Theres real battle going on on the beach here, must be more than 100 migrants trying to get to the water, they are letting off firecrackers to try and keep the police away from them. Screeching and the 9 year old british boy whos won a European Championship for his uncanny impression of a seagull. Hello. A warm welcome to the programme, im sally bundock. The us senate has approved a 95 billion aid package for ukraine, israel and taiwan. The overwhelming vote in favour marks the end of six months of deadlock in congress. The measures approve around 61 billion in long awaited aid for ukraine alone. The package also designates more than 26 billion in aid for israel and 8 billion for taiwan and Us Indo Pacific allies. On saturday, the House Of Representatives ended months of stalemate to pass the aid package. Its expected to be signed into law by President Biden shortly. The Senate Majority leader, chuck schumer, said the United States had shown its allies that it would not turn its back on them. A lot of people inside and outside the Congress Want this package to fail. Today those in congress who stand on the side of democracy are winning the day. To ourfriends in ukraine, our allies in nato, our allies in israel, and to civilians around the world in need of help, help is on the way. To our friends help, help is on the way. To ourfriends in ukraine, america will deliver more ammo and air defences and basic supply that you need. To resist Vladimir Putin on the battlefield. Lets speak to our north america correspondent, peter bowes, whos in los angeles. I would imagine this is a huge relief for a lot of their zelensky and others who know that this funding is coming but talk about how they reach an agreement in the end because it was Horse Trading to get to this, wasnt there . fix, was Horse Trading to get to this, wasnt there . Was Horse Trading to get to this, wasnt there . A lot of Horse Trading this, wasnt there . A lot of Horse Trading and this, wasnt there . A lot of Horse Trading and as this, wasnt there . A lot of Horse Trading and as you i this, wasnt there . A lot of l Horse Trading and as you said this had been delayed for month after month, largely the problem being in the House Of Representatives and that was cleared on saturday with the vote and in large part the difficulties posed by conservative republicans who would rather see money spent in the United States on immigration issues and the southern border with mexico as opposed to helping foreign nations in their war effort. That does seem to have been a Change Of Heart by some republicans, including speaker of the house, allowing this boat to go ahead initially in the house and now in the senate. It was a slightly easierjob in the senate but it was bipartisanship or by the end of the day to get this massive bill passed, 95 billion, about 61 billion would be going to ukraine. It looks as if the pentagon and United States will be moving very quickly on this, we have a radio from President Biden indicating that the vitally needed military aid for ukraine will be on the way by the end of this week. We heard from Volodymyr Zelensky in the last few days explaining why this is so desperately needed. Desperately needed, the full bill for all of this, 95 billion. That is a huge sum, isnt it . Obviously consequently the controversy surrounding it in getting it passed. In terms of israel and taiwan, what is the feeling about that, the continued support for israel . Continued Su Ort Support for israel . Continued support for support for israel . Continued support for israel, support for israel . Continued support for israel, again support for israel . Continued support for israel, again not l support for israel, again not without some controversy and there were some senators speaking out against further aid for israel, 26 billion was agreed at the end of the day and this will be aid for israel. Also humanitarian aid for the citizens of gaza which are facing a tremendous difficulty at the moment and there has been previous aid from the United States. Double continue but it is right to reflect the disquiet among some americans in that respect and that aid that is going to israel. As you mentioned, it billion dollars for taiwan and this is to i think an effort to stave off potential action by china on some of the uncertainties in that part of the world. Uncertainties in that part of the world uncertainties in that part of the world. ~ ,. ,. , the world. We will discuss that now, the world. We will discuss that new. Thank the world. We will discuss that now, thank you the world. We will discuss that now, thank you for the world. We will discuss that now, thank you forjoining the world. We will discuss that now, thank you forjoining us | now, thank you forjoining us with the latest on that. At the same time the senate was approving those multi billion Dollar Aid Package the us Secretary Of State was travelling to china, where hes expected to urge beijing to end its Military Support for russia. Antony blinken is due to meet with senior officials in beijing and shanghai. China and the us the worlds two biggest economies remain deeply at odds over trade, technology, taiwan and the ukraine war. Lets speak to laura bicker, our correspondent in beijing. Hello to you. Took us through his agenda, this is his second trip to china now as Secretary Of State, isnt it . Of state, isnt it . And this is an effort of state, isnt it . And this is an effort to of state, isnt it . And this is an effort to try of state, isnt it . And this is an effort to try and of state, isnt it . And this is an effort to try and stabilise| an effort to try and stabilise us china ties but as we have just seen there is a lot to talk about. Lets deal with ukraine to start with, because as that bill has gone through, certainly Antony Blinken will be here to discuss china and what part china can play in trying to end that war. China does not supply weapons to russia and has not since the start of the war. But america believes that china supplies parts and components which could be used for weapons. They want the supplies to stop. That is one of the reasons why Antony Blinken will come here and try to persuade china to stop that trade happening between moscow and beijing. 0ne Between Moscow and beijing. One of the things we are hearing is certainly there are reports that the us is getting ready, some Trade Sanctions that could be put in place to prevent that trade if china does not stop it of its own accord. China will see that as being tactics. It may be a difficult and tricky conversation for Antony Blinken to have. Lets then deal with some of the other major issues they will have to discuss, you heard about taiwan, that is a redline for china, one of the issues that they will not budge on. They believe the self governing island is part of the mainland and they will not be pushed as they say by the United States of that. They also say the United States is building an alliance in the region to try and counter china. Thats another area where the two sides completely differ. , ~ ,. ,. Lets speak to William Courtney a former Us Ambassador who is an adjunct Senior Fellow at the rand think tank. Good to have you on the programme. Listening in there, theres an awful lot at stake here as far as the strip is concerned. Give us your take on the trip . Than concerned. Give us your take on the tri . �. , concerned. Give us your take on thetri . �. , the trip . An important part is our the trip . An important part is your correspondent the trip . An important part is| your correspondent mentioned the trip . An important part is. Your correspondent mentioned is Antony Blinken is going to urge the chinese to reduce their support to russia. The chinese have at large scale not been providing little arms but have been providing technology and equipment that can be used for legal arms, such as drones being shipped from china not as legal arms but the writer can turn them into little arms. We thought arms. Antony blinken� s hand is strengthened because of the aid of boat that has just gone through congress. Chinese are going to begin to wonder both the europeans and the us are now fully funding aid pledges to ukraine which reduces russias military prospect in ukraine and the chinese may think hard about that. ~. , chinese may think hard about that. ~. ,. , that. What about the fact that con. Ress that. What about the fact that congress is that. What about the fact that congress is just that. What about the fact that Congress Isjust approving that. What about the fact that Congress Isjust approving 8| Congress Isjust approving 8 billion worth of aid for taiwan . Billion worth of aid for taiwan . , , taiwan . Of course the chinese will Say Something taiwan . Of course the chinese will Say Something to taiwan . Of course the chinese will Say Something to antony l will Say Something to Antony Blinken about that but this is not a surprise, china knew this was coming all along. In not a surprise, china knew this was coming all along. Was coming all along. In terms of what we was coming all along. In terms of what we will was coming all along. In terms of what we will achieve was coming all along. In terms of what we will achieve on was coming all along. In terms of what we will achieve on the | of what we will achieve on the trip, his pressurising china to reduce its support to russia as you just explained. Will this be achieved . Will china change its tactics at all . Its tactics at all . China may do that, its tactics at all . China may do that, because its tactics at all . China may do that, because now its tactics at all . China may do that, because now the i do that, because now the chinese are going to see there is really no ukraine fatigue in the west. The europeans and the United States are keen on ukraine doing well in the battle. There will be more weapons, some of the weapons coming to ukraine, the russians are increasing fighting with all the weapons. The russian, the chinese may think that the Russian Military prospects have gone down. Therefore they may try to continue to support russia in this war, it may be diminishing. Russia in this war, it may be diminishina. ,. , diminishing. How big a problem is for the us . Diminishing. How big a problem is for the us . Chinas diminishing. How big a problem is for the us . Chinas close is for the us . Chinas close ties with russia . Is for the us . Chinas close ties with russia . Those are significant ties with russia . Those are significant problems, significant problems, particularly because after the war started when the russians launched their full scale invasion, trade between russia and china have gone up. A good view of that is the result of sanctions and that has been a big problem for the United States. � ,. , big problem for the United States. � ,. ,. , ~ states. Its been good to talk to ou states. Its been good to talk to you william states. Its been good to talk to you William Courtney states. Its been good to talk to you William Courtney from rand think tank, thank you for your time. The traveller should ship trade relationship we will unpack leader in business. Lets get some of the days other news now. The first witness at Donald TrumpsHush Money Trial has told the court in new york about a secret deal to block stories that might have damaged his president ial bid in 2016. The former publisher of the national enquirer, david pecker, said hed agreed with mr trump to buy the exclusive rights to such stories, but didnt print them. The Us Government says allegations that Israeli Forces buried more than 300 palestinians in a mass grave at a medical complex in gaza are incredibly troubling. It said it was seeking the israeli governments response. Earlier, israels military rejected the palestinian accusation, calling it baseless and unfounded. It said its attack against hamas militants in the area was precise and targeted. Delegates from around the world are meeting in canada for a fourth round of talks aimed at reaching a binding global agreement to end plastics pollution. Countries agreed in 2022 that a treaty to tackle the problem would be finalised by the end of this year. Global plastic production has more than doubled this century to 460 million tonnes. In a few weeks time millions of people will head to the polls across europe for the first eu elections since 2019. The intervening years have been difficult, to say the least. Theres been the covid 19 pandemic, war in europe, inflation, Higher Energy costs, tight Labour Markets and disrupted supply chains. Add to that the effects of climate change. Sofia bettiza has been looking at what areas the next European Parliament might need to address. The cost of living crisis will be a determining factor in how people are going to vote at the European Elections. Lets have a snapshot of how things are looking. Two years ago inflation, the increase in the price of something over time, tripled. In 2022 it reached 11. 5 , which is the highest rate in the past four decades. What this means is that the prices of food, housing and energy spiked. Since then, inflation has been gradually falling. But many are still struggling to make ends meet. And according to a recent poll, about a third of europeans in a precarious financial situation as you can see here. That means that almost one in three people say that they are no longer able to have three meals a day on a regular basis. They are having to make other compromises to including not turning on the heating or treating a Health Problem because it is too expensive. Another symptom of The Cost Of Living crisis is that it is becoming really hard to find somewhere to live. In the last ten years house prices have massively gone up, we are talking about a 47 price increase. Thats across the board, including wealthier countries like germany for example. It is especially young people who are being hit hardest. They are living with their parents for longer and they are much more likely to rent rather than owned. And people are angry. In recent months we have seen protests against house prices across europe. In amsterdam, and lisbon. What does this all mean when it comes to the European Election . Europeans are increasingly dissatisfied with the way that politicians are responding to The Cost Of Living crisis. This anger has been seized upon by some far right political parties. And it could drive more people than ever before to vote for populist politicians, as they may feel that the status quo is just not working anymore. Sofia bettiza there and we will have more on that as well in business. We will go to spain to see how one port has been impacted by these challenges. Around the world and across the uk. This is bbc news. Five people, including a child, died when they fell off a boat trying to cross the channel just hours after a bill was passed to try to stop such boat crossings. These were the chaotic scenes on a beach near calais just before daybreak. As migrants attempted to launch an overcrowded boat into the waves to begin journey across the channel. The french coastguard said there 110 people on board this dingy when it set off from wimereux, just south of calais. The search and rescue operations have been continuing all day. A bbc crew that was filming on the beaches, saw the migrants getting into that boat. Andrew harding reports. We had to a popular launch site for small boats and sit for hours in moonlight and wait. Somebody is walking there. I can hear Somebody Walking nearby there. To shadows almost certainly smugglers come to check we are not police. Above us a police plane circles. We have arranged for a bbc cameraman to be on board. The crew spot to groups of migrants on their thermal imaging camera. They are in the sand dunes and moving towards each other. On the beach a french foot patrol quickly arrives. Surely the migrants will give up surely the migrants will give up now. But they dont. Suddenly the beach erupts, shouting. 0k, we are running wi