First a Welcome Development here in the uk. Inflation fell sharply to 6. 8 injuly, from 7. 9 injune. But it still means prices continue to rise. Prime minister rishi sunak says it shows his governments plan is working, but he cautioned against complacency. The drop was fueled by lower energy costs. But Core Inflation which looks at price rises excluding food and energy remained unchanged. According to the office of national statistics, the rising costs of hotels, air travel, and rents are in Part Keeping Inflation high. Economists are still expecting Interest Rates the tool used by the Bank Of England to control price rises to be raised further. The bbc� s economics editor faisal islam has more. The heat may be coming out of rising prices at supermarkets and convenience shops, and that can be seen, for example, in milk prices on the shelves of this shop in walsall. Overall they are still rising, butjust by less than they were. This area was, originally, about two months ago, all a pound, so every single bag was £1 but then they went up to £1. 25, and now we have seen a further increase for newer stock which is £1. 35. And is it going to go back to £1 . No, it is definitely not going to go back to a £1, i think this will be the new price. But some things have gone down . Some things have, like the cost of milk has gone down. That has gone down, and we have noticed that on the point but things like these that arent made from milk, havent gone down, these have gone up. Here and in shops across the country, they are still updating prizes on a weekly basis, but falls in gas and electric bills are offering a glimpse of a more normal economy. Todays figures were driven by those first falls in average Household Energy bills, which soared amid the Russia Ukraine war even after government support. July saw the first fallback to about £2000 for an average dual fuel bill. That has helped drive down the Inflation Rate from a high of 11 to under 7 . Though that is still higher than other similar countries, and well above the target of 2 . And elsewhere in the economy, the key Service Sector inflation measure, which includes restaurants and hotels, actually rose to a joint 32 year high. At this robotics and Automation Business in walsall, they have the technology to help boost the economy. They say they are riding out the rising Business Costs but are worried about rising Interest Rates. From our point of view, automation and robotics, the uk lags quite woefully in truth, so the impact on access to finance and the cost of borrowing could further have a negative effect on that. What are you most worried about now . From our own perspective the biggest concern for us is high Interest Rates, and whether that will actually slow down general industry, and the general approach to investments. Back at this walsall shop, the owner says his customers are still facing the Cost Of Living crisis. Last year he subsidised hot Water Bottles to help, and may need to again. I wish we didnt have to do it but i think. We will have to again this year. Inflation seems to be following, now, quite rapidly. Does it feel like the crisis point is over . No. I think we are still in it. With some prices going back there is a path out of this long period of economic uncertainty, but todays evidence is that it will remain bumpy. Faisal islam, bbc news, in walsall. Tineke frikkee, head of uk Equity Research at Waverton Investment managers and chris irwin, director of savings at the yorkshire building society. Welcome to you both and tineke i want to start with you. How would you assess these Inflation Rates falling . You assess these Inflation Rates fallin . ~ ,. , falling . While they are moving in the Riaht Falling . While they are moving in the right direction falling . While they are moving in the right direction but falling . While they are moving in the right direction but the falling . While they are moving in the right direction but the main l the right direction but the main thing i think we should look at is whats exactly changing for us in our purses. And you know month on month, inflation went down like 0. 4 . There are prices falling, its a start, but we got a long way to go. A start, but we got a long way to to. , � a start, but we got a long way to io,. , �. , a start, but we got a long way to o. , �. ,. , go. Youve mentioned Core Inflation is still high. Go. Youve mentioned Core Inflation is still high, what go. Youve mentioned Core Inflation is still high, what is go. Youve mentioned Core Inflation is still high, what is that go. Youve mentioned Core Inflation is still high, what is that and go. Youve mentioned Core Inflation is still high, what is that and how i is still high, what is that and how does it affect us . Does it affect us . What theyre t ini to does it affect us . What theyre trying to do does it affect us . What theyre trying to do is does it affect us . What theyre trying to do is take does it affect us . What theyre trying to do is take out does it affect us . What theyre trying to do is take out some l trying to do is take out some of those parts that are quite volatile in prices out to get some kind of sustainable level, so they take out a lot of things actually that we all buy every day, they take out food, the take out energy, tobacco and alcohol, so thats the core. If you take out all those daily goods, you tend to be a bit more biased towards the Services Sector and this was mentioned beforehand. You know, this was at i mentioned beforehand. You know, this was at 1 month on month. Its a bit difficult to assess what this means because there is seasonality in this because there is seasonality in this because we are in Summer Holiday season, we probably all heard airfares are up 7. 5 month on month, hotels are open 3 . That is common injuly. We need to see both what happens when september comes. See how this number s develop. Chris i how this number � s develop. Chris i want to come to you. The financial Well Being Gap is widening, what does that mean . In wellbeing gap is widening, what does that mean . Does that mean . In the nation report we published does that mean . In the nation report we published today, does that mean . In the nation report we published today, we does that mean . In the nation report we published today, we compare we published today, we compare the changing Financial Behaviours of adults over the last five years. What ive shown. It adults over the last five years. What ive shown. What ive shown. It raises concerns what ive shown. It raises concerns about what ive shown. It raises concerns about our what ive shown. It raises concerns about our actual. Concerns about our actual resilience. Concerns about our actual resilience concerns about our actual resilience. � ,. , resilience. And chris who is most im acted resilience. And chris who is most impacted by resilience. And chris who is most impacted by this resilience. And chris who is most impacted by this and resilience. And chris who is most impacted by this and inability resilience. And chris who is most impacted by this and inability to l impacted by this and inability to save . , , impacted by this and inability to save . ,. , impacted by this and inability to save . ,. Save . Typically that would usually have been the save . Typically that would usually have been the younger save . Typically that would usually l have been the younger generation, but the have been the younger generation, but the research weve done today it shows but the research weve done today it shows thats not actually the case this time, shows thats not actually the case this time, weve also seen by research that the average you can savei research that the average you can save, is research that the average you can save, is saving more, almost £100 more save, is saving more, almost £100 more a save, is saving more, almost £100 more a month versus 2019. Ages 18 to 34 are more a month versus 2019. Ages 18 to 34 are showing even more resilience, theyve 34 are showing even more resilience, theyve seen 34 are showing even more resilience, theyve seen a 250 increase in their theyve seen a 250 increase in their savings over the last five years. Their savings over the last five years, coming from an average of £127 a years, coming from an average of £127 a month to £327 a month. | years, coming from an average of £127 a month to £327 a month. I want to look how £127 a month to £327 a month. I want to look how that £127 a month to £327 a month. I want to look how that uk £127 a month to £327 a month. I want to look how that uk stacks £127 a month to £327 a month. I want to look how that uk stacks up to look how that uk stacks up to other countries. Comparing inflation to other major economies. Germany is at 6. 2 and france at 4. 3 so tineke, why is uk inflation still higher than other comparable countries. If higher than other comparable countries. Higher than other comparable countries higher than other comparable countries. ,. , ~. Countries. If we for example think a little bit about countries. If we for example think a little bit about energy countries. If we for example think a little bit about energy for countries. If we for example think a little bit about energy for example, | little bit about energy for example, the uk as a country is very reliant on gas from europe so that has set us, you know, where we get most of our power from. Where us, you know, where we get most of our powerfrom. Where is france for example, is very much Nuclear Energy country, so that means inflation is different. There are some slight tweaks in terms of how much we grow our own food, this is how much we import and then obviously the currency. If we have a week pound we have to buy more, its going to cost us more if we have a week pound. Chris coming back to you, we did see some positive wage numbers out yesterday. How does that play into how much people are able to save . So as i mentioned earlier, we have seen increasing as i mentioned earlier, we have seen increasing savings from those who are able increasing savings from those who are able to increasing savings from those who are able to save, and i think thats proven are able to save, and i think thats proven by are able to save, and i think thats proven by the wage figures that are coming proven by the wage figures that are coming through. There are people who are able coming through. There are people who are able to coming through. There are people who are able to save, i encourage them to think are able to save, i encourage them to think about where they are saving to think about where they are saving. Are they getting the best return saving. Are they getting the best return for saving. Are they getting the best return for their money . Are they considering the Tax Implications of what theyre doing . And just to make sure that what theyre doing . And just to make sure that they are really making the most sure that they are really making the most of sure that they are really making the most of the money they have got. And tineke, most of the money they have got. Tineke, coming most of the money they have got. fific tineke, coming back to most of the money they have got. fific tineke, coming back to you, what does that mean for. This tineke, coming back to you, what does that mean for. Does that mean for. This is all about what does that mean for. This is all about what the does that mean for. This is all about what the bank does that mean for. This is all about what the bank of does that mean for. This is all about what the Bank Of England does that mean for. This is all. About what the Bank Of England is going to do next. Higher than expected wage growth that chris research referred to and that we saw yesterday, that was probably that one bit that the Bank Of England was watching closely and todays service inflation. We think that both of those combined, its very likely that we are going to get a 25 Basis Point Increase to 5. 5 by the end of september, and in general the expectations would be up to 6 , and that will be so tied up for mortgages, especially those coming off of two year fixes. It} mortgages, especially those coming off of twoyear fixes. Off of twoyear fixes. 10 one and chris, thanks off of twoyear fixes. 10 one and chris, thanks so off of twoyear fixes. 10 one and chris, thanks so much off of twoyear fixes. 10 one and chris, thanks so much for chris, thanks so much forjoining us. Proposed a trial, commencement date of march four. This is related to the charges brought against the former us president earlier this week, you will remember he was charged with attempting to overturn his 2020 election defeat in the state of georgia, and the former president is. Racketeering. He denies 13 charges against him which include racketeering and. Politically motivated. If march is the date decided by the court, it would fall at the same time as his other trials, would fall at the same time as his othertrials, new would fall at the same time as his other trials, new yorks case against him for hush money and fort Stormy Daniels is also in march next year, if this trial is supposed to move forward in march, the da said he would like to make sure that all 19 codefendants are charged together. We would probably see a response from the former president s team when that comes into us. Around the world and across the uk. This is bbc news. Lets look at some other stories making news. The British Museum in london has sacked a member of staff after treasures were reported missing, stolen or damaged. Items including gold, jewellery and gems of semi precious stones were among those found to be missing, stolen or damaged. British Museum Director Hartwig Fischer said the organisation had brought an end to this. Detectives investigating the data leak at the Police Service of Northern Ireland have made an arrest. They have detained a 39 year old man on suspicion of collecting information likely to be useful to terrorists. The psni has apologised for mistakenly revealing details of all its 10,000 staff last week. Junior doctors in scotland have accepted a pay offer from the Scottish Government ending the threat of further strike action. Theyll receive a pay rise of 12. 4 , backdated to april with yearly negotiations for the next three years. Meanwhile in england, Junior Doctors remain in dispute with the westminster government. Youre live with bbc news. A bbc investigation has heard from ukrainian Prisoners Of War who say they were subjected to torture, including frequent beatings and electric shocks, while held in russia. A dozen former captives described extreme violence and ill treatment in apparent violations of International Humanitarian law. Many of them surrendered in the city of Mariupol Last year. They were taken to a Detention Facility in the Southern Russian city of Taganrog Before Being released in exchanges. For weeks, our correspondent hugo bachega tracked down some of the ukrainians who were held in taganrog to hear their stories. Translation sheer hell. The scariest part was when they called you up for interrogation. How can you describe a place where you are stripped of everything human . These ukrainians were captured by the enemy. Translation they can do anything they want with you physically. And taken to this russian prison in taganrog, a place they now associate with torture. In may last year, the city of mariupol was under siege. Artem, a sniper with the azov regiment, wanted to keep on fighting. But ukraine ordered the troops in the azov steelworks to surrender. Translation when | heard about captivity for the first time, i had the worst images in my head about what could happen. Artem was held in taganrog for seven months. He says he was frequently beaten and given electric shocks. He often witnessed other captives suffering, too. Translation after the beatings, | one day i was brought to a room. | i saw a Young Man Holding his hands up. His fingers were bleeding. Did they insert needles under yourfingernails . I asked. He said yes. For weeks i tracked Down Ukrainians who had been taken to taganrog and came back. People like irina, who is now a Conscript Officer in the military. She was a combat medic when she surrendered. She says not even the women were spared the brutality of the guards. Translation they dragged us by our hair. They beat us in the kidneys, in the ribs, with hammers and batons. How do you describe taganrog . Translation only devils live and work there. This is dennis, a military surgeon. He tells me people were beaten as soon as they arrived, in rooms, hallways, and even in the shower. He was left with three broken ribs and could barely breathe. Translation they threw me on the floor, ordered me to not lift my head up, and gave me electric shocks until they discharged the entire taser battery on me. You are convulsing. If you lift your head off the floor they start beating you. And the circle never ends. Up to 10,000 ukrainian Prisoners Of War are believed to remain in russian captivity, including hundreds of the asov defenders. Many are being held in prisons across the country, a violation of the rules of war. Here campaigns like this one are fighting for their freedom and for russia to protect their rights. Ukraine says nine in every ten prisoners who have been returned allege they were tortured. This is the biggest challenge for me now, how to protect our people on russian side. And i dont know how and nobody knows how we can do it. The Russian Defence ministry hasnt replied to our requests for comment. But prisoner swaps like this one give hope to families still waiting to see their loved ones again. How do you recover from all of this . Translation im currently undergoing treatment and my priority is to take care of my health so i can put on my uniform, pick up my weapons and defend my country. The battles in this war continue not only on the front lines, but also in the lives of ukrainians trying to overcome so much cruelty. Hugo bachega, bbc news, kiev. Our correspondent hugo bachega is behind the investigation and joins me now. Really incredible reporting there, hugo. How easy was it to gain access to these people for the stories . Irate to these people for the stories . We sent to these people for the stories . Spent weeks in ukraine, not everybody wants to give interviews, theyre going through the Rehabilitation Process returning to ukraine, it took us a lot of time to get to these people and i think the idea was to talk to as many people as possible because, dont forget, nobody has been allowed to visit this facility inside russia. The un has been trying, the red cross have been trying, and nobody has been able to get to this facility. So i think these accounts give us a picture of what is happening there. And i think what really struck me is that everybody talked about abuse. Physical abuse, psychological abuse, and what they say is that this is not something thats been done by a handful of bad guys or by a guard who had an argument at home and decided to torture somebody. They said this is routine. This is the Modus Operandi if you like. Dozens if not hundreds of ukrainians are still there, and i think its safe to assume that theyre going through something very similar. So to assume that theyre going through something very similar. Something very similar. So that would mean something very similar. So that would mean this something very similar. So that would mean this is something very similar. So that would mean this is a something very similar. So that| would mean this is a widespread practice . Would mean this is a widespread iractice . ~ �. ,. , practice . Weve heard similar allegations practice . Weve heard similar allegations coming practice . Weve heard similar allegations coming from practice . Weve heard similar allegations coming from different locations as well, that dozens of places in russia that have been used by the authorities to hold Prisoners Of War, stirring the piece, up to 10,000 ukrainians are believed to be in russian captivity. I think a few weeks ago the un special Reporter On Russian Torture said there are signs that this is organised. This is, you know, a well orchestrated, in other words she said this amounts to a pattern of state endorsed torture. These are not isolated events, this is widespread and it is happening across the country. Is widespread and it is happening across the country. Though these victims have across the country. Though these victims have any across the country. Though these victims have any recourse . Across the country. Though these victims have any recourse . Go i victims have any recourse . Go Throuih Victims have any recourse . Go through a victims have any recourse . er . Through a very long Rehabilitation Process. There is a lot to digest. Weve talked to people who had been in captivity for almost a year, so there is a long Journey Towards recovery. But many say that they want to go back to the front lines because they want to defend their country. Because they want to defend their count. ,. ,. , country. Really remarkable, hugo, Thanks For Sharing country. Really remarkable, hugo, Thanks For Sharing your country. Really remarkable, hugo, Thanks For Sharing your report country. Really remarkable, hugo, Thanks For Sharing your report with | Thanks For Sharing your report with us. Lets speak to stephen rapp, former International Prosecutor and former Ambassador At Large for war crimes in the office of global criminaljustice. Stephen thank you forjoining us, firstly i want to eat to get your reaction to the reporting we heard there. , , ~ reaction to the reporting we heard there. , ,. , there. This is shocking but not unexpected. There. This is shocking but not unexpected, we there. This is shocking but not unexpected, we heard there. This is shocking but not unexpected, we heard beforel there. This is shocking but not unexpected, we heard before about how russians have been treating prisoners. Without question this is a pattern, as your correspondent said it systematic and widespread and appears to be part of the Modus Operandi and of course all of these acts are war crimes. Include the individuals involved in the ka matters and the leadership right up to the top are committing these crimes because they have notice of whats going on. They are not doing anything to prevent or punish it. They could be held criminally responsible and could bring them into custody. Responsible and could bring them into custody responsible and could bring them into custod. ,. Into custody. Stephen we heard there from our correspondent into custody. Stephen we heard there from our correspondent that into custody. Stephen we heard there from our correspondent that the into custody. Stephen we heard there from our correspondent that the un l from our correspondent that the un has tried and has not been granted access to this particular site. So how can these reports be verified . While there are ways to verify them, we have the and stumbled protocol in which torture victims are examined, their physical signs of the torture are, you know, determined medically, to be consistent with their stories. Other ways in which observations and Interview Techniques can corroborate whats been done there. And frankly when one does find eventually as we had in the syrian context, people that are insiders that come out and describe what occurred, it is possible to build real criminal cases. Having dealt a lot with syria im amazed at the sort of comparisons of course in syrian mostly civilians, relatively few combatants. In the longer story there was always this sort of welcome party, initiation, that so common when the people arrive immediately beaten. And sometimes even limbs broken at that time, in order to basically show them whos boss. Not about gaining any useful information, if you could get useful information, if you could get useful information from torture its illegal, its always illegal. To terrorise and punish these individuals who dare to have been part of a force that resisted, you know, annexation by russia. I was ust know, annexation by russia. I was just talking know, annexation by russia. I was just talking to know, annexation by russia. I was just talking to our know, annexation by russia. I was just talking to our correspondent about possible recourse for these victims, what about a recourse for ukraine, if russia is obviously not going to cooperate . Ukraine, if russia is obviously not going to cooperate . While there are, there are recourses going to cooperate . While there are, there are recourses in going to cooperate . While there are, there are recourses in the going to cooperate . While there are, there are recourses in the sense there are recourses in the sense that there is a convention against torture, recently as you may know there was canada and the netherlands to the International Court of justice for, you know, for the violation of torture, ukraine can do the same with russia. That is a very long proceeding and you get a judgment in several years with the difficulty there, of course its not really enforceable unless you get an order from security council. Really enforceable unless you get an orderfrom security council. But theres a whole lot but needs to be done here, im disappointed that the rc is not speaking out more strongly about it. This is a Code Violation of the Geneva Convention, initiator of the Geneva Convention, initiator of the Geneva Convention, initiator of the gene Geneva Convention process. Doesnt generally disclose information to judicial processes, generally trying to improve the hinnant terrien situation, theyre not even allowing that, its just a complete outrage. And thats the kind, doesnt usually want to speak up kind, doesnt usually want to speak up against the other party but they need to use every bit of leverage they have two get access. Thats different then you and Inquiry Organisations to get in there and bring out all sorts of hot evidence, they should be provided access but they should be provided access but the russians dont obviously, want to show what theyre doing. So theyll deny that and theres no real way to enforce it on them. So stephen, just tojump in there, the last question, are you confident then that there will be some form of justice if these acts are then verified . ,. , verified . Yes, i mean there will be, im sure verified . Yes, i mean there will be, im sure the verified . Yes, i mean there will be, im sure the organisation verified . Yes, i mean there will be, im sure the organisation with im sure the organisation with jurisdiction has put out Arrest Warrants for putin. This is additionally a crime that the leader, the commanders of these camps are people in the military Chain Of Command who run them, even up Chain Of Command who run them, even up to Political Leadership can be prosecuted. One of the challenges here, 2500 people have been exchanged, brought back to ukraine, and we want that to occur. That sometimes requires ukrainians to. Give up some high level suspects that could be i give up some highlevel suspects that could be. That could be i have to leave it there but that could be i have to leave it there but thank that could be i have to leave it there but thank you that could be i have to leave it there but thank you so that could be i have to leave it there but thank you so much there but thank you so much for joining us. Stay with us. Hello there, good evening. The best of the Sunshine Today was across southern counties of Northern Ireland, england and wales. Blue sky, Sunflower Fields In Norfolk and a lot more sunshine, pleasantly warm in all of that with just a light breeze in pembrokeshire in wales. Now it will turn warmer across the board as we head through the rest of the week, some more sunny spells. It will start to feel more humid, particularly by night, but it wont be completely dry. It will turn wet and windy through the day on friday. More on that in just a moment. But overnight tonight then, its relatively mild out there. Some long, clear spells will see some areas of mist and low clouds developing, particularly for central and eastern areas of england. Where we see that mist and low cloud, it will lift and clear readily through the morning, burnt back by wall of the sunshine. And were drawing in more of a south easterly wind through the day on thursday. Thats going to drag in this warmer, Muggy Feeling Air from the near continent. So temperatures will rise across the board up to the low to the mid 20s in celsius. We may even see the days highest temperatures out towards Western Areas of wales. Few showers out towards the west, generally dry, cooler towards north sea facing coasts. And then on thursday night its going to be mild and muggy. We look out towards the atlantic, an area of low pressure will send these Weather Fronts spinning our way through the day on friday. Bands of possibly quite heavy thundery rain at times. Theyll merge together to form what will feel like longer spells of rain. It will be particularly windy towards the North West Wales coast as well. Underneath all of that cloud and the rain youd expect it to be cold, but its going to be warm and muggy feeling. Dry and cooler with some sunshine across much of scotland. Temperatures here in the high teens in celsius. But of course, the rain eventually arrives here on friday night. A very mild, muggy night to follow. Temperatures no lower than 18 or 19 degrees celsius potentially in south east england. On saturday, though, some fresher feeling air, it is still warm. The rain clears the north of scotland through the morning. A few showers following on behind, but lots of dry weather, too. Some sunshine temperatures peaking generally in the low to the mid 20s, once more in celsius and its looking very similar on sunday. Heres the outlook for our Capital Cities as we head through the weekend and into the start of next week towards the north and the west, temperatures will still rise into the low 20s, but its cooler, more showery here. Drier and warmer towards the south and the east. Bye bye. The Uefa Super Cup is nearing half time with Champions League winners Manchester City up against Europa League champions sevilla in athens. City have had the better of the first half thus far as they look to add to the treble they won last year on what is a very hot evening in the greek capital with temperature having been over 30 degrees celsius during the day. But sevilla have just taken the lead, Youssef En Nesyri heading the europa League Winners in front. England have booked their place in sundays womens World Cup Final after a 3 1win over the co hosts australia in sydney. Ella toone gave england the lead in the first half with a superb strike which found the top corner. Australia responded through their superstar sam kerr starting her first match of the tournament beating mary earps from 25 yards to make it 1 1
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