live from london, this is bbc news. president biden signs a bill into law providing military assistance for ukraine, israel, and taiwan worth $95 billion us. he says it'll make america in the world stronger. the uk and germany announce stronger defence cooperation to counter the threat from russia. they say they'll support ukraine for as long as it takes. a teenage girl is arrested on suspicion of stabbing at a school in wales. british police arrest three people in connection with the deaths of five migrants in the english channel on tuesday. this tragic incident once again demonstrates the threat to life posed by these crossings, and brings into focus why it's so important to target these criminal gangs involved in organising them.

four people are injured after horses bulled through central london. and gustav klimt�*s lost masterpiece is sold for an asking price of 30 million euros. hello, i'm lucy grey, welcome to verified live — three hours of breaking stories, and checking out the truth behind them. president biden has said that the us will begin sending new military assistance to ukraine within hours, after he signed a long—awaited bill passed by congress. speaking at a press conference at the white house, mr biden said the ai, worth $61 billion, would make america and the world safer. he said ukraine had the "will and skill" to win the war against russia. the package also includes billions of dollars in aid for israel and taiwan, as well as $1 billion in humanitarian assistance to gaza. it's a good day for america,

a good day for europe, and a good day for world peace and freedom. this is consequential. ijust signed into law the national security package that was passed by house representatives this weekend and by the senate yesterday. it'll make america safer, it'll make the world safer, and it continues america's leadership in the world, and everyone knows it. it gives vital support to america's partners so they can defend themselves against threats to their sovereignty — and the lives and freedom of their citizens. and it's an investment in our own security, because when our allies are stronger — and i want to make this point again and again — when our allies are stronger, we are stronger. i'm gratefulfor all those in congress — democrats and republicans, and independents — who voted for this bill. let's speak to our north america correspondent will grant. it's been a long time coming, ukraine has been waiting for it for a long time in particular. just talk

us through how this will work. he's saying some of the aid will be arriving in ukraine within days of. it's been a long time coming, and mr biden acknowledged that, saying it had been a difficult path to his desk and it should've gotten there sooner. but obviously he was also very thankful to the members of congress and senate who made it possible. i think the fact is that this has been a torturous process to get to this point, but the aid is there and good to go — part of it is anyway, the military aid will start rolling out almost immediately particularly in terms of armoured vehicles, munitions, and so on that the pentagon has lead to one side but ran out of funds allocated by congress to do so. so we'll start seeing that roll—out in the next couple hours. and of course, president biden as you heard in that clip there, his core messages that this is good for the united states— of course that's part of the sale

he's making to the american people, it has been such a divisive issue all the way through, but it was also pointed out that a lot of the munitions that will be built and sent to the united states —— to the ukraine will be built here in the united states, helping our economy too some point he talked about the vital support for israel and that ironclad commitment to helping israel defend itself against iran and those it supports, and he also talked about this $1 billion in aid going to gaza, and called on israel to make sure palestinians get that, he was very clear about that about that need for it to be facilitated, wasn't he? he that need for it to be facilitated, wasn't he?— that need for it to be facilitated, wasn't he? .,, ., , . . , wasn't he? he was, now his critics will say the _ wasn't he? he was, now his critics will say the waiting _ wasn't he? he was, now his critics will say the waiting is _ wasn't he? he was, now his critics will say the waiting is clearly - wasn't he? he was, now his critics will say the waiting is clearly in - will say the waiting is clearly in favour of what he called that ironclad commitment — this is about the $26 billion in aid to israel and much less about, for example, the aid going to gaza and other

humanitarian support around the world, he mentioned haiti for example. but he does make that commitment to israel clear, mentioning the drone attacks earlier this month, attacks from iran and putting into that context. so i think that again was underlined. but you're right, the humanitarian assistance is important for him particularly to the left wing of his party to make sure that that billion dollars was made clear, and the urging of israel to make it possible for that aid to get into gaza was noteworthy too in his speech. touching on all the difficulties within this bill, some of the hardest issues on his desk at the moment. ., ~ , ., hardest issues on his desk at the moment. ., ~' , ., , hardest issues on his desk at the moment. ., ~ , ., , . moment. thank you very much, will rant it, moment. thank you very much, will grant it. and — moment. thank you very much, will grant it, and washington. _ the uk and germany have pledged to support ukraine for as long as it takes, after talks in berlin on toughening europe's defence. rishi sunak and the german chancellor olaf scholz have agreed a new defence initiative to combat

the threat from russia. chancellor scholz underlined the scale of the threat posed by moscow. translation: russia's - aggression against ukraine has marked a watershed moment, i have repeatedly stated that. and that, of course, also means that we need to take note of the fact that the russian war of aggression has changed and put at risk the european security architecture. so in europe and the world, we need to make it clear that this order not be shifted by the use of force — for us in europe, that means we need to strengthen the european pillar of nato, also an especially when it comes to sufficient potential of deterrence. because our european capabilities to deter and defend must always remain credible. europe is divided over how to respond to the russian war in ukraine, but mr sunak praised

germany's shift in defence policy. in this dangerous moment, the bond between our two nations is stronger than ever. we meet as a war rages on our continent and new threats arising around the world. and olaf, i want to gradually you on your leadership, and you taking the historic decision to increase germany's defence spending. and we stand here today together as the leading defence spenders in europe, unshakeable nato allies, and the two largest military supporters of ukraine in europe. and together, we will continue to provide unwavering support for our ukrainian friends, as you said, for as long as it takes. president zelensky has reiterated the importance of the fast delivery of military assistance, saying "every leader who does not waste time is a life—saver". let's speak to patrick bury, defence and security expert at the university of bath, and a former nato analyst.

hello to you. i suppose the question is, we've seen this announcement from rishi sunak yesterday talking about increasing spending to 2.5% of gdp - about increasing spending to 2.5% of gdp — so the question more generally is, how ready is europe for battle? is it battle ready?— is, how ready is europe for battle? is it battle ready? good afternoon, lu . i is it battle ready? good afternoon, lucy- i think _ is it battle ready? good afternoon, lucy. i think it's _ is it battle ready? good afternoon, lucy. i think it's coming _ is it battle ready? good afternoon, lucy. i think it's coming from, - is it battle ready? good afternoon, lucy. i think it's coming from, in l lucy. i think it's coming from, in terms of defence spending, a low start, it's getting better quickly. it depends what it needs to be ready for, doesn't it? and i think what they call the pacing challenge is one where a confident russia that has potentially one hour eked out a draw on favourable terms in ukraine, then in 3—5 years decides to try something highly dangerous against a nato member, potentially estonia which is talk —— is talked about a lot. so it depends what it has to be ready for, but if you look at 2014,

there were only three members of nato that met the 2% — 2023, it was 11, now it's 18 and increasing. this is reflective of global defence spending, which is at the highest level it's been i think ever, so things are afoot. figs level it's been i think ever, so things are afoot.— level it's been i think ever, so things are afoot. as this ukraine war toes things are afoot. as this ukraine war goes on _ things are afoot. as this ukraine war goes on and _ things are afoot. as this ukraine war goes on and on, _ things are afoot. as this ukraine war goes on and on, how - things are afoot. as this ukraine war goes on and on, how much l things are afoot. as this ukraine | war goes on and on, how much is things are afoot. as this ukraine - war goes on and on, how much is this sustainable in terms of the billions being spent on it every year chris back and i suppose the other question is, will be get to a point where personnel will have to be sent to? because we've seen ukraine is having an issue with mobilisation at the moment. it having an issue with mobilisation at the moment-— the moment. it certainly is, they've robabl the moment. it certainly is, they've probably left _ the moment. it certainly is, they've probably left it _ the moment. it certainly is, they've probably left it too _ the moment. it certainly is, they've probably left it too late _ the moment. it certainly is, they've probably left it too late by - the moment. it certainly is, they've probably left it too late by their - probably left it too late by their admission, and the units on the front line are exhausted, a lot of them, and until us aid past, they were increasingly demoralising which was worrying. so there was that picture that it was a ukrainian problem. i don't think nato would

ever put their boots on the ground, it's more likely to use the air force to protect. but potentially if there was some sort of catastrophic lapse at the front, which i don't think is likely, you could potentially see that happen, but i still think it's unlikely. and as per the bigger question about defence spending, whether this can be sustained, i think the question really is, modern western societies are based on three principles — a luxury, liberty, and security — and you can have a level of all three but not to the same level all the time. the money can be found if you deem the problem such a sufficient threat that it needs to be found — the question is, do you? and as you mentioned in your introduction, some states don't view the threat in the same way as others. the “ournalists were asking — same way as others. the “ournalists were asking rishi h same way as others. the “ournalists were asking rishi sunak_ same way as others. the journalists were asking rishi sunak and - same way as others. the journalists were asking rishi sunak and olaf. were asking rishi sunak and 0laf scholz what they both thought about

a potential donald trump back in the white house in terms of the issue of, i suppose, white house in terms of the issue of, isuppose, nato white house in terms of the issue of, i suppose, nato and white house in terms of the issue of, isuppose, nato and his commitment to them. 0laf scholz shrugged it off and said us presidents have always asked for europe to increase its spending and the like — what did you make of that? i the like - what did you make of that? .., , the like - what did you make of that? .. , ,, the like - what did you make of that? , ,,. that? i can see the us perspective, havin: that? i can see the us perspective, having worked _ that? i can see the us perspective, having worked in _ that? i can see the us perspective, having worked in nato, _ that? i can see the us perspective, having worked in nato, i— that? i can see the us perspective, having worked in nato, i know - that? i can see the us perspective, having worked in nato, i know theyj having worked in nato, i know they use diplomatic channels for decades to ask europe to pay and contribute more. and part of that as being the world's superpower and having to bankroll it — but on the other hand, when it gets to this situation where everyone is strapped for resources and there is a major threat of increasing in europe, i think it's legitimate and right to say, "look, if you can't meet the 2%, why should you be under our umbrella equipment" this is the membership criteria for the club and i think that's fair enough. trump has obviously rattled that cage much more publicly than

before which put a lot of people's noses out, but the real instigator of that was the 2014 russian annexation of crimea which woke up a lot of eastern european and baltic nations. so i think that's been the real instigator and the rise has been explained since then, and 2020 to just push that further and faster. . ~' , ., , to just push that further and faster. ., ,, , ., , . faster. thank you very much, patrick, for _ faster. thank you very much, patrick, for your _ faster. thank you very much, patrick, for your thoughts. i the uk's national crime agency has arrested three men on suspicion of immigration offences, after five migrants died while trying to reach the uk yesterday. a seven—year—old girl was among the victims. they were on board a small overcrowded boat, carrying more than 100 people. it set out to cross the english channel, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, on tuesday morning. but, not far from shore, panic took hold among the passengers. 0ur reporter victoria bourne, who is at the national crime agency, gave us this update.

the national crime agency says that three men were arrested on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration and entering the uk illegally. the group are aged between 19—22, and from sudan and south sudan. the raids where they were detained took place overnight and in the early hours of this morning, and they have been taken to police stations in kent where they are now being questioned. early this afternoon, clive turner from the national crime agency gave a statement to reporters. —— craig turner. this tragic incident once again demonstrates the threat to life posed by these crossings, and brings into focus why it is so important to target these criminal gangs involved in organising them. the nca with partners and also partnered with french counterparts will obviously collect evidence and identify those responsible for this event, and bring them tojustice. put this in the context for us

because it is, of course, coming just shortly after the government's rwanda bill passed. just give us the wider context. yes, that's right. as you said, it happened just after the uk parliament flagship rwanda bill passed — and that has taken months of political wrangling. the bill would see some asylum—seekers taken to the east central african country to have their claims processed. it's seen rwanda designated as a safe country. something criticised by human rights groups and political opposition. ministers argue this will be a deterrent to stop people from making the journey across the country to try to reach the uk. —— across the channel in small vessels and boats. home office figures suggest that the number of people making that perilous journey has increased this year, compared to the same period last year. rishi sunak maintains that the deaths serve as a reminder as to why it's so important

to tackle people smuggling. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

to northern ireland — where former democratic unionist party leader sirjeffrey donaldson has appeared in court, accused of historical sex offences. his wife faces for charges connected to search every�*s alleged offences. 0ur ireland correspondent sara girvin was at the court and gave this update. they were only what i could describe as chaotic scenes outside the courthouse this morning. this is the first time sirjeffrey donaldson has been seen since stepping down as the leader of the dup, northern ireland's largest unionist party. and since the charges against him,

the news of that has broken, he was joined in the dock this morning by his wife and co—worker, lady eleanor donaldson, and we heard about the charges they are facing. jeffrey donaldson is facing 11 charges and all, one count of gross indecency towards a child, nine counts of assault, and one count of rape. those involved to individuals spanning from 1985 until 2006. eleanor donaldson is facing for charges, amounting to the aiding and abetting of the charges faced by her husband —— four charges. this morning a police officer connected the donald sins to the charges against them, there were no pleas today of guilty or not guilty, but we have previously heard from sir jeff really that he will be strangely contesting the charges against him —— sirjeffrey. the hearing this morning lasted for around seven minutes, and outside there was a massive crowd of members

of the public, police and media as the donald sins entered court and left again. they were both released on their own bail of £350, and there had been the condition stopping them contacting each other — that was lifted. both cases will be heard again in this court next month. four people have been injured by runaway military horses that were racing through london during the morning rush—hour. pedestrians and motorists swerved out of their way, but one horse ran into a bus, smashing the windscreen. a loud noise caused by builders is thought to have caused the animals to bolt, throwing their riders. just to warn you, you may find some of the images in frances read's reports upsetting. 0n the loose without their riders. the military horses gallop through the streets of central london. one of them collides

with the side of a taxi. the bbc understands that the noise of builders moving concrete caused horses from the household cavalry to bolt and unseat their riders. at the side of the road, medical treatment. four people in total are said to have been injured, the side of this van also damaged, as was a parked tour bus. and on this part of their five—mile route, the horses have slowed down, but you can see here what looks like blood, although that's not been confirmed. three horses went past me at full gallop without riders, which obviously was quite extraordinary. so i nudged out to check it was safe to pull out, and then another horse came round the corner with a rider on it and just missed my cab. the animals were brought under control several miles away in limehouse in the east of the city, and are now being looked after by vets. the household cavalry is one

of the most senior regiments in the british army, used to dealing with big events like the king's coronation. why they'd be spooked by a noise, albeit in london's rush hour — unknown. frances read, bbc news. the mother of a nottingham student that was fatally stabbed last summer... 0n that was fatally stabbed last summer... on a police what that group. barnaby weber was one of three people killed lastjune, his mother emma has written an open letter to the officers involved and told the bbc that the language used was abhorrent. ian coates, barnaby webber and grace 0'malley—kumar, a school caretaker and two 19—year—old students who were stabbed to death as they walked to their accommodation after a night out. 65—year—old ian coates was stabbed while in his van on his way to work. their deaths lastjune in nottingham shocked the country and united a city.

since then, the families of the victims say their pain has increased because of the actions of nottinghamshire police. the mother of barnaby webber, emma, today spoke to bbc news and wrote an open letter urging a police staff member who she said wrote a graphic whatsapp post, about the nature of the injuries sustained, to show the respect that was not given to her son. when you hear that type of language, you can understand the impact that it had on us as families, and why it is not acceptable in any way, shape or form. it's certainly not gallows humour, is just disrespectful. i hope i did the right thing, but by it being public, i suppose it will have that audience of other people that work in police forces and emergency services. perhaps it may educate them to think a little more of the human aspect when they are dealing with these awful types of crimes. when you lose your humanity and your respect for life, i don't think he should be working

in those services. nottinghamshire police is being investigated by the independent office for police conduct. valdo calocane, aged 32, carried out the fatal stabbings with a dagger, and attempted to kill three others. injanuary he was given an indefinite hospital order for manslaughter by diminished responsibility after nottingham crown court heard he had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. next wednesday, the court of appeal will review whether the hospital order given to valdo calocane was unduly lenient. aruna iyengar, bbc news. now, in the past few minutes, a long—lost klimt portrait has been auctioned off for 30 million euros — $32 million. the unfinished work, portrait of fraulein lieser, was thought lost for almost a century, until it reappeared in january. portraits by klimt rarely come on to the open market.

let's speak to our correspondent bethany bell in vienna. that's a lot of money, isn't it, bethany?— that's a lot of money, isn't it, bethan? ,,, �*, ., bethany? guess, but it's not as high as some of — bethany? guess, but it's not as high as some of the _ bethany? guess, but it's not as high as some of the estimates _ bethany? guess, but it's not as high as some of the estimates were - as some of the estimates were before this auction, some were suggesting it might have gone up to 50 million euros, but it's now been sold for 30 million. and as you can see, the picture is behind me over there. it was a bit of a mystery about this whole painting, there are lots of unanswered questions — they aren't even sure exactly who the woman is that it portrays, what we know is that it portrays, what we know is that she was a member of the lieser family, wealthyjewish family, wealthy jewish industrialists. it family, wealthyjewish industrialists. it was painted in 1917, it wasn't finished, klimt died and wasn't able to finish. and it was one of two cousins, either a

woman named margarita or one of her cousins. �* ., ~ ., ., ., , cousins. and do we know what it was doinu all cousins. and do we know what it was doing all this — cousins. and do we know what it was doing all this time, _ cousins. and do we know what it was doing all this time, where _ cousins. and do we know what it was doing all this time, where it - cousins. and do we know what it was doing all this time, where it was - doing all this time, where it was kept? doing all this time, where it was ket? . �* , doing all this time, where it was ke-t? ., �* , ., doing all this time, where it was ke-t? ., �*, .,, doing all this time, where it was ket? ., �*, .,, ., ., doing all this time, where it was ket? , ., ., i, , kept? that's a bit of a mystery as well. the auction _ kept? that's a bit of a mystery as well. the auction house - kept? that's a bit of a mystery as well. the auction house here - kept? that's a bit of a mystery as| well. the auction house here says that what happened to the painting after 1925 is unclear — we don't know exactly what happened to it during the nazi era. what we've been told is that since the 1960s, it seems to have been hanging in a villa in vienna, and the current owners then decided to sell it, and the proceeds of this painting are being shared with the current owners and the successors, the heirs of the lieser families under the washington agreement, which is an international agreement, which is an international agreement dealing with art that was stolen under the nazi era. find agreement dealing with art that was stolen under the nazi era.— stolen under the nazi era. and as i said in the — stolen under the nazi era. and as i said in the introduction, _ stolen under the nazi era. and as i said in the introduction, it's - said in the introduction, it's really rare for a klimt to get into

the open market, this is a very rare moment for the art world. it is indeed, moment for the art world. it is indeed. and — moment for the art world. it is indeed, and it's _ moment for the art world. it is indeed, and it's also _ moment for the art world. it 3 indeed, and it's also rare for auctions like this to take place in vienna — they've previously taken place in places like london instead. but today, we've had this sale, 30 million euros, and some of the presumably will be putting this on their walls at some point, we think. let's hope they are not keeping it in an attic or something. brilliant, bethany bail in vienna for us. how about a guitar played byjohn lennon and paul mccartney? this one going for auction after spending 50 years in an attic — it's always an attic, isn't it? people need to check them more. it was used for sessions for help nora back and rubber soul. it goes under the hammer next month in new york.

stay with us here on bbc news. hello. there is very little sign of the weather warming up much over the next few days. we will stick with this unusually chilly feel for the time of year. there will be some sunshine and also a scattering of showers and some of those showers will be wintry over higher ground in the north of the uk. we keep this cold air mass, that chilly air being drawn down from the north. you can see the blue colours in our chart which takes us through thursday and into friday. for the rest of today, still some showers around, particularly affecting eastern areas where there will be a brisk breeze and it will feel particularly cold. the best of the sunshine further west. higher temperatures up to around 12 or 13 degrees. through this evening and tonight we will see areas of cloud drifting southwards bringing some showers and some of those showers will be wintry over high ground,

particularly in scotland. even over fairly modest hills, say above 200 metres elevation, we could see some snow mixing in with the showers. staying quite windy across northern and eastern coasts. temperatures dropping close to or even below freezing in some spots so a touch of frost for some of us to take us into tomorrow morning. tomorrow will bring areas of cloud southwards across england and wales. some bits and pieces of showery rain. it should brighten up in northern england and sunny spells in northern ireland. scotland with a mix of sunshine and showers. those showers could still be winrty up over high ground. just eight degrees for aberdeen. nine for newcastle and hull. perhaps 13 in cardiff and plymouth. through thursday night and into friday we will see another frontal system grazing the south of the uk, so more cloud and maybe some more showers in southern england and south wales. further north, sunny spells and showers. still hints of something wintry in those showers over the hills and the mountains. still particularly cold in the north—east. eight for aberdeen and 11 or 12

degrees further south. for the weekend there are some signs of something a little bit less chilly, but only a little bit. these yellow colours trying to spill northwards, but the reason for that is an area of low pressure so certainly not a heatwave and certainly not completely dry for the weekend. there will be some outbreaks of rain particularly for england and wales. a better chance of sunshine for northern ireland and scotland and feeling a bit less chilly.

this is bbc news, the headlines three people have been arrested in connection with the deaths of five migrants in the english channel on tuesday in a world of �*rising new threats�* the uk and germany announce stronger defence cooperation — to counter the threat from russia president biden signs a bill into law providing military assistance for ukraine, israel and taiwan worth 95 billion us dollars — saying it'll make america and the world stronger. and four people are injured — after escaped horses bolt through central london