hello, a very warm welcome to the programme. let s start here in the uk where, in a few hours from now, the next leader of the conservative party and the uk will be announced. we won t officially know who that is until 12:30 bst but we do know for sure that whomever takes the reins will have a monumental task, both economically and politically. rising inflation and the high energy prices will be at the forefront of voters minds, while businesses will be keen to see stability and a commitment to economic growth going forward. our economics editor faisal islam has been looking at some of the immediate pressing issues. this is the economic reality facing the new prime minister. inflation at 10% and heading higher on these official forecasts. it may even go above 15%. five or even ten times target. in the general economy is already falling and heading for a 1990s style recession, according to the bank of england. the core of it all, energy prices. in international markets having
Russia has intensified its attacks in northeast ukraine rausing fears the city of kharkiv could soon be in range of its artillery. The border town of vovchansk has been heavily bombed. Kharkiv s governor has said russia trying to stretch the front line ukraines commander in the area has been replaced. In another sign of the growing strain on kyiv ukraine has said it will need Record Energy imports after russian attacks on infrastructure. As russia makes progress in the war, president putin is set to appoint a new defence minister, Andrey Belousov. Like his predecessor sergei shoigu, he doesnt have much experience in the field. But hes one of putins most influential economic advisers. And analysts say that may offer a clue to the russian leaders desire to fund his military ambitions. Well have more on the changes in russias defence hierachy in a moment first James Waterhouse has the latest on the fighting in ukraine. Its a front line at the moment which is more than 1000 kilometres wron
documents. that was part of a deal to end his iii year legal battle over the leaking of vast amounts of secret us military information on the internet. the 52 year old is now on his way home to australia following the hearing. and from where a southeast asia correspondent jonathan had sent this report. the last stage of a very long journey. julian assange walked into the courtroom on this remote pacific island to hear whether the agreement he d struck with us prosecutors would stick. after two hours of very careful consideration by the judge, it did. he pleaded guilty, and she agreed to a sentence equal to the time he d already served in britain. but his lawyers still insist his prosecution for breaking an espionage law was unjust. we firmly believed that mr assange never should have been charged under the espionage act, and engaged in exercise thatjournalists engage in every day. and we re thankful that they do. it is appropriate, though, for this fight to end and it is appr