we begin tonight with the debt ceiling showdown in washington where lawmakers voted to advance a bill which will advert a government default. remember, the clock is ticking, lawmakers are racing to approve the deal before thejune 5th deadline. that's when treasury secretary janet yellen has warned that the us would face a "catastrophic" default and fail to pay all of its bills. the house passed the bill just about an hour ago. and now it would need to pass the senate before heading to president biden�*s desk. the president released this statement. north america correspondent nomia iqbaljoins me from capitol hill.

nomia, tell us some of the reaction you have been seeing to the vote having passed? fix, to the vote having passed? huge sigh of relief, really, by those members of the republican party and democratic party who were somewhere in the middle and glad this has now past this hurdle before it gets to the senate. the numbers are really interesting. 71 republicans opposed the bill. some are not surprising. 46 democrats also voted against. again, some of those members were not surprising. but what is interesting, ultimately more democrats supported, 165, than republicans, 149. now the next big battle is the senate. find big battle is the senate. and what can we _ big battle is the senate. and what can we expect - big battle is the senate. and what can we expect in the senate, nomia?_ what can we expect in the senate, nomia? well, the democratic _ senate, nomia? well, the democratic party, - senate, nomia? well, the democratic party, chuck i democratic party, chuck schumer, the democratic leader, house majority leader, has said he anticipates it might go on

the weekend. there could be some hold—ups. basically if there is unanimous consent, the debate will be skipped and they will go to a vote. but there is an indication some may want to have a debate over it. some are already voicing, from both sides, that they will not vote for this bill. remember, they need 60 votes, 51 democrats so they do need republicans on board to get this through. if they do vote, it should land on president biden�*s desk by monday, so we are talking about sunday, he then signs it... if you think about the time here, there is really not room for much error in congress to get this finally over the line and for it to be signed in order to avoid that default on monday. fix, avoid that default on monday. a sigh of relief, nomia iqbal reporting from capitol hill, thank you. our national politics reporter in the

studio, sofia, we havejust been speaking to nomia following the vote, and we also saw reaction from the speaker of the house kevin mccarthy. this was a sigh of relief for him, because it wasn't entirely clear that this would be a clear that this would be a clear path to getting this bill passed. clear path to getting this bill assed. �* . , . clear path to getting this bill assed. �* ., , ., , ., clear path to getting this bill assed. �* ., , ., , passed. and as a sign of 'ust how close it i passed. and as a sign of 'ust how close it was, i passed. and as a sign of 'ust how close it was, there h passed. and as a sign ofjust how close it was, there were some freedom caucus members who say, some members who say they were ready to take this further if the vote had failed, threatening hisjob to if the vote had failed, threatening his job to go after the speakership. it was really close, he got it done... his victory lap, he tried to squeeze every inch out of it, talking about how he wanted to make history... he said, i'll be here the next year the next year or the next year and they finally got the job done and let's talk about what we expect

to see in the senate.— to see in the senate. some senators — to see in the senate. some senators have _ to see in the senate. some senators have said - to see in the senate. some senators have said they - to see in the senate. some i senators have said they would vote for it but only with changes. what do you think as this moves onto the senate? there are a few republicans demanding amendments. 0ne there are a few republicans demanding amendments. one of them is senator mike lee. he has been a little softer on his position, saying he will not hold this bill passed thejohn the fifth deadline, as long as he is able to get that vote. 0ther democratic senators, sanders, marki, they say they will not vote for this bill. snapper benefits, the food vouchers for low income families... we see a similar split for the senators who are going to be opposed to it in the senate.

0k, certainly going to be interesting what happens but sophia, thank you for that analysis. we can speak to congressman ken buck, a republican from the state of colorado. that evening to you. you have come, of course, from the spout on the house floor and either voted against this deal, why? there are 4 trillion _ against this deal, why? there are 4 trillion reasons - against this deal, why? there are 4 trillion reasons to - against this deal, why? there are 4 trillion reasons to vote | are 4 trillion reasons to vote against this deal, the debt in the united states will rise by $4 trillion from 31 trillion to 35 trillion, absolutely on acceptable. it cannot sustain ourselves if we continue to add that much debt to our ledger. i that much debt to our ledger. i want to tell you what some of your republican colleagues have said about this deal today. speaker mccarthy, who negotiated this agreement said that this bail is a small step in putting the country in the right track. we know that the bill and now head to the senate

and republican senator says this bill provides a first reduction in non—discretionary spending in a decade. at $1.5 trillion reduction. do you agree? trillion reduction. do you auree? ~ , ., ., trillion reduction. do you auree? ~ ., ”~ agree? when you add $4 trillion, _ agree? when you add $4 trillion, you _ agree? when you add $4 trillion, you don't - agree? when you add s4j trillion, you don't do that agree? when you add $4 i trillion, you don't do that by reducing spending by 1.5 trillion. they know this doesn't reduce spending at all, and they know this spell is not going to be accepted by the american people. there's already a huge push back on this, and this is a failure, they said that there was nothing in this bill for democrats. they voted for this bill because they realise that on this tale, presidentjoe biden will be able to spend more money on the programmes that he is so interested in promoting. that he is so interested in promoting-— that he is so interested in ”romotin. . promoting. are you concerned about what —

promoting. are you concerned about what would _ promoting. are you concerned about what would have - promoting. are you concerned i about what would have happened if there was no—deal that passed through the house, indeed the treasury secretary has warned that there is going to be a catastrophic economic collapse if there is no agreement in place to raise the debt ceiling. agreement in place to raise the debt ceiling-— debt ceiling. first of of the treasury — debt ceiling. first of of the treasury secretary - debt ceiling. first of of the treasury secretary is i debt ceiling. first of of the treasury secretary is the l debt ceiling. first of of the i treasury secretary is the same secretary that said there would be no sustained inflation in this country. she was wrong on that banshee is wrong on this. the legislative reality is that we would have passed a short—term extension for the debt ceiling so that we would give our selves more to negotiate. it was never an issue in this case, it's one of those things that people use to try to scare the public to move people in the wrong direction, and they succeeded in this case, because this tale goes in the wrong direction.— the wrong direction. what is the mistake _ the wrong direction. what is the mistake that _ the wrong direction. what is the mistake that you - the wrong direction. what is the mistake that you think l the wrong direction. what is l the mistake that you think the speaker of the house made? he made speaker of the house made? he: made the fundamental mistake of misleading the american people and thinking that having four or $5 trillion more national debt was acceptable. that's not acceptable. we need spending caps. we need to make sure that the biden administration was limited in how much money it can spend. limited in how much money it can spend-— can spend. you have said that after this vote, _ can spend. you have said that after this vote, they will i can spend. you have said that after this vote, they will need |

after this vote, they will need to be a discussion on whether to be a discussion on whether to kevin mccarthy, will you have that conversation with your colleagues? brute have that conversation with your colleagues?— have that conversation with your colleagues? we will be havin: your colleagues? we will be having that _ your colleagues? we will be l having that conversation next week. it already started on the floor, as we saw. the democrats jumped on the opportunity to support this spell. the speaker negotiated a bill that was more popular with the democrats than it was with the republicans, and frankly, there are 72 republicans now who voted against this bill who are ready to have that discussion about whether kevin mccarthy should continue to be a speaker. [30 continue to be a speaker. do ou continue to be a speaker. do you think you will have enough votes for this motion?- votes for this motion? i don't know. votes for this motion? i don't know- it _ votes for this motion? i don't know- it only _ votes for this motion? i don't know. it only takes _ votes for this motion? i don't know. it only takes five or i votes for this motion? i don'tj know. it only takes five or six votes, unless the democrats apply to kevin mccarthy, that creates a whole new dynamic that really undermines the ability to get programmes through with the republican majority. d0 through with the republican ma'ori . ,, through with the republican ma'ori . , , majority. do you still trust the speaker _ majority. do you still trust the speaker of _ majority. do you still trust the speaker of the - majority. do you still trust the speaker of the house, | majority. do you still trust i the speaker of the house, kevin mccarthy, to lead congressional republicans? i

mccarthy, to lead congressional republicans?— republicans? i don't trust kevin mccarthy _ republicans? i don't trust kevin mccarthy as - republicans? i don't trust kevin mccarthy as a i republicans? i don't trust kevin mccarthy as a fiscal| kevin mccarthy as a fiscal conservative. i don't believe that kevin mccarthy understand significance of spending and the threat to the united states. look, china is going around the world right now. we have been getting reports talking to the governments of foreign countries in africa, asia, latin america about how the united states is out of control spending and out—of—control debt, and china is a better partner, economic partner than the united states. that is a very serious consequence of this kind of irresponsible bale. congressman, what do you expect to see next from your colleagues in the senate? well, i think the _ colleagues in the senate? well, i think the senate _ colleagues in the senate? well, i think the senate will— colleagues in the senate? well, i think the senate will have i colleagues in the senate? well, i think the senate will have a i i think the senate will have a very similar dynamic. i think there will be a large percentage of democrats who will support this spell. i think it will be some republicans who willjoin them, and able will declare victory and able will declare victory and talk about what a great effort it was, the american people are the ones that are going to be

losers. congressman from the state of colorado, _ losers. congressman from the state of colorado, thank i losers. congressman from the state of colorado, thank you l losers. congressman from the | state of colorado, thank you so much forjoining us here on bbc news this evening.— around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. bbc news, bringing you different stories from across the uk. at the push of a button, jaden's life has changed forever. button, jaden's life has changed forever.- button, jaden's life has changed forever. button, jaden's life has chan . ed forever. ., ., , changed forever. the other way, net. he changed forever. the other way, get- he has _ changed forever. the other way, get. he has always lived - changed forever. the other way, get. he has always lived with i get. he has always lived with what he calls _ get. he has always lived with what he calls his _ get. he has always lived with what he calls his little - get. he has always lived with what he calls his little arm. l what he calls his little arm. but that's will no longer than a ten thanks to his new bionic arm. how are you doing that? so, the pressure plates in here, i have to use my muscles inside my arm to do the pressure plates to make it move. ., , ., _ ., move. the arm is made by a bristol based _ move. the arm is made by a bristol based firm _ move. the arm is made by a bristol based firm open i bristol based firm open bionics. it says that future is looking even brighterfor looking even brighter for people looking even brighterfor people like jaden. looking even brighter for people like jaden.- people like jaden. this technology _ people like jaden. this technology is - people like jaden. this technology is moving l technology is moving incredibly quickly —

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infrastructure. russian targets have faced a spade of attacks and two oil refineries in southern russia earlier today. these images — confirmed by bbc verify — are of the afip—ski oil refinery in the southern krasnodar region, deep inside russia. the region's governor says the strike caused a fire — but no one was injured. us officials said they have not determined who launched those attacks. it comes ahead of a highly anticipated counter—offensive — and in an exclusive interview with the bbc, former us military chief, general david patraeus, was optimistic about the ukrainian military�*s chances of success. we believe for the first time, for either side, this is a result of artillery and

engineers, breaching the fortifications that they have established, air defence keeping the russian defence off the ukraine's were fair, russians already in adequate. both— russians already in adequate. both facilities, and all orchestrated by a very ukrainian command—and—control also using — ukrainian command—and—control also using drones to attack them — also using drones to attack them in _ also using drones to attack them in depth with the precision that the us, uk and other countries have provided. this, _ other countries have provided. this, i— other countries have provided. this, i think, other countries have provided. this, ithink, going other countries have provided. this, i think, going to break the — this, i think, going to break the front— this, i think, going to break the front lines where they do this attack, i won't speculate, but this attack, iwon't speculate, but they— this attack, i won't speculate, but they have stated their intent _ but they have stated their intent to sever background communication and go along the east coast into crimea. and i think— east coast into crimea. and i think when i was a two star

general, it is terrifying for the — general, it is terrifying for the enemy, and the difference this time — the enemy, and the difference this time over, say, what happened in kyiv last fall, where _ happened in kyiv last fall, where you can instead carry out a very— where you can instead carry out a very successful attack, that when — a very successful attack, that when the _ a very successful attack, that when the lead elements culminate after, as far as he can— culminate after, as far as he can physically go, they are following on forces that will exploit _ following on forces that will exploit and maintain the momentum and continue this. they— momentum and continue this. they have _ momentum and continue this. they have to move and try to reestablish the line. noting, on the — reestablish the line. noting, on the russian side, this is a force — on the russian side, this is a force that _ on the russian side, this is a force that is battered. many of these — force that is battered. many of these units have been in combat

for well— these units have been in combat for well over a year. in other words. — for well over a year. in other words, replacing the losses, the people, the equipment, the are jetting people, that is not the way— are jetting people, that is not the way you produce a well disciplined organisation. they are going to crack, crumble and eventually — are going to crack, crumble and eventually collapse. he can get the defence is really moving. earlier i spoke tojohn bolton, former us national security advisor under the trump administration, to get his thoughts on the us' support for ukraine. great to be with you, a huge relief to the american economy and the economy around the world. i'm proud to have been a part of something to ensure we he did this by deciding which objectives are in order to achieve those objectives. that's called strategy. the weapon system, we going to get

the next weapon system, and it is not contributing to an effort, with russian aggression. now starting the spring offensive, we are all wishing the ukrainians the best. making their task more difficult removing the russians from ukrainian territory. 50. from ukrainian territory. so, the pentagon _

from ukrainian territory. so, the pentagon has _ from ukrainian territory. so, the pentagon has released information on what has been provided, including 10,000 javelin and anti—air systems, 140 fighter rounds, 72 abrams tanks and a cousin on it from there. it adds up to

what army is russia going to use to escalate this conflict? where are they hiding? and if it's such a great army, why isn't it in ukraine today trying to win the war? the only thing the russians have that we should justifiably fear is the threat of the use of nuclear weapons. and yet we know from open testimony by american intelligence officials that, essentially, in every player mention of nuclear weapons by the kremlin, there is no evidence of any change in deployment of russian nuclear forces. meaning it has been entirely a blast. so yeah, we are calibrating for fear of a russian response. but let's be clear what happened. russia, russian response. but let's be clearwhat happened. russia, in an unprovoked fashion, invaded

an unprovoked fashion, invaded a peaceful country and has doubled the amount of territory it now controls. what escalation is it that we fear when russia can do that and, so far, get away with it. so when russia can do that and, so far, get away with it.— far, get away with it. so you think the — far, get away with it. so you think the threat _ far, get away with it. so you think the threat of _ far, get away with it. so you | think the threat of employing nuclear weapons is an empty threat? i nuclear weapons is an empty threat? ., nuclear weapons is an empty threat? ~ ., , , ., threat? i think it has been an empty threat _ threat? i think it has been an empty threat so _ threat? i think it has been an empty threat so far. - threat? i think it has been an empty threat so far. we i threat? i think it has been an l empty threat so far. we should always take it seriously, but merely threatening, if that achieves the objectives, then russia gets it forfree. the tactical nuclear weapons we have been talking about would be used on ukrainian soil. and yet, how afraid are the ukrainians of that? it doesn't seem to me that they are so afraid that they are willing to forego the spring offensive. so i think if we follow the ukrainian resolved a little bit more, this war might be over sooner, and fewer civilians on the ukrainian side would be dying. the ukrainian side would be d in..�* ., the ukrainian side would be d in.�* ., ., dying. ambassador, you have essentially — dying. ambassador, you have essentially said _ dying. ambassador, you have essentially said this _ dying. ambassador, you have essentially said this white i essentially said this white house administration, nato don't have clearly defined goals of what they want to see

in ukraine. what do you think that goal should be? the declared _ that goal should be? the declared position - that goal should be? the declared position of- that goal should be? tie: declared position of every nato ally is ukraine should be restored to full sovereignty and territorial integrity, meaning as of the day of the dissolution of the soviet union, in1991... it means dissolution of the soviet union, in 1991... it means out of donbas and out of crimea. what is our strategy to achieve that? and if that's not our goal, if there are those who don't think getting russia out of crimea is part of the strategy, why don't they say so publicly? that's part of the problem. we have a declared position but our strategy is not fixed to achieve that objective. not fixed to achieve that objective-— not fixed to achieve that ob'ective. ~ ., ., .,~ ., objective. what do you make of republican _ objective. what do you make of republican presidential - republican presidential candidates like the former president donald trump and the current governor of florida ron desantis who are not strongly supporting ukraine in this conflict? i supporting ukraine in this conflict? ., , supporting ukraine in this conflict? ~' , ., conflict? i think they have different _ conflict? i think they have different positions, i conflict? i think they have different positions, and i l conflict? i think they have l different positions, and i do

worry that the isolationist virus is loose in the us again. i think the campaigns are at a very early stage. i think at this point, support among the general population to continue to aid ukraine is overwhelming. i want to ask you about a possible path to peace. to a ceasefire. we spoke to someone last week... ceasefire. we spoke to someone last week- - -_ last week... while we are continuing _ last week... while we are continuing to _ last week... while we are continuing to help - last week... while we are l continuing to help ukraine, last week... while we are i continuing to help ukraine, can we introduce a diplomatic dimension? i'm not talking about— dimension? i'm not talking about peace, not talking about letting — about peace, not talking about letting bygones be bygones, but at least — letting bygones be bygones, but at least bring about something of a ceasefire.— of a ceasefire. what do you think of that? _ of a ceasefire. what do you think of that? |_ of a ceasefire. what do you think of that? i would i of a ceasefire. what do you | think of that? i would quote dou~las think of that? i would quote douglas macarthur, - think of that? i would quote douglas macarthur, who i think of that? i would quote i douglas macarthur, who once said, in war, there is no substitute for victory. ambassador, thank you so much forjoining us on bbc news. had to be with you. the un war crimes tribunal in the hague has increased the prison sentences of two former serbian state

security officials after a legal process lasting two decades. jovica stanisic, pictured here on the left, and franko simatovic, on the right, are both in their 70s. both were sentenced to 12 years in 2021 in a retrial that followed acquittals in 2013. the pair were convicted of training serbian death squads who committed crimes including murder and ethnic cleansing. they'll now serve 15 years, rather than their original sentence of 12, after a legal process lasting two decades. hugely significant decision today. these two men tied the serbian infrastructure to the ethnic cleansing of non—serbs during this conflict. you may be able to see in the background, mothers of srebrenica, i have been speaking to a woman who lost two children in the srebrenica massacre. she said the court has brought them justice today, she said, it's a beautiful day forjustice. that is what this court represents for so many. this is the final verdict, the final trial conducted by this court. these two men were operating under the former president slobodan milosevic,

in training these death squads, the red beret is, as they were known, and deploying them to commit these atrocities. why would the sentences increased from 12 to 15 years? because initially they were found guilty of committing these atrocities in one town. the appeals chamber here today decided that, actually, they were liable for crimes committed beyond this town. murder, persecution, forcible transfer, deportation of non—serbs from unit a palette is, and that is why these sentences have been increased. are the two men able to appeal? this was an appeals verdict, so no, it cannot be appealed. 0ne no, it cannot be appealed. one of them was in court today. he is in his early 70s. they are both in their early 70s. the

other was following from a detention unit in the hague. 0ne detention unit in the hague. one of the reasons this is so significant, speaking to some of the survivors who made the journey to witness justice in action in the hague is because they say is the final piece of they say is the final piece of the puzzle. it means there is a true account, based on factual evidence, of the serbian state's involvement in these atrocities. and that matters now. it mattered back then. and it matters most of all in the future. because in order to have a peaceful region, they need to have a full and true account of what happened back then. many people here believe this can be the start of the healing process, which some people still haven't fully gone through. and yet, there are others, i havejust been speaking to a mother of srebrenica, who said we still have a problem in the balkans, because people like radovan karadzic, also found guilty by this court of ethnic cleansing, the former political leader of the former political leader of the bosnian serbs was also

found guilty by this court of genocide, ethnic cleansing... they are seen by so many people as war heroes still. and until there is the political will to ensure people believe in what really happened back in the early 1990s, then the healing process cannot be fully done. thank you for watching bbc news. we will see you at the top of the next hour. hello there. the weather for half—term week continues to frustrate some but glorious for others. west has certainly been best — wednesday was the warmest day of the year so far, scotland just shy of 25. once again along the east coast of scotland and england, it was cool and grey at times. that is because the high—pressure centred to the far north—west with the wind direction swinging round clockwise, always going to be driving in cloud off the chilly north sea. thursday, we start off grey

and gloomy, damp after some drizzle but the sunshine will come through, and into the afternoon once again we have those contrasts. south west england and wales, the west midlands and south coast — dry, sunny and warm. east anglia and east of the pennines, cool and breezy at times. more sunshine west of the pennines and into northern ireland, and for western scotland the temperature peaks in the low 20s. so really a tale of two halves. where we have the best of the sunshine, that's where we will have the highest pollen, grass pollen as well at this time of year. low to moderate, especially on the east coast. high pressure just drifts a little further east. then we see subtle differences with that high, but it will mean more sunshine coming through on friday. slightly drier air and lighter winds and a good deal of dry, settled and sunny weather. it will still feel cooler along

the exposed east coast, but sunshine to go with it, which will hopefully compensate and once again sheltered western areas will see highs into the low 20s. the weekend sees the high pressure continue to push steadily eastwards, so some subtle differences. if you are heading to the beaches, west is best once again, with the temperature into the low 20s, but along the east coast we have sunshine as we head into the weekend. and we still continue to see the breeze coming from the north—east, and guess what? as we head into early next week, very little in the way of change, largely dry with the warmest and driest weather out to the west. take care.