julian assange, is now one step closer to becoming a free man. in the past few hours, mr assange arrived at a court in a remote us territory in the western pacific after being released from a british prison. there he pleaded guilty to a single charge of espionage, as part of a deal with us authorities to secure his release, allowing him to return to his native australia. the 52—year—old was charged by us officials in 2010 for leaking a vast amount of secret us military information from the wars in iraq and afghanistan. here's his wife stella assange, reacting to the news of her husband's release. when we met, he was under house arrest, it will be the first time that i get to see him as a fully free man and i was just, when i was speaking to him, said, well, we can walk, go for a walk and they will be no restrictions, no curfew, all this is so alien.

the wikileaks cofounder has been fighting extradition to the us on espionage charges for over a decade. let's look at the key dates that have brought us here. in 2010, julian assange was part of a flood of classified military files and diplomatic cables spilled by wikileaks that year. months later, an international arrest warrant was issued. sweden wanted to question him about sexual assault allegations made by two women. to avoid extradition, he sought refuge in ecuador�*s london embassy. he'd spend seven years there. but in 2019 — in a dramatic moment — he was dragged out of the embassy after the ecuadorian government withdrew his political asylum. he was thenjailed for skipping bail. and soon, the americans were asking for his extradition. backed by his supporters, he fought against it in the courts and lost. his extradition was approved in 2022. butjulian assange kept appealing until finally this new plea deal with the us allowed him to fly out of the uk. more on our website bbc.com/news. joining me now live from outside the courthouse is our correspondent, jonathan head.

good to see you, you've been listening into this hearing, tell us been happening. well, the judge. — tell us been happening. well, the judge, presiding - tell us been happening. well, the judge, presiding judge - tell us been happening. well, the judge, presiding judge is l thejudge, presidingjudge is going through the case in great detail, it's clear that she understands what an important case it is and she is making sure thatjulian is sarge understands all the legal implications of the deal that is struck, make sure that he understands the deal dad's cross questioning both prosecution and defence and check on what their positions are, julian assange has pleaded guilty and accepted the guilty plea and also said that that when he leaves those documents, he believes that he was covered by the first amendment, that he had a right to lick the documents but does accept that it did violate the espionage law. the prosecutions for the us government has read out in detail all of the exchanges between early and a manning who of course was convicted as well

for licking the documents and outlining how much they harmed national security so both have accepted that got a different perspective but they are saying they would have an understanding about how to proceed and julian assange, a few minutes ago, pleaded guilty. few minutes ago, pleaded uuil . �* . ., , few minutes ago, pleaded auil. . ., ., guilty. i'm curious to hear how jufian guilty. i'm curious to hear how julian assange _ guilty. i'm curious to hear how julian assange has _ guilty. i'm curious to hear how julian assange has seemed . guilty. i'm curious to hear how julian assange has seemed in | julian assange has seemed in court. ., ., «a julian assange has seemed in court. ., court. he looks quite relaxed, his simply _ court. he looks quite relaxed, his simply answered _ court. he looks quite relaxed, his simply answered quite - his simply answered quite confidently to every question but it's just a question of saying yes if you fully understands, he said very little more than that. it's been left to the prosecution to outline the details of the case, it was only when i got onto his explanation for his thinking about why he didn't that you understood the way he thinks. he said he believes that there is a conflict between the first amendment and the us constitution and the espionage law but that he accepts he violates the law, beyond that, he's looked

basically like a man going through a legal case who is quite relaxed about the decision is taken. indeed, after so — decision is taken. indeed, after so many _ decision is taken. indeed, after so many years - decision is taken. indeed, after so many years of. decision is taken. indeed, | after so many years of the legal proceedings so take us through what will happen now, are you going to go back into court? , ., , . , , court? yes, we got us recess now, court? yes, we got us recess now. there — court? yes, we got us recess now, there are _ court? yes, we got us recess now, there are some - court? yes, we got us recess now, there are some small. now, there are some small details need to be amended in the case but this clear agreement between all sides and how to do that. normally, and a case like this, the defendant would ask for a presentencing investigation byjulian assange investigation by julian assange has investigation byjulian assange has waived our because clearly, he wants sentencing to take place so that the terms of this deal he struck with the us government can come into effect immediately so that he can fly back to australia later today. so expect when the judge comes back and outline all of the parameters of the case that she will go through sentencing reasonably, we expect that to happen the next hour. 1&1 reasonably, we expect that to happen the next hour. 1.4 some of our viewers _ happen the next hour. 1.4 some of our viewers who _ happen the next hour. 1.4 some of our viewers who might - happen the next hour. 1.4 some of our viewers who might be - of our viewers who might be wondering, can you remind us

why this is taking place where you are in the north mariana islands? ~ �* , you are in the north mariana islands? ~ �*, ., you are in the north mariana islands? ~ �* , ., ,, islands? well, it's a us jurisdiction _ islands? well, it's a us jurisdiction that - islands? well, it's a us jurisdiction that the - islands? well, it's a us jurisdiction that the us| islands? well, it's a us - jurisdiction that the us court not on the continent of the united states, julian assange made it clear he was very uncomfortable going back to the us with distrust and it's closer to the hum of australia. what is interesting is how divisive he still is, stop so many people that passionately believe what he did was right and necessarily and some of the horrible things that he did expose and many others were just so damaging to national security and diplomacy, so many private conversations were leaked that what he did was wrong and the division will outlast this trial and properly outlast this trial and properly outlastjulian assange. we outlast this trial and properly outlast julian assange. we will let ou outlast julian assange. we will let you head — outlast julian assange. we will let you head back _ outlast julian assange. we will let you head back into - outlast julian assange. we will let you head back into court, i let you head back into court, thank you so much for your reporting. you can follow the latest on that hearing on our website,

bbc.com/news. we have a live page there. the united nations is calling for restraint after at least five people were killed, hundreds more reportedly injured and parliament was set on fire amid protests in kenya. these were the scenes on tuesday in nairobi, as police and protesters clashed over a controversial bill that would raise taxes. part of the parliament building was burned after some demonstrators broke through police cordons. most younger kenyans say the bill would add to the nation's cost of living crisis.kenyan to the nation's cost of living crisis. kenyan president william ruto addressed the nation, saying the protests were hijacked by �*dangerous people' and vowing a full response while deploying the military. 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. 0thers 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. earlier i spoke to michelle gavin, the former senior director for africa at the us national security council. why do you think this bill has

triggered such a massive reaction in kenya? i triggered such a massive reaction in kenya? i think in many ways. _ reaction in kenya? i think in many ways. it _ reaction in kenya? i think in many ways, it sort - reaction in kenya? i think in many ways, it sort of - reaction in kenya? i think in many ways, it sort of the i reaction in kenya? i think in. many ways, it sort of the last straw. there have been concerns about a cost of living in kenya for some time, the sharks of the covid pandemic, russia's invasion of ukraine, droughts and then flooding, all of this has affected the kenyan economy. at a time when its labor force is increasing substantially every year, the population is very young and their limited job opportunities are so people are really feeling the strain, add to that, ongoing corruption scandals at the elite level that if people very little confidence that when they pay more taxes, they will see the benefits on government services. i benefits on government services-— benefits on government services. ., ., , , ., services. i want to pick up a one point— services. i want to pick up a one point you _ services. i want to pick up a one point you made - services. i want to pick up a one point you made there, l services. i want to pick up a | one point you made there, a services. i want to pick up a - one point you made there, a lot of young people taking part in this protest, waiting to some instructions tell us about the economic situation of young people in kenya in particular?

it is to satisfactory and i think this is a really important thing to think about, notjust in kenya but throughout many countries in africa are, you have young, increasingly urbanised, increasingly urbanised, increasingly digitally connected people who see what life is like and lots of other places and have aspirations, wanting dignified life and their demands a very, very hard for governments with little physical space, very hard for those governments to meet. let's talk about the reaction from the kenyan government here, president ruto to crackdown on violin and an arkea and he referred to those taking part as criminals pretending to be peaceful protesters, what do you think of that characterisation? it’s of that characterisation? it's entirel of that characterisation? it�*s entirely possible that some people engaged in violent activity but it's also clear

that the kenyan police used live ammunition on unarmed protesters, they have been numerous incidents of police brutality in kenya and so, while certainly no—one can condone criminality, destruction of property, i think for a lot of americans who remember the storming of our capital onjanuary 6, the our capital on january 6, the images our capital onjanuary 6, the images of parts of cania's parliament building small the ring when they were very alarming, it's also important to note that it's notjust the protesters or some segment of protesters or some segment of protesters rope —— responsible for the violence. it protesters rope -- responsible for the violence.— for the violence. it comes at the same — for the violence. it comes at the same time _ for the violence. it comes at the same time as _ for the violence. it comes at the same time as kenya - for the violence. it comes at - the same time as kenya sending a police force to haiti to help clampdown on gang violence, tell us how much pressure you think the kenyan president is under right now? i think the kenyan president is under right now?— under right now? i think it underachievement - under right now? i think it underachievement as - under right now? i think it underachievement as a i under right now? i think it - underachievement as a matter of pressure, he campaigned, promising to help the

economically disenfranchised, the hustlers in the informal economy but then found himself in a situation where can years debt burden and default meant that the scramble to increase revenue hands the tax races so he's in a difficult spot in terms of appeasing the population, new questions will certainly surface about the wisdom of this deployment to haiti, given the track record of the kenyan police but also, given the fact that the underlying issues in haiti cannot be addressed by a thousand kenyan bullies even if they perform perfectly. than they perform perfectly. an important _ they perform perfectly. an important point. bigger picture, how important instability in kenya to the wider region east africa? it’s wider region east africa? it's not to wider region east africa? it�*s got to overstate how important it is. kenya has been a stable regional leader, engage and diplomacy, trying to bring an

end to conflict in central africa and in the horn, a real kind of bastion of security and important security partner, to the united states. so the idea of an increasingly fragile kenya is very bad news for east africa and it's bad news for the us and for other democracies. aha, the us and for other democracies.- the us and for other democracies. �* , w' the us and for other democracies. �* , democracies. a very quick last question. _ democracies. a very quick last question, what _ democracies. a very quick last question, what a _ democracies. a very quick last question, what a think - democracies. a very quick last question, what a think that . question, what a think that cania's partners including the us can do in this situation? i think it's important to make clear that things like these abductions of online organisers are usually problematic in terms of allowing partners to support kenya in a way that helps to generate a newjobs and economic pressure but the same time, it's important to think about how can we create some physical space so that the kenyan government can look like

international financial institution and the mannus territory when the population has a very different set of demand. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at story making news in the uk. the emperor and empress ofjapan were welcomed by king charles and camilla with a state banquet at buckingham palace tuesday night, marking the start of a 3—day visit. the day started with a ceremonial greeting on the horse guards parade. 0ur senior royal correspondent daniela relph has more. changes have had to be made to ensure political neutrality. this state visit was planned well before the election was called, having been related to the covid lockdown, that was the 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.

prime minister rishi sunak and labour leader keir starmer both attended the state banquet at buckingham palace. the king delivered a speech speaking of the close friendship between the two countries. over the next few days, the emperor and empress will visit a number of sites around the uk including 0xford where both of them studied. you're live with bbc news. in ukraine, there are many openly lgbt soldiers serving on the front line. they're challenging people's prejudices, in a county where many still hold socially conservative and even homophobic views. but the war has exposed an inequality as our correspondentjean mackenzie reports. this is where ukraine's fall are remembered. and mourned. for pride month, the lgbt community have come to lay flags for their dead. him and his former boyfriend was killed during the first months of the

invasion. roman wasjust during the first months of the invasion. roman was just 21 won a localfamily leaked the a local family leaked the petition of his unit to the russians. he was really, one of the best people. he was really, one of the best --eole. , , ., he was really, one of the best --eole. , ,., people. the debts of gay soldiers _ people. the debts of gay soldiers on _ people. the debts of gay soldiers on the _ people. the debts of gay soldiers on the frontline | people. the debts of gay i soldiers on the frontline has exposed an injustice year. lgbt people don't have equal marriage rights. mil people don't have equal marriage rights.- people don't have equal marriare rirhts. �* , , marriage rights. all this debt, all this blood, _ marriage rights. all this debt, all this blood, the _ marriage rights. all this debt, all this blood, the same, i marriage rights. all this debt, all this blood, the same, thel all this blood, the same, the same. no maters, homosexual people, it's the same. i do want to feel like i'm one of half citizen. i'm the same human as anyone. like, i pay the same tax and same, and yes, rocket can kill me the same way, like everybody else. this is the first _ way, like everybody else. this is the first pride _ way, like everybody else. this is the first pride march to be held since the start of the

water. an military campaigners are using this moment to back a new law to allow same—sex partnerships. as it stands, the partnerships. as it stands, the partners of those killed in combat are not entitled to collect their bodies. the marchers only allowed to move a few hundred metres, there is a risk of homophobic attack. this community is still battling against conservative views. even though the soldiers are challenging people's prejudices. challenging people's re'udices. a, ., , ,, . prejudices. ukrainians respect that and that _ prejudices. ukrainians respect that and that is _ prejudices. ukrainians respect that and that is why _ prejudices. ukrainians respect that and that is why they i prejudices. ukrainians respect that and that is why they are l that and that is why they are more — they became more inclusive to what soldiers are. but the celebrations are quickly wrapped up. as hundreds of protesters make their way to the symbolic square. this group

are far right protesters have just turned up to try and counter the pride march and they have been shouting incredibly offensive and homophobic slogans, the lgbt organisers are saying that they are not reflective of society, there was going to be people or homophobic, they said that society is growing more tolerant but this gives you a sense of of the opposition that they're up against. there is opposition in parliament two. the bill on same—sex partnerships have been blocked ljy partnerships have been blocked by conservative mps. and lgbt soldiers worry that the war might not provide the window for a change they hoped for. israel's top court says ultra—0rthodoxjewish religious students can be forced to take part in mandatory military service, from which they are currently exempt. top generals insist it's necessary to draft members of the fast—growing ultra—0rthodox community, in order to relieve troops fighting in gaza.

rabbi mordechai bloy is a yeshiva teacher. he's also a member of one of the parties propping up mr netanyahu's government. translation: today is a very difficult day for us, _ and the feeling in the ultra—0rthodox community is of humiliation, that the supreme court is trying to intervene and change world order. what do they want? studying the torah is not a recent thing, studying the torah has maintained the jewish people for thousands of years. we demand nothing but to study the torah. the country's opposition leader, yair lapid, welcomed the court's ruling. translation white. the shady deals are — translation white. the shady deals are over, _ translation white. the shady deals are over, the - translation white. the shady deals are over, the days i translation white. the shady l deals are over, the days when son shout will die are not served and others die because they served are over. the discrimination between blood and blood is over. we are at war on seven fronts. the idf doesn't have enough soldiers, lives of some reserve shoulders

have been broken apart due to the stress, if we don't fight together, we will die together. the torah is not an excuse for exemption. 0ur correspondent, sebastian usher has more from jerusalem. the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu is facing another big problem, this time, internally after israel's supreme court made highly significant ruling, essentially that ultraorthodox students will been exempt for decades essentially since the founding of israel from military service are now no longer exempt and needs to be conscripted by the army. it is a big social issue in israel but also political problem for mr netanyahu because his coalition relies on two ultraorthodox parties. there is a potential that if this builds, if we haven't seen it yet but if thousands of students from there are forced tojoin

students from there are forced to join the army against their will, that could lead to one or both of these political parties pulling out of the coalition which would bring it down and lead to elections which are summoned that mr netanyahu has been very much against all that is building pressure for that. internationally, as to netanyahu's defence minister neta nyahu's defence minister has netanyahu's defence minister has continued with his visit in washington, that is trying to smooth waters with the biden administration, they have been very much shaken by comment that mr netanyahu has made essentially accusing the us of reducing the numbers of weapons that it was given to israel so he has been there both to try and smooth that and also to talk about the next phase in gaza and potentially for next phase in the conflict between israel and hezbollah. the united states top doctor declared gun violence in america a public health crisis. us surgeon general vivek murthy�*s declaration is driven by the striking rise in gun deaths, which tripled

between 2010 and 2012. dr murthy�*s advisory, published tuesday, concludes... "the increasing number of children and adolescents "dying from firearm—related injuries and the reverberating "mental health impacts on society make firearm "violence." an urgent public health crisis in america. the report calls for stricter gun storage laws, background checks and licenses for gun buyers and better access to mental health and addiction treatment. its most striking reccomendation, though, is that the government should treat guns more like heavily—regulated products like cars, drugs and pesticides. the national rifle assocation said dr murthy�*s report was part of the biden administration's "war on law—abiding gun owners." but speaking to the bbc, dr murthy said his report is about depoliticising the issue. for a long time, this issue has been polarised, it's been politicised in the us but my hope is that we can take it out of the realm of politics and put it into the realm of public

health where it belongs, when i travel the country and i talk to people, all across america, people different backgrounds and beliefs to all ages, what i find is that there is broad agreement on the ground that we have to do something about that. nobody wants to worry about their children's safety when they go to school, nobody wants to be thinking twice when they go to church or synagogue where they go to the grocery store on the mould that their safety, their life will be put at risk and many of the strategies that are layout my advisory are common sense strategies that are broadly agreed upon by the medical and public health community so this is a problem we can address, wouldn't have to live like this, and my hope is that the advisory will help to see the path forward. let's turn to some important news around the world. after a lengthy debate, the majority of brazil's supreme court voted to decriminalise possession of marijuana for personal use. judges still need to decide how much cannabis will differentiate a casual user from a trafficker. 0nejudge said young black brazilians are disproportionately targeted for possessing small amounts of cannabis. powerful conservative movements are firmly opposed to any

decriminalization of the drug. the international criminal court issued an arrest warrant for russia's former defence minister, sergei shoigu, and the chief of general staff, valery gerasimov. the two men are accused of committing war crimes during the war in ukraine. russia's security council dismissed the warrants as "insignificant," saying the icc has no jurisdiction over russia. a parliamentary commission in poland reccomended decriminalizing abortion within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. poland had tighten it's rules to a near—total ban in 2020 that allows for abortion only in the case of rape, incest or if the life of the woman is endanger. the proposal will now move to the polish parliament for consideration later this year. and finally, a unique celebration with one of american sports' most iconic prizes. the florida panthers won the stanley cup on monday, us ice hockey�*s top honor, and they're already out celebrating by taking the trophy for a swim. this is matthew tkachuk bringing the cup for a dip in the atlantic ocean.

the panthers defeated the edmonton 0ilers on monday in game 7 to win the nhl playoffs. stay with us here on bbc news.

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.