after spending the majority of the last decade behind bars or inside the ecuadorian embassy in london. speaking outside the court, julian assange�*s lawyer, barry pollock, said the prosecution of the wikileaks founder was "unprecedented". in the hundred years of the espionage act, it has never been used by the united states to pursue a publisher, a journalist like mr assange. mr assange revealed truthful, important and newsworthy information including revealing the united states had committed war crimes and he has suffered tremendously in his fight for free speech, for freedom tremendously in his fight for free speech, forfreedom of tremendously in his fight for free speech, for freedom of the press, and to make sure the american public and the world community gets truthful and important newsworthy information. we firmly believe that mr assange never should have been charged under the espionage act and engaged in exercise that journalists engage in every day and we are thankful that they do. it is appropriate though for this fight to end and it is appropriate for the charge as she did today to determine that no additional incarceration of mr assange would be fair, would be appropriate and it is time for him to be reunited with his family. our correspondentjonathan head joins us now from the northern mariana islands. this is where julian this is wherejulian assange appeared in court. tell us about the proceedings? it was [on . er about the proceedings? it was longer than — about the proceedings? it was longer than we _ about the proceedings? it was longer than we thought, - about the proceedings? it was i longer than we thought, knowing he was going to plead guilty about the presiding judge really went over every detail of the deal he had struck with the us government, and over all his options as well, she obviously knew it was very high profile and wanted to make sure everybody understood every detail of it before she finally passed judgement. detail of it before she finally passedjudgement. in detail of it before she finally passed judgement. in the end she said he could plead and he pleaded guilty and after a short recess she ran through the sentencing options and said it was clear from the sentence she would have applied considering all the other factors, this will not exceed the time he had already spent in bellmawr marsh present in the uk. as she finally said, you will walk out of here free man, she wished him an early happy birth day it is early next month and wish happy start to his new life will stop it was, you could argue the most positive popsicle hug —— outcome you could had to this long and bitterly protected cycle. long and bitterly protected cle. �* ,., long and bitterly protected cle. �* , ., , . long and bitterly protected cle. , ., ., , cycle. and so unusual for this to be taking _ cycle. and so unusual for this to be taking place _ cycle. and so unusual for this to be taking place where - cycle. and so unusual for this to be taking place where you | to be taking place where you are a picturesque ireland usually the destination for honeymooners and weddings. == honeymooners and weddings. -- island. honeymooners and weddings. » island. absolutely, it's the most unlikely place for this to end and it is incongruous being here because everyone else here is a holidaymaker, that's what it is caught though the judge made an interesting point is someone from the island said she said we are commemorating eight years since dreadful battles with japanese soldiers killed so many here, a celebration of peace and she said let the steel between you and mr assange in the us government be a harbinger of peace. mrassange government be a harbinger of peace. mr assange chab close this place because it is relatively close to australia and on his way back but it is not on the continental us he is fearful of what would happen to him there, he wanted somewhere technically us territory but as far away from washington as you could get and this is it. all could get and this is it. all e es could get and this is it. all eyes will _ could get and this is it. all eyes will be _ could get and this is it. all eyes will be on him when he lands in canberra and a few hours time. there will be so much debate and discussion our following this outcome as to what this all means for the freedom of the press, he is such a polarising figure already there is so much criticism of this decision in the united states? we have heard it from _ the united states? we have heard it from my _ the united states? we have heard it from my pence - the united states? we have heard it from my pence the | heard it from my pence the former vice president, we will doubtless from others to think julian assange caused potential harm, i will say this the judge said one of the reasons for his verdict there was no evidence of actual harm to anyone in the us military from his copious leaks but many people are angry about is disregard they say for the well being of us soldiers, others on the freedom of speech cider angry he had to plead guilty at all. he will always be a divisive figure but there were so many factors that went into the spinal deal, remember australia's critical la of the united states in this region standing up to china and the us has lobbied hard and has cross—party support for his release. —— australia. there was only other factors playing into this i thinkjulian assange and his legacy will continue to be devices, we live in a polarised world and he almost epitomises that, people tend to have very strong opinions about what he has done. he did say in court even though he pleaded guilty, insisted he said i believed what i was doing should have been covered by the first amendment of the us constitution and guarantees the speech but then he said i accept given the laws of the us has i did violate one of those laws and that was the basis of the deal he was able to do stop jonathan. , ., . . the deal he was able to do stop jonathan. , ., ., ., ., ., jonathan. jonathan for now thank you _ jonathan. jonathan for now thank you very _ jonathan. jonathan for now thank you very much. - jonathan. jonathan for now thank you very much. on i jonathan. jonathan for now i thank you very much. on the mariano islands. an extraordinary story. well, speaking before the hearing, julian assange father, john shipton, said he was overjoyed by the news of his son's release, and he could not wait to see him in person. doing cartwheels is a good expression of the joy that one feels. expression of the 'oy that one feels. . g . , feels. that julian is returned home. well, _ feels. that julian is returned home. well, about - feels. that julian is returned home. well, about to - feels. that julian is returned home. well, about to returnj home. well, about to return home. well, about to return home. under circumstances, there may be some questions to be resolved, by the lawyers and the diplomats in the future but, having julian home, to an ordinary life, after 15 years of incarceration in one form or another, house arrest, jail, and asylum in an embassy, is pretty good news. you could easily imagine that his spirits have lifted and he will be able to spend quality time with his wife, stella and his two children, be able to walk up and down the beach and feel the sand through his toes. in winter, that lovely chill and be able to learn how to be patient and play with your children for a couple of hours. all of the great beauty of ordinary life. to kenya now, where the country's president, william ruto, has accused what he called 'criminals' of hijacking mass protests against tax rises. five people were shot dead by police after demonstrators broke through cordons, and tried to entered the parliament on tuesday. parts of the building were set on fire. the military has been deployed to try and restore order. from nairobi, barbara plett usher sent this report. they called for a total shutdown, and in towns across kenya today, tens of thousands took to the streets. in nairobi by lunchtime, there were running battles as police tried to hold back the tide of fury. but then this... hundreds of demonstrators pushed through the gates of parliament, overwhelming officers lined up outside. the response was quick and brutal — live shots fired. reports of five killed in the street and dozens more wounded. others made it inside, challenging the government's authority in the building where mps had been voting on the contentious finance bill. this is as close as we feel safe to get to parliament because police are firing live rounds there. the government had warned protesters to stay away from parliament, and this has been the response. but the fact that the protesters were able to breach the building and that there have been casualties could galvanise them further. it may also increase the pressure for a government crackdown. this is uncharted territory for president ruto. at the end of the day, he addressed the nation. i have directed all the organs of our national security to deploy measures to thwart any attempts by dangerous criminals to undermine the security and stability of our country. those on the streets earlier were united in anger. i want to demand that our leaders give us accountability. there has been too many years of the system going round and round. we never get accountability from these leaders, such that it has come to a point when we as the people can tell them no and they still go ahead and do what they want to do. this evening, the wounded were being treated in hospital as the streets began to calm. the days ahead will show if protesters heed the president's warning. kenya's powerful are facing an unprecedented challenge from the people. barbara plett usher, bbc news, nairobi. to russia now, where the trial of an american journalist accused of espionage will start later today. the court proceedings for evan gershkovich will take place behind closed doors in yekaterinburg, the city in the urals where he was arrested last march. moscow has accused the wall streetjournal reporter of collecting "secret information" from a russian tank factory on behalf of the cia. he denies all the charges. if found guilty, evan gershkovich could face up to 20 years in prison. here in the uk — it'sjust a week to go under until people go to the polls in the general election. but, the campaign is still being overshadowed by the gambling commission probe over alleged bets on the timing of the general election. a fifth conservative figure, russell george, a member of the welsh parliament, is being looked into as well. labour has suspended one of its candidates who admitted placing a bet that he would lose in the seat he is standing in. here's our political editor chris mason. this is craig williams, a friend and parliamentary aide to the prime minister, he turned down my request for an interview but said this on social media this afternoon. i remain on the ballot paper on the fourth ofjuly and i hope to secure your support after years of delivering. i committed an error ofjudgement, not an offence, and i want to reiterate my apology directly to you. that video followed this statement from the conservative party this morning. and so, on the radio at lunch time, one key question. why has this decision been taken now not a week or more ago? well, look, i'm as disappointed and angry as the prime minister is and various other conservative spokesmen who have commented on this in recent days. these bets should not have been placed, and it is right that we've had this internal process and those inquiries have led to the decision today to suspend these candidates. here is where craig williams was the mp and is hoping to be re—elected. i think craig williams has been incredibly stupid for such a small amount of money, for any amount of money, but for a few hundred pounds, i mean, he is an idiot. well, ijust think it's all blown out of proportion. far more terrible things have been done in the house of commons than this. enter another politician from montgomeryshire, this is conservative russell george who sits in the welsh parliament. he is not a candidate in the general election. he bet on a july election over a week before it was called. i understand he didn't know about mr williams' bet nor mr williams, his. in a statement, mr george said he would cooperate fully with the gambling commission, adding... and this is laura saunders, the conservative candidate in bristol north—west who is now no longer supported by the conservatives. i asked her for comment today. she hasn't replied. it's taken rishi sunak the best part of two weeks to act on this. that is just weak leadership. but hang on a minute, labour are disowning this guy tonight, a candidate and a donor. i'm kevin craig, and it is the honour and privilege of my life to be labour's parliamentary candidate here in central suffolk and north ipswich. he is also being investigated by the gambling commission, a labour spokeswoman said. in a statement, mr craig said, it has been quite the day. amid all the political shenanigans, the emperor ofjapan is in london on a state visit. a yen for his thoughts on all of this stuff. chris mason, bbc news. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. the emperor and empress ofjapan will continue their state visit to the uk on wednesday after they were welcomed by king charles and camilla with a state banquet at buckingham palace. our senior royal correspondent daniela relph reports. the centrepiece of any state visit, the grandeur and glitter of the state banquet. senior members of the royal family led the guest list, as the king tried out his japanese. welcome back to britain. earlier, there was a seven with ceremonial welcome for princess empress masako. this is a state visit during an election campaign. that is unusual, and changes have had to be made to ensure political neutrality. this state visit was planned well before the election was called, having already been delayed due to the covid lockdown. there was no appetite for a further postponement. instead, all the big political moments have been stripped away, so no trip to downing street and no formal meeting with the prime minister. the carriage journey included a masked empress. she has a chronic allergy to horsehair. the japanese royal couple are anglophiles. they both studied at oxford and maintain links to the uk. arriving at buckingham palace, the royal welcome has not included princess anne. she remains in hospital in bristol after suffering concussion. today, her daughter, zara tindall, went to see her mother, as did the princess's husband sir tim lawrence. how's she doing, sir? doing fine. slow, but sure. not everyone could be here. kanpai. but this is a state visit that unites two royal households and celebrates their shared experiences and friendship. daniela relph, bbc news. now when ibrahim, a moroccan student, went to study in ukraine in 2019, he never thought he would end up enrolling in the army and spending a yearfighting against the russians. he was captured in mariupol, and after months being held hostage, he was sent back home to morocco at the end of 2022. but since then, ibrahim has been denied his passport, and is been closely followed by the country's security agencies. sally nabil has been speaking to him. they were like a group of people not one but four people all kicking and stepping on the. i had a couple of broken ribs and it was funny because they didn't care to call a doctorfor me they didn't care to call a doctor for me because they didn't care to call a doctorfor me because i they didn't care to call a doctor for me because i was asking for medical help. plus, endless electrocution sessions, they drag you out and put you in a chair and start electrocuting you and asking you random questions in the house mariupol cold. i was stripped naked, they may be stand there for very long time. abraham went to ukraine in 2019 as a moroccan student. when russia invaded ukraine his life took a totally different path, including being held in russian captivity. he can neverforget his darkest moments when the russians besieged ukrainian city of mariupol for around three months.— city of mariupol for around three months. when we were doinu three months. when we were doing the _ three months. when we were doing the siege _ three months. when we were doing the siege of _ three months. when we were doing the siege of mariupol. three months. when we were l doing the siege of mariupol we knew we would not walk out there alive. i mean we got captured because we got lucky and we did not die because a lot of people actually did die, so we were the lucky ones that got captured. so i come at night was getting ready and accepted the fact i am a dead man, so light, after hearing the death sentence, it was not much. ., , the death sentence, it was not much. . , ., _ much. he was detained by the russians for _ much. he was detained by the russians for nearly _ much. he was detained by the russians for nearly three - russians for nearly three months and eventually sentenced to death for being a mercenary. and an agreement mediated by saudi arabia abraham was released. it saudi arabia abraham was released-— released. it 'ust felt like i was born _ released. itjust felt like i was born again. - released. itjust felt like i was born again. i - released. itjust felt like i was born again. i don't i released. itjust felt like i - was born again. i don't know, it is a feeling ofjust rebirth. i volunteered to join the army because i used to live in ukraine, and ijust developed a lot of friendships there, and decided that it is really worth defending. he went back home _ really worth defending. he went back home in — really worth defending. he went back home in 2022, _ really worth defending. he went back home in 2022, after - back home in 2022, after fighting for a few months, alongside the ukrainian army against the russian forces. for nearly two years, the broom has been waiting to get his passport from the moroccan authorities. i passport from the moroccan authorities.— passport from the moroccan authorities. i can understand that there — authorities. i can understand that there might _ authorities. i can understand that there might be - authorities. i can understand that there might be some i that there might be some security concerns, and is the public here is extremelyjust favourable of me being possibly going back to ukraine and causing more trouble. he said he never— causing more trouble. he said he never did _ causing more trouble. he said he never did it _ causing more trouble. he said he never did it for _ causing more trouble. he said he never did it for money, i causing more trouble. he said he never did it for money, as| he never did it for money, as his monthly salary from the army was low. but since his return to morocco he has felt a sense of hostility. he believes some people see him as a mercenary. some people see him as a mercenary-— some people see him as a mercena . ., ., , mercenary. you can hear people on the street — mercenary. you can hear people on the street saying _ mercenary. you can hear people on the street saying very, i mercenary. you can hear people on the street saying very, very l on the street saying very, very crazy stuff. i can hear some people shouting you should have killed yourself, you are fighting the russians, why you fighting the russians, why you fight the russians? you peg. i can't go out somewhere not local in my neighbourhood without me wearing sunglasses. all wearing some form of camouflage to hide my face. neither morocco nor russia answered our requests for replies. abraham only hopes to have his moroccan passport so that he can go to finland, john has two sisters, pursue his studies and start a new life. sally nabil, bbc news. and, we end the programme with another problem for boeing's starliner spacecraft. it was due to make its return to earth tomorrow, but helium leaks in the vessel is the latest setback for the mission. the capsule has been beset by problems since its launch earlier this month, with its two astronauts now expected to remain on the international space station. our science correspondent pallab ghosh has more. four, three, two, one. ignition. the boating starliner set off to the international space station at the beginning of this month. it went up with engineers knowing there was a small leak of helium gas in the propulsion system stopping they did not think it was a problem. but during the flight, four more helium leaks were identified stop. and just before docking with the space station, five manoeuvring thrusters failed, four of which we started. the astronauts sonny williams, followed eventually by bridge will more werejoined by the eventually by bridge will more were joined by the crew on the space station. they were supposed to have stayed for eight days but they are still on board, to find out what might have gone wrong with the helium leaks and thrusters. the -roblems helium leaks and thrusters. the problems we — helium leaks and thrusters. tue problems we have helium leaks and thrusters. t'te problems we have seen helium leaks and thrusters. tte problems we have seen in helium leaks and thrusters. t'te problems we have seen in the last few weeks are not the kind of problems we anticipated to be facing on a mission at this stage. so, the whole point about this was putting astronauts in the loop of controlling a spacecraft and see how it was all that kind of stuff, instead we do seem to be dealing with rather more fundamental issues that really should have been ironed out by now. t should have been ironed out by now. ., should have been ironed out by now. . ., ., , ., now. i want to say a big thanks to family and _ now. i want to say a big thanks to family and friends _ now. i want to say a big thanks to family and friends who i now. i want to say a big thanks to family and friends who live i to family and friends who live this — to family and friends who live this. ., ., , to family and friends who live this. . . , . , to family and friends who live this. , ,, this. naas has stressed the astronauts _ this. naas has stressed the astronauts are _ this. naas has stressed the astronauts are not -- i this. naas has stressed the astronauts are not -- a i this. naas has stressed the | astronauts are not -- a safe astronauts are not —— a safe are not stranded and could come back on starliner if there is an emergency. they want to get to the bottom of the problems before they bring watch and sunny home. before they bring watch and sunny home-— before they bring watch and sunny home. the route to the roblem sunny home. the route to the problem has _ sunny home. the route to the problem has not _ sunny home. the route to the problem has not been - problem has not been understood, or announced it has been understood. so they have to make a judgement about calling the return based on incomplete information. if you do not really understand the cause of anyone failure you cannot say for sure if you have a systematic problem which will affect your prime system and any further backups.- affect your prime system and any further backups. nasa says it will be july — any further backups. nasa says it will be july at _ any further backups. nasa says it will be july at the _ any further backups. nasa says it will be july at the earliest i it will be july at the earliest before any return to earth. when starliner comes back questions will be asked if it should have been launched knowing there was a small helium leak. pallab ghosh, bbc news. business today, here next. see you in a moment. hello there. tuesday was a hot day for england and wales. it was the hottest day of the year so far in wales, but temperatures were even higher in england, in the south east, in the strong sunshine, 29 degrees in east sussex and 30 celsius in surrey. scotland, northern ireland were cooler on tuesday, thanks to more cloud and some rain in scotland really pegging the temperatures back here. not much rain as we head into wednesday morning. sunny skies for england and wales. some cloud will bubble up, bringing the threat of one or two showers over the welsh hills and the pennines, but it's in scotland that will see some showers developing as it brightens up here and there — some of the showers could be heavy and thundery. and in the afternoon, a bit of rain coming in from the west across northern ireland. some sunshine ahead of that should lift the temperatures a bit higher. the high temperatures, though, are going to be across england and wales. another hot day and, again, 30 degrees likely in the south east of england. things are going to change a bit, though, on thursday. this area of low pressure is coming in from the atlantic, pushing ahead of it, this weather front. as that moves its way eastwards, it'll be followed by atlantic air, cooler and fresher air that will push away all that heat and humidity into the near continent. now, let me show you that weather front, because this is it. it really is just a narrow band of cloud, little or no rain on it. ahead of it, some sunshine following it, some sunshine, but close to the low, some stronger winds bringing showers or longer spells of rain into scotland, northern ireland, one or two showers crossing the irish sea. it is going to be cooler everywhere on thursday. plenty of sunshine, i think, for england and wales, and for a good part of the day, still very warm across eastern parts of england. but with that weather front out of the way as we head into friday, we still have the low pressure running to the north of scotland and still some quite brisk winds for the time of year in scotland — some outbreaks of rain probably in the north of the country. a few showers elsewhere, the odd shower maybe for northern ireland, moving into the north west of england. further south, it's likely to be dry, and we'll see some sunshine coming through from time—to—time. temperatures are still going to be around 17 degrees in scotland and northern ireland and back down to 23 celsius at best in the south east of england. now, heading into the weekend, we're still in that slightly cooler, fresher air. many places will be dry with some sunshine, the best of it probably across southern parts of england. and this is where we'll see the highest of the temperatures. tens of thousands of royal mail staff get an offer to sell their shares in the postal service's parent firm as a czech billionaire looks to take over. tesla recalls its futuristic cybertruck — again — overfaulty wipers and troublesome trim. and keeping up appearances — we take a look at the manyjobs and big money created by the booming beauty industry. good to have you stop this is business today. i'm sally bundock. we start here in the uk where tens of thousands of former and current royal mail staff may be getting something interesting in the post in the form of an official offer to sell any shares they hold in the royal mail's parent company. making the offer is the czech billionaire daniel kretinsky�*s investment group. it is looking to convince other investors to sell the company and wants the 5.5% of shares still owned by royal mail staff to strengthen its hand. mr kretinsky already owns over a quarter of the of the company. he also has stakes in sainsbury and west ham football club. however, the government still has the ability to block this deal given its sensitive and strategic importance to the uk economy.