the us outlines what will be included in its $6 billion package of military assistance for ukraine. joe biden says he's up for debating donald trump, ahead of november's presidential election. and how wildlife in antarctica is being exposed to damaging levels of ultraviolet light. hello and welcome to bbc news. i'm lukwesa burak. the united states has outlined what will be included in a $6 billion package of military assistance for ukraine. it's part of a $60 billion commitment, which was approved by congress a week ago, following six months of delays. ukraine has repeatedly called for more support in its fight against russia. this $6 billion package of aid

will focus on air defence. this includes interceptor missiles, anti—drone systems and artillery ammunition. what's not included are the new patriot air defence batteries, something ukraine's president volodymyr zelensky says are critical. the us defence secretary lloyd austin has been speaking about the importance of the aid. take a listen. the outcome in ukraine will determine the trajectory of our times. if putin prevails in ukraine, the security consequences will be grave and global. europe would face a security threat that it hasn't seen in our lifetimes. as president biden has noted, russia will not stop in ukraine. if the kremlin gets its way, if putin's war and imperial

aggression succeeds, every tyrant on earth will take note. america's top diplomat is warning china that washington will act, if beijing doesn't stop providing russia with supplies, for its war in ukraine. antony blinken says he's made it clear to his chinese counterparts that they're "helping fuel the biggest threat" to european security, since the cold war. he's been speaking to laura bicker, in beijing. hello. i'm laura bicker. how are you? antony blinken�*s visit comes as us ties with china are at a turning point. how's your trip been? oh, it's been... we've covered a lot of ground. the dialogue and diplomacy for the cameras hides real discord and distrust. this is what chinese viewers are shown. a cinematic soundtrack accompanies president xi, urging the us to be partners, not rivals. yet, hours earlier, mr blinken was warned the two sides could slip towards conflict.

..and this could not be happening without... but he came to beijing with a warning of his own. 70% of the machine tools that russia is getting from abroad coming from china, 90% of the microelectronics. so for china, if it wants to have better relations, not only with us, but with countries in europe, it can't do that while at the same time helping to fuel the biggest threat to european security since the end of the cold war. we've taken action already against chinese entities that are engaged in this, and what i made clear today is that, if china won't act, we will. you say you will act. i just want to be clear on what you're prepared to do. well, i'm not going to get into the details, except to say, look at what we've done already. we've imposed sanctions, export controls, of one kind or another. china views this as hypocrisy, as the us continues to arm israel. beijing is using the war

in gaza to discredit washington and paint itself as a peaceful power. it erodes the credibility of the united states, notjust here in china, but around the world, don't you think? well, of course, china will do whatever it will do to distort our policies and to misinform its own people about what we're actually doing, what we're not doing, what we stand for, what we don't stand for, and i think china can play a constructive role here. it has relationships, it has influence with countries, like iran, that it can use effectively to, in the first instance, try to prevent the conflict from spreading. a record shop was mr blinken�*s final stop. perhaps taylor swift can help forge cross—cultural ties. this trip has not dealt with the two sides�* differences. they've merely talked about them, and real risks remain in this fragile relationship, which mr blinken described as the most consequential in the world. laura bicker, bbc news, beijing.

let's speak to political analyst, prof steve fish, at the university of california, berkeley. we are beginning to get a break now of exactly what ukraine will be receiving. how will this help?— will be receiving. how will this hel? ~ , ,., , this help? well, this is a very big break _ this help? well, this is a very big break in _ this help? well, this is a very big break in the _ this help? well, this is a very big break in the story, - this help? well, this is a very big break in the story, and i big break in the story, and what it says in the bigger picture is that donald trump is much stranglehold on the republican party's policy towards ukraine seems to have been broken. trump has been the main man in the republican party for some time now and republican congress people have just danced to his tune but whatjust happened was the speaker of the house of representatives just broke with trump and moved to advance legislation forward to resume aid to ukraine. this is very big news because trump of course has sided with putin, he has all along, he has since he

became president. what this now means is that the pipeline for american aid to ukraine is open again. putin's only hope of winning this war in the long run is a drug reaction, so that's really what he's hanging on for and hoping for, but right now it looks like trump is my code on the republican party's policy towards ukraine has been broken. it party's policy towards ukraine has been broken.— has been broken. it was quite significant — has been broken. it was quite significant at _ has been broken. it was quite significant at the _ has been broken. it was quite significant at the time - has been broken. it was quite significant at the time that. has been broken. it was quite| significant at the time that we have this bipartisan support of the package. it have this bipartisan support of the package-— have this bipartisan support of the package. it was indeed. we don't see much _ the package. it was indeed. we don't see much bipartisanship l don't see much bipartisanship in the united states these days on big bills in particular, and this was a very big one. this brought together republicans, who see american interests and global interests and global peace and the way that the old traditional republican is dead, and the democrats together against this m aga wing which against this m aga wing which again sided with vladimir putin, which is a strange thing to think about for the party of reagan and john mccain to side with america's greatest sworn enemy against a democratic

ally, but that's the direction trump has gone in.- ally, but that's the direction trump has gone in. ok, let's 'ust trump has gone in. ok, let's just enter— trump has gone in. ok, let's just enter the _ trump has gone in. ok, let's just enter the comments - trump has gone in. ok, let's just enter the comments mr| just enter the comments mr blank made on china. —— mr blinken made on china. any indication as to how the us can act? ., 4' ., , indication as to how the us can act? ., «a, , ,, , act? you know, the big issues here are _ act? you know, the big issues here are in — act? you know, the big issues here are in some _ act? you know, the big issues here are in some ways - act? you know, the big issues here are in some ways really i here are in some ways really tied together. china did not use to act as a spoiler of democracy in the world. it was interested in better relationships, and to try and improve its economy. xijinping sees the world very differently than his predecessors did. he is really a kind of old—fashioned leninist. this is the world in zero—sum terms. his predecessors actually saw the possibility of a positive world where both the western democracies and china gained at the same time. xi jinping things any gain for democracy is a loss for him. so to that end he is actually aiding

russia's more on ukraine, and alex according to secretary blinken likely is interfering in our elections in the united states. we have been through this with vladimir putin before. we know who xi jinping would want in power, and that will be donald trump. donald trump is always fulsome in his praise of xijinping. he makes a hash of democracy in the united states, chose to discredit it, but also to the interests of xi jinping. discredit it, but also to the interests of xijinping. again thatis interests of xijinping. again that is peculiar because what xi jinping that is peculiar because what xijinping is doing is actually sacrificing good relationships with the united states and indeed along with europe for the sake of siding with vladimir putin, the sake of interfering in an american election. this in my view is not the way previous chinese leaders saw things, and it is a sign ofjust how insecure she feels. sign of 'ust how insecure she feels. ., ., sign of 'ust how insecure she feels. . ,, , ., sign of 'ust how insecure she feels. ., ~' , ., , sign of 'ust how insecure she feels. . ,, , . feels. thank you very much indeed. there have been some small developments in ceasefire negotiations between israel and hamas, with both sides continuing to review proposals.

egyptian mediators have arrived in israel, and egyptian media say there's been "notable progress" in finding common ground. in gaza itself, the hamas—run health agency says at least 50 people have been killed in israeli attacks over the past 2a hours. this was the scene in rafah on friday night. with me is said shehata from bbc arabic. what is the common ground? it is hard to find common ground, according to the deputy leader of hamas, he said received a response after a visit from security delegation to israel, and egyptian security delegation to israel and its understudy by hamas but there is a big difference between them. the proposal merely about a temporary ceasefire, like the exchange of some prisoners in

israeli prisoners, a return for some elderly people and sick and women hostages, in gaza by hamas. so there is an exchange of about 33 persons from those hostages in return for some prisoners and some more aid and ceasefire, this is may be, but there is a big difference between them, like, hamas is still insisting there should be a full withdrawal of israeli troops from gaza, should be aid especially in the north because you have problems in getting aid, in addition to that it would be like permanent ceasefire. according to the post from the cabinet, he was against all of that, mr netanyahu, because some of his coalition members said any

thing like that would be unacceptable, so there is a big difference. hamas refusing, don't think they are under pressure, they think israel more is under pressure, and they talk about rafah also, there is a problem because israel is going to rafah because mr netanyahu made his plan is clear that he is going to rafah because he wants to achieve complete victory over hamas, what he calls, and hamas is against all of that, even international parties like united states, egypt and other countries. so there is a problem between them, there is a big gap between them. so they are already _ a big gap between them. so they are already in — a big gap between them. so they are already in rafah, _ a big gap between them. so they are already in rafah, they - a big gap between them. so they are already in rafah, they are - are already in rafah, they are already attacking rafah, it is just not a full—scale offensive. what have been the flash points in this conflict? we have had the occupied west bank, what else has been going on? , . . , ~' on? other places, like the attempts _ on? other places, like the attempts by _ on? other places, like the attempts by the _ on? other places, like the attempts by the egypt, . on? other places, like the - attempts by the egypt, qatar, united states and others to contain the conflict, because there are some attacks by the

islamic resistance in iraq, the coalition, formed after 7th of october, so they launched some drones against haifa and other places in israel. three plastic missiles against british oil tanker, and it was reported and confirmed to have minor damage but still affecting the freedom of navigation. and there is also in the lab and onside, so there are many flash points rafah, west bank and more clashes between the israeli forces, so the problem is getting out of control and mr blinken is coming to the region, and imagine other countries like egypt, qatar and other countries trying very hard to contain the conflict and achieve a ceasefire because the death toll in gaza is huge. thank you very much indeed.

if you were watching, you probablyjust if you were watching, you probably just saw if you were watching, you probablyjust saw some if you were watching, you probably just saw some of the latest aid drops that were taking place, and those were live shots. they have been airdrops that have been managing to get the aid in need to those in need in gaza. joe biden says he is ready to take on donald trump in a presidential debate, ahead of their likely november election rematch. the biden campaign has for months been non—committal about his willingness to participate in the tradition, but on friday, mr biden said he was happy to debate him. mr trump has said he's ready to debate mr biden "anytime, anywhere, any place. " will vernon sent this update from washington. this wasn't the first time president biden has been asked whether he will take part in televised debates with donald trump. the biden campaign has been tight—lipped about this for some time now, so much so that earlier this month, 12 major us news organisations

penned an open letter, urging bothjoe biden and donald trump to agree to participate in the debates, saying they have a rich tradition in american democracy, and mr trump, too, has been goading joe biden incessantly over whether he will agree to the debates, so the president has been under pressure over this. now, the last time the two men faced off on tv was during the 2020 election campaign. there were two debates then, and they were notable for their vitriol, for the aggressive atmosphere between the two men. there was one notable moment whenjoe biden said to van president trump, shut up, man. but most analysts agree thatjoe biden generally came off better than donald trump did in those. but now, finally, mr biden has agreed to take part. in response to that, president said he was ready anywhere, anytime, anyplace, an old expression he said used by

fighters, and mrtrump expression he said used by fighters, and mr trump proposed that the first debate could even take place as soon as next week. now, that is almost certainly not going to happen, and the official date for the first televised presidential debate is there's september, just under two months before that crucial election date. let's get some of the day's other news now. a number of countries in east africa are experiencing severe flooding and landslides. at least 150 people were killed in tanzania and 70 were killed in kenya. nearly 100,000 people have been displaced in burundi. the region has seen heavier rainfall than usual in recent weeks, exacerbated by the el nino weather pattern. south africa is marking the 30th anniversary of the country's first democratic elections and the end of apartheid. president cyril ramaphosa will lead celebrations of freedom day, when nelson mandela and the african national congress party were first elected, putting an end to white—minority rule.

a federal appeals court in chicago has upheld a 20—year sentence for disgraced singer r kelly, on child pornography and enticement charges. it rejected his appeal, just over a year after the former singer was sentenced. his lawyers had argued the charges fell outside the statute of limitations. elon musk�*s social media platform, x, has defended publishing posts showing a bishop in australia being stabbed during a sermon. the app, formerly known as twitter, rejected a regulator's order to take down the content, due to it being violent and offensive. in a post on friday, x's global government affairs account said, "first, we believe that these posts should not have been banned in australia at all. the content within the posts does not encourage or provoke

violence. it also said, the content can be reasonably considered as part of public discussion or debate, under australian law. the order to take down the footage has sparked heated public exchanges between mr musk and australian officials. they claim that police have fears of the footage being used to encourage people to join terrorist groups. for more on this, let's cross over to the gold coast in australia, to speak to dan svantesson, a professor specialising in internet law. hello. welcome to the programme. just how much of a big story is this in australia? has it been picked up? this has dominated _ has it been picked up? this has dominated the _ has it been picked up? this has dominated the news _ has it been picked up? this has dominated the news during - has it been picked up? this has dominated the news during the | dominated the news during the week that's been, really, and the more heated the debate gets, the more people are exercising their free speech on this matter, the temperature has really risen, with quotes

rending from mask being jailed to certain politicians being the enemy of the australian people and such comments have been made. 50 people and such comments have been made-— been made. so what is the legal osition been made. so what is the legal position on _ been made. so what is the legal position on this _ been made. so what is the legal position on this particular- position on this particular issue? , ., ,., issue? the starting point here i think is issue? the starting point here | think is that _ issue? the starting point here i think is that every _ i think is that every responsible and mature platform should be deleting this sort of content voluntarily. other platforms that we are used you have already done so, but acts, for some mysterious reason, decided to fight a sort of free speech fight on this particular issue. the problem i think is that there is no real free—speech value content in question. so to frame it as a free speech issue has been a bit misguided. the real issue i think is the impact that global take—down orders can have on the internet as a whole. 50 the internet as a whole. so what are — the internet as a whole. so what are your personal thoughts? is this a case of free speech? i thoughts? is this a case of free speech?— free speech? i don't think there is —

free speech? i don't think there is any _ free speech? i don't think there is any free-speech l free speech? i don't think- there is any free-speech value there is any free—speech value in the content, so x should have removed it from the start. the unfortunate situation we are in now is that the esafety commissioner has had to stay at and it's gone to court, so there are things have in my view gone in a wrong direction too, in that if the order called for this global removal of this content, x had volunteered to use geolocation technology is to make this content unavailable and inaccessible to australians, but the esafety commissioner did not see that as sufficient, and requested global take—down, and requested global take—down, and you can imagine how quickly that escalates, than if every country can ask every platform to remove anything that is unlawful in a given country. 0k, unlawful in a given country. ok, thank you very much indeed. king charles is to return to public duties for the first time since he was diagnosed with cancer. a buckingham palace spokesperson said doctors had been pleased with his progress so far. he will continue to be treated for an unspecified form

of the disease. charlotte gallagher reports. the king and queen together, in the gardens of buckingham palace, a positive sign about the king's health. the photo was taken earlier this month, but has just been released. the palace say the king is making encouraging progress, and will shortly return to public—facing duties, after a period of treatment and recuperation, following his recent cancer diagnosis. the king's last public event was in windsor on easter sunday, and he surprised the crowds by stopping to chat, thanking them for their good wishes. keep going strong, never give in. thank you very much.

his next visit will be more symbolic — a trip to a cancer treatment centre, and injune, he will meet the emperor and empress ofjapan, who will be in london for a state visit. but the king's recovery process is still ongoing. i guess he will be taking very strong advice from his medical team not to overdo it. there is a psychological component to cancer recovery, and it's great that he feels able to go out there and do more, but he will need to be very careful that he doesn't stretch himself too much. this has been a really tough year for the royal family, with both the king and the princess of wales diagnosed with cancer, and, like any family, that has come as a huge blow. they've also had to deal with intense media speculation,

so the announcement that the king feels well enough to return to some public duties will be welcome news. the prime minister, your majesty. the king has been working throughout his treatment, including meeting with the prime minister. decisions about some upcoming events will be made by the king and his advisers nearer the time. he is still undergoing treatment. they can't guarantee that he will undertake some of the key engagements over the summer, although they are very hopeful he will be able to, so you've got things like royal ascot, trooping the colour, chelsea flower show, perhaps. i think they are hoping he will be able to go to those sorts of events, but it is all still to be confirmed yet. the king and catherine are two of the most senior and popular members of the royal family. their absence has been felt by many. i wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you personally... there is no news about when the princess of wales will return to public duties. she announced her cancer diagnosis in march, and has asked for time, space

and privacy for herself and her family. a hole in the ozone layer over antarctica, that's fuelled by the smoke from wildfires in australia, is exposing wildlife to potentially damaging levels of uv light. scientists from the university of wollongong say animals and plants are having to put more energy into avoiding the rays. here's our science correspondent, victoria gill. the ozone layer that protects us from the sun's most harmful rays is healing, gradually, but enact practical, in cold, high atmospheric clouds, a hole in that layer still appears every year. that ozone thinning or loss used to peak in september or october, when animals and plants are tucked under winter snow and marine animals are protected by sea ice. but it's now lingering until december, well into the antarctic summer, when wildlife is much more vulnerable. researchers say

that has been driven in part by smoke from the australian wildfires in 2019 and 2020, which were fuelled by climate change. the researchers found evidence that antarctic plants might have to put more energy into producing their own protective sunscreen compounds, and krill, the marine crustaceans that are the foundation of the food chain in antarctica, move deeper into the ocean to avoid ultraviolet rays, while penguins and seals are protected by protective feathers and fur, scientists say exposure to damaging rays could harm their eyesight. the researchers say we can no longer take the recovery of the ozone layer for granted. it is more evidence, they point out, that carbon emissions have to be reduced quickly so that more bushfires don't put extra pressure on a vital shield in our atmosphere. victoria gill, bbc news. taylor swift has matched madonna's record of having 12 number one albums in the uk — the most by a female artist. the tortured poets department had the american singer's best ever first—week sales

in the uk, and the highest first—week sales for any artist since 2017. her next target in the history books is elvis presley, who has 13 number one albums. the beatles have the most, with 16. the stats around this album are truly incredible. it was the first ever album to pass a billion streams on spotify inside a week, it sold more vinyl albums and three days than anybody has managed in a week since modern records began. it is the fastest selling album of the year in the uk. we could go on and on and on. �* �* ., ., the uk. we could go on and on andon. �* �* ., ., , and on. and i'm going to carry on in a moment— and on. and i'm going to carry on in a moment with - and on. and i'm going to carry on in a moment with all - and on. and i'm going to carry on in a moment with all of - and on. and i'm going to carry on in a moment with all of the headlines, so dojoin me. you are watching bbc news.

hello. after what has been a mixed and decidedly chilly week of weather, things are not going to warm up an awful lot through the weekend. staying chilly, some rain at times, but it is going to turn warmer next week. however, not completely dry. still some wet weather in the forecast. certainly some wet weather for the weekend, all driven by this area of low pressure pushing up from the south. this frontal system here bringing rain northwards across southern england, into wales, the midlands and east anglia. to the north of that, some sunny spells to start the day. a cold start, with a frost across northern england, northern ireland and scotland. it will be another sunshine and showers day. the showers wintry over high ground in scotland. some hefty showers breaking out for southern counties, and then some more persistent rain heading in from the south by the end of the afternoon, temperatures generally around 10—13 degrees, and then through saturday night, this rain will push its way northwards, covering large parts of england, clipping into the east of wales.

further north and west, some clear spells. another relatively chilly night, there'll be a frost for some. further south and east, not as cold, because of the extra cloud, because of the outbreaks of rain, all driven by this area of low pressure, which will be sliding its way northwards through the day on sunday. some parts of england are going to have a lot of rain through the day, heavy and persistent rain that will make it feel decidedly chilly. some rain fringing into east wales, turning wet in eastern scotland, rather windy for some of these eastern coasts, but eventually brightening up for south—west england, for wales, parts of north—west england, northern ireland and western scotland seeing some sunshine as well. temperatures still stubbornly stuck in that range, between 9—11t degrees, but temperatures will start to lift on monday. a frontal system pushing in from the west. outbreaks of rain for some, but ahead of that, a southerly wind bringing a warmer feel. temperatures back up, really, to where they should be for late april — 12—16 degrees — and it'll turn warmer still as the week wears on. this area of low pressure tending to roll away southwards, as all these different weather systems reorientate themselves, while the wind direction

will change, we'll pick up something of an easterly flow from the near continent, and that will bring some warmer air. highs, potentially, up to 19, maybe the low 20s, celsius, but with that, there will still be some rain, at times.

this is bbc news, the headlines: the us outlines what will be included in its $6 billion package of military assistance for ukraine. it'll focus on air defence, including interceptor missiles, anti—drone systems and artillery ammunition. it's part of a wider $60 billion commitment from the us to help ukraine. joe biden says he's ready for a debate with donald trump ahead of november's presidential election after months of being noncommittal about taking part in the preelection tradition with his republican rival. trump has already said he's ready to debate biden "any time, anywhere, any place." and how wildlife in antarctica is being exposed to potentially damaging levels of ultraviolet light, thanks to a hole in the ozone layer partly fuelled by the smoke from wildfires in australia. scientists say both animals and plants are at risk from the rays.