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i think that's the most rewarding thing. people who know, know bdo. narrator: funding was also provideby, the freeman foundation. and by judy and peter blum kovler foundation; pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs. announcer: and now, "bbc news". >> hello, you are watching the context on bbc news. >> america can be trusted. america can be relied upon. america stands up for freedom. we stand strong for allies, we never bow down to anyone, certainly not vladimir putin. >> i call on speaker johnson to rise to the occasion, to do the right thing, bring this bill to the floor. >> several months before we have

the final confirmation. but ukraine is already in need of this money. >> the u.s. senate finally approved billions of dollars of foreign aid. ukraine's president says he's grateful a deal is not done yet. also coming up. a remarkable view from inside gaza following paramedics as they witness the war up close. radio two presenter steve wright has died, age 69. he's one of the voices of bbc radio for more than four decades. in the arctic, some polar ars could starve as the ice melts. they are forced onto land and cannot catch enough food. what needs to be done. >> welcome to the program. we will start in the u.s.. the senate approved a $95

billion aid package for ukraine, israel, and taiwan. the approval comes after months of political arguments. senate republicans are divided on the bill and previously voted it down. including $60 billion for kyiv, $14 billion for israel, 10 billion dollars for humanitarian aid in conflict zones. it heads to the representatives.olled house of we don't know what will happen. so it is not a done deal yet. in the last hour, u.s. president biden said this -- >> america can be trusted. america can be relied upon. america stands up for freedom. we stand strong for allies. we never bow down to anyone. certainly not to vladimir putin. i have said before, the stakes in this fight extend far beyond ukraine. if we don't stop his appetite for power and control in

ukraine, he will not limit himself just to ukraine. and the cost for america and our allies and partners is going to rise. for republicans in congress who think they can oppose funding for ukraine and not be held accountable, history is watching. history is watching. failure to support ukraine at this critical moment will never be forgotten. >> as you can see, standing by north america correspondent. let's get to the moments of history joe biden was touching upon. first, the technicalities. where does this stand, where are we in this process? >> a floor vote later, we are finally in this position where this bill has been passed by the senate. as you mention, it is not a done deal. now it has to go to the house. the house is controlled by the republicans.

the speaker of the house, mike johnson, has already indicated this is going nowhere. in terms of what happens next -- mr. johnson has to decide whether to bring the package to a vote in the chamber. either going to amend it and send it back to the senate, or ignore it entirely. without getting too much into the weeds, if he decides to ignore it entirely, the house republicans who did vote for the assistance to ukraine for this package could join the democrats in filing what is called a discharge petition, a rare parliamentary procedure that would basically -- and there would be a vote. at the moment, we've got to see what happens next if it goes to the floor. it can take weeks, it can take months before it lands on president biden's desk, if at all. using that cliche phrase, we will see. >> we love getting into the

weeds on this program. let's talk about the politics from a step back position. what is the opposition from some to this package? >> border security is one of the issues. this is a narrower bill. basically, republicans, particularly those on the right of the party, closely aligned to donald trump, they want very strict border security laws part of this. a security bill without this.ss the other thing you've got to remember is mike johnson, the republican leader, speaker of the house, and many republicans closely aligned to donald trump, he is the front runner and likely to be the republican party's presidential candidate. they don't want to continue supporting ukraine. they say they would rather the

money be spent in the u.s. there is pressure on them for the bill not to go through. the speaker of the house denies pressure from former president trump. that is some of the politics playing in the background. >> thank you for that. it is not just the politics. a real-life implications. we are going to speak to a member of the ukrainian parliament, thank you for coming on the program. >> thank you for having me. >> what is your reaction to what has happened in the senate and what could still happen in the u.s.? >> we are very happy the process is moving on. but it is not final. i think the toughest challenge is still high of us -- still ahead of us. there are many peoples whose lives, well-being, ability to

exist depends on if the politicians in the u.s. will figure out and find the ability to move forward to keep the promise the u.s. has made. it is hard to explain to people who are fighting in the front. what is going on and how did it change from as long as it takes four months and we do not have confirmation for this aid? >> can i ask you about the numbers? $60 billion heading to ukraine if this goes through unamended. give us an idea of what that would be used for. >> it is not going to head to ukraine. $10 billion would be used for the aid to cover our budget expenses. and the rest would be spent for the military expenses.

mostly they will be spent insi the u.s. to pay for ammunition, missiles, additional manufacturing of weapons. then at some point, the weapons will go to ukraine. we are talking about a really important and critical project for us. there is a shortage of having defense systems, different kinds of critical supplies. we really need it badly, all of that four months ago. imagine what is going on right now. especially given the fact we have no deadline, no understanding when the missiles and weapons will arrive to ukraine if the bill will be passed. >> what about the progress? i know you can't draw a direct

line from this bit of money coming through and success or otherwise the battlefield. but give us an idea on the state of the military situation now, if and when anfunding comes, what that could change? >> i'm not a military expert, but i can tell you a couple of things. the first one is while there are those delays in the support for the u.s., there are three countries that don't have any delays in weapons, russia, iran, and north korea. the manufacturing weapons and supplies to get ahead in the ability to aack us. and it is really dangerous. it was dangerous last year. right now they are getting more and more, and we see the attacks at the front intensifying. the question is how long the army will be able to hold them off.

this is the next essential question for all of us. the second sign is ammunition that was supposed to be manufactured in europe is also delayed. we understand everybody is trying to help us, but we are paying for every day of this delay with the lives of our citizens because almost every night, another peaceful city of ukraine is being attacked, people die, lives are destroyed. the nightmare continues and continues and we don't have much to contradict to that. >> do you have any understanding or sympathy with the view of some republicans in the u.s. that they simply want money spent in the u.s., for example, on their border? >> we are talking right now, talking about this $60 billion, less then a chunk of 1% of the u.s. military budget. i think we as a country have

shown we can use the money effectively and efficiently by weakening russia and destroying so many of their forces, so many of their weapons, supplies, soldiers. we are the only country in the world who does not have a fleet and is able to destroy the enemy's fleet. we are being sent to ukraine, it is money very well spent. >> thank you very much for coming on the program. >> thank you. glory to ukraine. >> around the world and across the u.k., this is bbc news. let's focus on other stories making the news. the trial has started of a man accused ofurdering sharon breath key in 2005. she died after she was shot while she had a cole responded to reports of a robbery in bradford. the 75-year-old extradited from pakistan last year denies all the offenses. official figures show the rate

of which wages are rising dropped in the three months to december. they are still outpacing the level of inflation. the office for national statistics and wage growth dropped by four percentage points to 6.2% in the last quarter of last year. a man has astonished police by calling 992 report himself for drunk driving. the call came in before noon on monday from a man who said he was drink driving and doesn't know what he's doing. he told the call handler he had a heavy weekend. you are live with bbc news. now for a remarkable and at times distressing perspective of the war in gaza from the people who have to respond to the attacks on the ground. he spent the first month of the war following paramedics across northern gaza.

this is their story.

>> --

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>> in response the israel defense force said any claim we intentionally target where prison or medical workers is baseless and untrue. we act in accordance with international law and take prections to mitigate civilian harm in operations. in the u.k., you can watch film for gaza 101 and emergency rescue on bbc now. taking a look at some of the key developments in the region. talks about a potential cease-fire underway in egypt. the security official in cairo says meetings taking place between intelligence officials from the u.s., egypt, and israel, along with qatari prime

minister. let's go to southern gaza. rafa. israeli ground offensive. the united nations says israel has not provided details or any plan to evacuate palestinians. an israeli government spokesperson called for agencies to cooperate with its efforts to evacuate civilians from a war zone. joining me is the chief spokesperson for the u.n. human rights office. thank you for coming on the program. let's talk about this idea of evacuating so many people from rafa before any potential large-scale ground incursion by israel. what is your response? >> we are talking about people who've been falsely transferred multiple times. most of them have had to flee.

evacuation orders issu by the israeli defense forces. even the locations to which they were told to evacuate were subsequently bombed. it is clear there is no safe place in gaza. you mentioned the role of the united nations will not support or be party to any possible transfer of the population. >> why is that? because although these are clearly very delicate and difficult decisions, would it not be safer to have an organization help in move people out of the way ahead of more intense fighting? >> we need to remove the illusion there are any safe areas in gaza. there are no safe areas in gaza. these people have been displaced multiple times coming from the north down to the south. about 1.5 million palestinians who have been packed against the border in rafa. there's no further place for them to go to be safe. we've had reports of people fleeing, their convoys hit.

people have evacuated to towns which were designated safe that were subsequently bombed. there is no safe place in gaza. the only way out is for a cease-fire. >> israel says it will be safe for people to move ahead of any operation in rafa. >> we need to remove the illusion that there is any possibility of safety in gaza. there is no safe place in gaza. there is violence, continued bombardment, fighting. let's not forget the humanitarian situation, which is dire. people living amid sewage, 1.5 million people who were already in one of the most densely populated places in the world who had been packed into even smaller areas. people with no access to showers or basic medical facilities, not enough clean water or food to survive. meager humanitarian assistance. >> what is your understanding of

the level that is getting in right now? >> less than a drop in the ocean. we have already been talking about the situation reaching proportions where families are experiencing starvation, lack of access to clean water. there are also more than 60,000 people who had been injured and a lack of medical care, medicines, basic health care facilities. >> we have been talking about and reporting on potential talks in egypt. do you have any understanding on the likelihood of any kind of deal? >> we don't. what we have been insisting on is an ending to this violence, the unconditional release of all hostages, and conditions to be created for a lasting political solution to this conflict. we are calling on all states th influence to exercise this rather than enable further violence.

>> thank you very much for coming on the program. in the u.k. in the last couple of hours, a second labor parliamentary candidate has been suspended from the party pending an investigation. the suspension of the former mp and prospective parliamentary candidate in lancashire comes after labor withdrew support by election candidate remarks about israel. here's the audio published by the daily mail newspaper with those comments. >> you are suspended on what was said. i know him very well, he is a solid -- pro-palestinian supporter. some of the people in the media from certain jude -- certain jewish quarters given -- about what he said. >> we will come back to those

let's speak to our political correspondent. let's talk about the first, or the latest candidate suspended pending an investigation. >> that is right. graham jones is the latest parliamentary candidate to be suspended pending a later investigation. he's having an interview tonight with the national executive committee which begins the formal process of undoing his candidacy just outside blackburn in england. and it comes after audio emerged of him apparently at that same meeting, and in the audio, he appears to use an expletive to refer to israel, and he appears to say british people who go to fight for the israeli army should be locked up.

we have approached graham jones to ask for a response and whether the audio is genuine but have not heard back from him. we also asked labor for clarification on what exactly graham jones has been suspended for. it is not yet clear. the audio did emerge, but it is not clear what he precisely was suspended for. but suspended pending an investigation. >> why is this damaging for the labour party? >> when he first became labor leader, he promised to stamp out anti-semitism from the party rank. the previous labor leader faced multiple accusations of allowing anti-semitism within the party. tried to make a key pillar of his leadership to remove it and tackle it. as he said today he d been decisive in suspending the respective candidate for rochdale. he said he had been decisive.

there are opponents who said it took 48 hours, they point to the fact it took 48 hours after the remarks emerged for labor to suspend him. what it means for the party is they will go into the by election without backing a particular candidate. he will still be on the ballot paper for voters because it is too late for him to be removed. he will still have his name next to the labour party logo. the labour party withdrawing their support, they have suspended him. even if he does win the seat, he won't sit as labor mp, he will be an independent. >> thank you very much for that. as we mentioned, that by election. we can take a look at the lists of candidates standing in the rochdale by election. if you want more information, you can head to our website.

just want to bring you a quick update to our top story this hour from the u.s. after months of political arguments and wrangling. a significant moment in the senate because a $95 billion aid package has been passed. but there's only half of the journey. it needs to pass through the lower house, which has not happened yet. democrats, we heard from president joe biden urging republicans to pass the package. the package includes aid for ukraine, israel, and taiwan. significant sums, 60 billion dollars in aid for key, $14 billion for israel, $10 billion for humanitarian aid in conflict zones, which includes gaza the

bill will now head to the republican-controlled house of representatives. so not a done deal yet. but a significant moment in the u.s.. plenty more coming up, stay with us. this is bbc news. narrator: funding for this presentation of this program is provided by... man: bdo. accountants and advisors. narrator: funding was also provided by, the freeman foundation. and by judy and peter blum kovler foundation; pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ announcer: "usa today" calls it, "arguably the best bargain in streaming." that's because the free pbs app lets you watch the best of pbs anytime, anywhere.

♪ ♪ narrator: funding for this presentation of this program is provided by... george: actually, you don't need vision to do most things in life. it's exciting to be part of a team driving the technology forward.