuguese led 2—0 from the first leg and move through 5—0 on aggregate with the draw to take place on thursday. former manchester city defender nicolas 0tamendi grabbed the first and then rafa silva and david neres made sure of the result in lisbon with all the goals in the first half. that when the second half in my opinion we controlled the game in a very good way, so we had two times a clean sheet against them so very good, big relief for everybody and now we look forward to the upcoming months,

so it gives us a lot of self—confidence. while rangers will be bidding to make the champions league group stages for the first time in over 10 years when they face psv eindhoven in the netherlands later. the tie is finely poised at 2—2 after the opening leg in glasgow and the scottish side will be without alfredo morelos after he was left out of the squad over "fitness and attitude" issues. you have to decide who to bring, uci have many players in my squad i am responsible of, many players who want to play, who work hard and who will do everything tomorrow on the pitch to be successful for this team and for this club so for me that is why i took these 23 players. we were very focused on course, we trained without morale is the last days. players are training well. ——we

trained without morelos in the last days. manchester city and england midfielderjill scott has announced her retirement from football. the 35—year—old played in 10 major tournaments, including two 0lympics with great britain, and helped england win euro 2022. scott made her england debut in 2006 and is second on their all—time list of most capped players with 161 and she becomes the second england player in two days to retire following ellen white on monday. defending champion primoz roglic holds the overall leader's red jersey heading into stage five of the vuelta a espana in the coming hours. the slovenian won tuesday's fourth stage after he produced a stunning late effort and now holds a 13—second lead over american sepp kuss in the general classification. serena williams has been training on arthur ashe stadium ahead of the final grand slam of the year, the us open, which starts next monday. the 23—time grand slam champion turns 41 next month and this could be her last major tournament before heading off into retirement. williams is still hopeful of equalling margaret court's all—time major record of 24 with victory at flushing meadows with the draw set to take place on thursday.

you can get all the latest sports news at our website, that's bbc.com/sport. but from me, tulsen tollett, and the rest of the team that's your sports news for now. let's now go from sport entertainment. —— sport to entertainment. "house of the dragon" the prequel to game of thrones has become hbo's most—watched series premiere in the network's history. nearly 10 million people in the us tuned into watch the premiere last weekend with reports of crashes due to high demand on hbo's streaming platform. the epic fantasy drama is already making headlines due to some controversial scenes, however it will face stiff competition from amazon's upcoming "lord of the rings" prequel due for release later this year. we can now speak to aja romano who's culture staff writer and reporterfor vox.

i assume you i assume you were one i assume you were one of the 10 million tuning and?— million tuning and? yes, i wouldn't _ million tuning and? yes, i wouldn't have _ million tuning and? yes, i wouldn't have missed i million tuning and? yes, i wouldn't have missed it. i million tuning and? yes, i- wouldn't have missed it. what did ou wouldn't have missed it. what did you make _ wouldn't have missed it. what did you make of— wouldn't have missed it. what did you make of it? _ wouldn't have missed it. what did you make of it? i - wouldn't have missed it. what did you make of it? i think- wouldn't have missed it. what did you make of it? i think it l did you make of it? i think it is very similar _ did you make of it? i think it is very similar to _ did you make of it? i think it is very similar to game i did you make of it? i think it is very similar to game of. is very similar to game of thrones in many ways but think it also goes a lot deeper on the politics. there was no big battle which they think most people associate game of thrones with fights and battle scenes, but instead they had a controversial childbirth scene, so it was the battle of a different kind, you might say. let's talk about that because there was a lot of concern about how that would be received. the violence of childbirth in mediaeval times, it's not easy viewing, is at? no, it really wasn't stop it was sort of felt like a horror narrative and i think that is about right, and they also wanted it to have kind of overt political commentary, given the recent repeal of roe v wade and they were aware of that when they were aware of that when they were aware of that when they were writing the script and wanted that political connection to bds. if}

and wanted that political connection to bds. 10 million tuned in. _ connection to bds. 10 million tuned in, we've _ connection to bds. 10 million tuned in, we've mentioned i connection to bds. 10 million l tuned in, we've mentioned that for hbo it was huge, their best thought of viewing figures in their history, but what are they saying post watching it, they saying post watching it, the viewers? what is the general feel? the viewers? what is the generalfeel? are the viewers? what is the general feel? are they generalfeel? are they disappointed, general feel? are they disappointed, with people excited, did they feel it was delivering?— excited, did they feel it was deliverin: ? ., , ., ., delivering? you might be aware that many people _ delivering? you might be aware that many people were - that many people were disappointed in the ending of game of thrones, in the series finale, there was a lot riding on that in terms of story and plot and who won, etc, so a lot of people had low expectations going into this series, but i think overall expectations have been met and people are really pleased. the show runs for the series were writers who were very popular from game of thrones, citing people had a lot of faith in them and so far they seem to be delivering. find they seem to be delivering. and in terms of _ they seem to be delivering. and in terms of if _ they seem to be delivering. and in terms of if people want to see familiar faces from game of thrones in this new series, what have they got from this point of view?— point of view? absolutely

nothin: point of view? absolutely nothing because - point of view? absolutely nothing because this i point of view? absolutely i nothing because this series takes almost two centuries before the characters in game of thrones, so you won't see anybody from game of thrones but you will see many places and references to ancient people, ancient families who have basically existed throughout the centuries. find throughout the centuries. and in terms of — throughout the centuries. and in terms of the _ throughout the centuries. and in terms of the competition, we've mentioned lord of the rings, your thoughts on that without i think it a very different show tonally. game of thrones is known for being gritty and dark whereas lord of the rings particular this particular part is very wholesome, very cosy, in a way. it is set in the shire which is very peaceful so i think tonally they are going to be very different shows. yeah, with probably different audiences as well. so good to talk to you, thank you for your take on that. were you watching? we got all the top

business stories here next including from the whistleblower, what he has to say about twitter. hello, there. there was a lot of late august sunshine to be found on tuesday. it was a beautiful day across much of scotland, as you can see from highland, but here, temperatures sat in the high teens, low 20s. now, further south and east of that, again, lots of sunshine, but it was hot and it was humid with it. in fact, suffolk saw the highest temperature on tuesday afternoon of 29 celsius. as we move into wednesday, this weather front will produce some rain, but it's also the dividing line between fresher air to the north and west and somewhat humid conditions continuing across much of central and eastern england. so, yes, we will see some rain, some of it heavy at times across west wales and then

gradually pushing into north west england. a few isolated showers further north and west, but here it will be predominantly dry, breezy as we go through the day, but those temperatures once again sitting in the high teens, maybe low 20s. to the south and east of that weather front, our temperatures again on the high side, 25—30 degrees, and it will be very humid with it as well. now, as we move through wednesday evening, into the early hours of thursday morning, our weather front doesn't move very far very fast, and when it does so, it will weaken off considerably. so a band of cloud and a few patchy showers moving across the pennines, but to the south and east of that, there's a risk of some thundery downpours developing in the south—east. and with the temperatures staying on the high side, 17 or 18 degrees, some of those showers really could turn quite heavy and thundery. so during the early hours of thursday morning, we could see across essex, kent, suffolk and maybe north norfolk some sharp showers drifting their way steadily eastwards. they will be fairly isolated and only on those eastern fringes, but any rain

in these areas is certainly going to come as welcome news. cloudy skies following on behind, brighter skies behind, with a scattering of showers in the far north—west. noticeably fresher for all — 15—24 degrees the high as we move out of thursday. now, friday, into the start of the weekend, sees a weather front push into the far north—west and the wind direction changing. so it looks likely that the far north could stay cloudy with outbreaks of rain at times, potentially. elsewhere — and, yes, it's a bank holiday for northern ireland, england and wales — dry, settled but fresher.

this is bbc news with the latest business headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. damaging allegations against twitter — a whistleblower comes forward in what could become a major setback for the social media company. oil prices take a breather from tuesday's 4% surge as rumours about what 0pec+ swirl. and, controllers at the ready — the world's largest gaming event opens in germany. are you suitably attired for gamecom?