this is bbc news, i'm shaun ley. the headlines: the battle to become the next prime minister. trade minister penny mordauntjoins former health secretaries, sajid javid and jeremy hunt, on the growing list of contenders in the conservative leadership contest. in ukraine, 15 people are killed in shelling on an apartment block in the donestk region in eastern ukraine. sri lanka's deepening economic crisis — the us appeals to politicians to act swiftly — as the president says he'll step down after huge demonstrations. the economic situation is not going to change overnight. it is going to be a difficult recovery period. the international community will need to come in and help and that is why the un was warning there is an impending humanitarian emergency.

this is the scene at wimbledon, as the two men in the singles final, novak djokovic and nick kyrgios line—up for the opening goal is to be played. and, temperatures rise around the uk — with some areas hitting 30 degrees today — and the heat expected to remain for much of the next week. the international trade minister, penny mordaunt, has become the ninth candidate to enter the conservative leadership contest. most candidates are focusing on their plans for the economy. the former health secretary, sajid javid, wants to bring forward the 1p income tax cut to next year.

both mrjavid and the former cabinet minister, jeremy hunt, are also pledging to reduce corporation tax from 19 to 15—percent. here's our political correspondent, david wallace lockhart. and then there were nine. trade minister penny mordaunt the latest to throw her hat in the ring to be the next tory leader. many candidates but one key issue — taxes. former health secretary sajid javid will cut them if he is prime minister, including a tax rise introduced to help the health service when he ran it. if we don't have the tax cuts we will not get growth, if we do not get growth we will not be able to sustain the public services. that is a much greater risk. in all my time in government, i have never come across a decision, especially the big decisions, that don't involve risk one way or the other. his rivaljeremy hunt promises a brexiteer deputy if he gets to number ten and is also pledging tax cuts, focusing on lowering the cost of business. treasury figures show you get about half the cost of corporation tax back

because of increased economic activity. if we keep the cycle, keep the fiscal rules we have but increase the length of the cycle to five years, we can afford these tax cuts. transport secretary grant shapps says there will be an emergency budget if party members pick him. i think it is very important in this cost of living squeeze that people get money back into their pockets, and quickly, so i would bring the tax cut slated for next year forward. five new candidates within 2a hours. chancellor nadhim zahawi is also running, and pledging lower taxes, like others. the field is starting to feel a bit crowded in this leadership contest and it is entirely possible that when senior conservative mps meet here at westminster tomorrow to decide on rules for the contest they decide to introduce a threshold for support from fellow mps that any

candidate would need to get even to get into the first round of voting. many candidates and more to come, with foreign secretary liz truss expected to declare a bid in the next 2a hours. david wallace lockhart, bbc news, westminster. joining me now is conservative mp rachel maclean, who's supporting sajid javid's leadership bid. she was minister for safeguarding until she resigned on wednesday, and also previously worked as mrjavid's parliamentary private secretary when he was chancellor. you know him well, can you sum up for me why at this moment, assuming he is in the contest, you will be voting for him in the first round? thank you for having me on, you're right to say i know him well. i work with him very closely into very significantjobs in the treasury, and also in the home office. the overriding thing for me, when i look for a candidate to support, is

integrity and honesty. someone who will tell the truth to the voters about the hard decisions that need to be taken to tackle the crises facing the country, but also about standards in public life. those are vital for us to repair the trust in our democracy. having taken the decision that sajid javid has those qualities, it was about who has the experience. this is not an apprenticeship, there is not time to learn on thejob. i apprenticeship, there is not time to learn on the job. i would have what was on offer, and out of all the candidates sajid javid was ahead of the rest, in terms of all experience, and i believe you can form a government and unite the party. form a government and unite the la . ., form a government and unite the .a . ., , ., party. you where they are when he resi . ned party. you where they are when he resigned as — party. you where they are when he resigned as chancellor _ party. you where they are when he resigned as chancellor very - party. you where they are when he resigned as chancellor very early i party. you where they are when he | resigned as chancellor very early on because he was unhappy with the idea of borisjohnson controlling his team in the treasury. he took a stand on principle, and then he went back in, and that still baffle some people. we back in, and that still baffle some --eole. ~ .

back in, and that still baffle some neale, . ., ., back in, and that still baffle some --eole. ~ . ., ., back in, and that still baffle some --eole. ~ ., ., ., , ., back in, and that still baffle some n-eole. ~ ., ., ., , ., ., people. we have had a period of time where we have _ people. we have had a period of time where we have been _ people. we have had a period of time where we have been in _ people. we have had a period of time where we have been in government, | where we have been in government, and we have taken the decision, for the good of the country, to serve that democratic mandate that the prime minister was elected under absent very difficult times. when you serve in a government you accept collective responsibility, and that is you do. the prime minister has an exceptional record, he had an enormous mandate, he had that democratic consent of the people, and that is why we all took the decision is that we did to serve the prime minister. he would have to ask every single individual, but there was a global health crisis, there was a global health crisis, there was a global health crisis, there was a war in ukraine, and we looked at the prime minister's record, and he did have a fantastic record of connecting with people and getting us through the pandemic and getting the economy back on track, but it was clear with the cascade of the latest events that have ta ken was clear with the cascade of the latest events that have taken place, it was clear that he had lost the confidence of the whole party so he would not be able to govern in any kind of sensible way. to)»:

would not be able to govern in any kind of sensible way.— would not be able to govern in any kind of sensible way. tax seems to be the issue _ kind of sensible way. tax seems to be the issue at _ kind of sensible way. tax seems to be the issue at the _ kind of sensible way. tax seems to be the issue at the moment - kind of sensible way. tax seems to be the issue at the moment that i kind of sensible way. tax seems to be the issue at the moment that is| be the issue at the moment that is dividing the candidates. it is understandable in terms of conservative politics why that would be the case. is it in public interest to talk about these issues, at a time when the economy is in crisis? you might say, as boris johnson said, i believe in principle and cutting taxes, but tax cuts is something that may not be affordable at the moment? this something that may not be affordable at the moment?— at the moment? this is a central ara ument at the moment? this is a central argument that — at the moment? this is a central argument that faces _ at the moment? this is a central argument that faces anyone - at the moment? this is a central argument that faces anyone in i at the moment? this is a central l argument that faces anyone in this race, it is right that we are having these arguments, because they go directly to the challenges that people are grappling with. people are grappling with how much money is in their pockets, what is the money in their pockets, what is the money in their pockets actually worth, and this is where tax cuts are vitally important. at the moment, the

biggest portion of everybody�*s household income is spent on the government. but household income is spent on the government-— government. but it is spent on thins. government. but it is spent on things- that — government. but it is spent on things. that increase - government. but it is spent on things. that increase in - government. but it is spent on | things. that increase in national insurance, which if i understand correctly, he would choose to reverse, was to fund the covid recovery for the nhs, and eventually social care. if cutting that is scrapping that, what happens to those services? they will instantly lose a great deal of money, or lose money over the next two to three years, how will he find that money, or is he saying you will have to live without it?— or is he saying you will have to live without it? no, sorry. there's a hue live without it? no, sorry. there's a huge amount — live without it? no, sorry. there's a huge amount of— live without it? no, sorry. there's a huge amount of detail _ live without it? no, sorry. there's a huge amount of detail behind i live without it? no, sorry. there's i a huge amount of detail behind sajid javid's pitch, and he will be setting that out. it is absolutely right that people interrogate those arguments. everything that he has set out has been based on his experience, don't forget he's been running the health service for the last year, he has been overseeing it during a period where he has turned around the issue of waiting less, he

is starting to make real progress they are, and before that he was in they are, and before that he was in the treasury, so he knows what it means. he knows what public services need, but he also understands that in order to fund public services you need to have growth in the economy. that takes me back to my point that tax cuts are a long way round. jeremy hunt says that you need to get the growth first, then you cut the taxes. if you cut the taxes now, it is one of those fairy tales that rishi sunak was talking about, it is promising something that won't work? i don't agree with that. what we need to do is stimulate the economy now, stimulate the conditions to create business growth, and you do that by cutting corporation tax. you also need to stimulate the conditions for people to have confidence to go out and spend, and make purchases on their own household budgets, and have the certainty to afford to pay their bills. that brings confidence in the

economy, that drives growth, and thatis economy, that drives growth, and that is what confidence will do in the short term. i think what is important is, as well as having this debate, which we are having there about spending and taxes, it is very important that we think about who is going to take us forward and who is going to make the decisions, not only now, in the middle of a leadership competition, but most importantly when it comes to the general election. that is again why i go back to sajid javid, we are looking at her specific set of circumstances that faces now, but we'll be looking at different ones now. i have to believe that the leader i pick can unite the whole party behind the conservative vision,... party behind the conservative vision-u— party behind the conservative vision,... , ., ., vision,... just one last thought, are ou vision,... just one last thought, are you worried _ vision,... just one last thought, are you worried there _ vision,... just one last thought, are you worried there are - vision,... just one last thought, are you worried there are too i vision,... just one last thought, i are you worried there are too many candidates at the moment? hat are you worried there are too many candidates at the moment?- candidates at the moment? not at all, ithink candidates at the moment? not at all. i think it _ candidates at the moment? not at all, i think it is — candidates at the moment? not at all, i think it is fantastic _ candidates at the moment? not at all, i think it is fantastic for - candidates at the moment? not at all, i think it is fantastic for the i all, i think it is fantastic for the party. there are so many talented people in the party, we have an outstanding slate of people. it demonstrates the breadth in our

party, some of whom might not be household names but will become so, and rightly so. this light will be whittled down within a matter of days, and then members will get their say on the final two.- their say on the final two. thank ou ve their say on the final two. thank you very much _ their say on the final two. thank you very much for _ their say on the final two. thank you very much for your- their say on the final two. thank you very much for your time. i at least 15 people are believed to have died after a residential apartment block was destroyed by russian shelling in the donetsk region in eastern ukraine. a rescue operation is under way — the regional state emergency service told the bbc at least 20 people are thought to still be under the rubble in the town of chasiv yar, including one child. ukrainian officials say russian missile and rocket strikes have caused more widespread damage in towns and cities across the country's eastern and southern regions. our correspondentjoe inwood has the latest. now, at the moment, the russians say they are taking what's known as an operational pause, essentially slowing down their attempted advances, to regroup their forces after punishing assaults

of the last few weeks, but that doesn't mean there's been an end to missile strikes and shelling right across ukraine, places like kryvyi rih, zaporizhzhia and mykolaiv have seen strikes over the last 2a hours, and in the town of chasiv yar in the donetsk region there was a strike late yesterday evening, just after nine o'clock. according to the regional governor, a 5—storey building was brought down by a multiple launch rocket system. a number of people have been killed, some pulled out of the wreckage, and it thought around 30 people are still trapped under the rubble. emergency services are said to be on the scene trying to look for survivors, but it seems, whatever the operational pause the russians are taking on the ground, the difficulties and the trauma for the people of the donbas continues. the united states has appealed to sri lanka's politicians to act promptly to resolve their country's economic crisis. an announcement that the sri lankan president, gotobaya rajapaksa, would step down on wednesday, came after protesters seized his official residence and set the prime minister's

home on fire. the country is dealing with rampant inflation and food, fuel and medicine imports are drying up. our south asia editor, anbarasan ethirajan, is in colombo outside the presidential office... a day after some dramatic developments here in the sri lankan capital colombo, hundreds of people, men, women and families are coming here to have a look at the president's office which was stormed by hundreds of protesters. and these protests have been going on for months. it started as protests against the escalating cost of living. and then, people blamed the government of president gotabaya rajapaksa and the ministers for mishandling the economy. now, president rajapaksa has entered through the speaker of parliament that he's willing to step down, but we haven't heard anything directly from him. the next step for sri lanka

is to choose a new prime minister and then president, and that's why politicians are holding meetings throughout the day and tomorrow to see how this political turmoil can be solved, because the country is facing a crisis, huge crisis. it is bankrupt. they have no money, no foreign currency reserves, which means they are struggling to import fuel, food and medicine. and whoever is going to come to power next, they are going to face the challenge because the loan from imf, the emergency bailout package, it will take months before the money can be transferred to sri lanka. so they have to work out a plan, how they are going to get foreign currency reserves so that they can address the immediate needs of the people here.

a quick update from the prime minister ofjapan, he has said in the last few minutes that he will focus his efforts of the new parliament in putting together a bill that can be discussed on constitutional revision. this is one of the things that will now be seen as shinzo abe's legacy, he wanted to change the constitution which is effectively imposed on the japanese by the americans when they occupied japan after the second world war. a lot of the japanese people feel that it is outdated, notjust in terms of pacifism, but also in terms of what is happening in terms ofjapan's sense of its real identity. sunday's general election is taking place, and we are talking now well to discuss this further i'm now

joined by david caprara, who is a freealance journalist based injapan. what impact do you think the shooting of shinzo abe has had on today's election? i shooting of shinzo abe has had on today's election?— today's election? i made a visit to in front of — today's election? i made a visit to in front of the _ today's election? i made a visit to in front of the train _ today's election? i made a visit to in front of the train station - today's election? i made a visit to in front of the train station where | in front of the train station where shinzo abe was shot, and there was this endless line of mourners offering their condolences at a shrine that has been set up. a politician who was beside shinzo abe at the moment he was shot was offering his apologies there, and everybody has been offering the respects, putting politics aside. in terms of the election, the ruling liberal democratic party, which shinzo abe was a part of, they were predicted to win this upper house election, but it is the lower house which has the more power injapan.

the ldp is predicted to win a majority, as expected, but the real function here, i think shinzo abe's passing had some effect on it. his larger legacy, his father is also caring for his grandfather, but you mentioned this reform of the pacifist articles, of japan's constitution, this has been in place since the constitution was created, japan has not been able to have a standing army since after the war, and this was the biggest goal that shinzo abe as prime minister, which he wasn't able to accomplish. if he achieves this, _ he wasn't able to accomplish. if he achieves this, which _ he wasn't able to accomplish. if he achieves this, which would be

remarkable, because shinzo abe had more clout than any prime minister anyone can remember in post—war japan, he was an extraordinary figure, but if the prime minister can achieve that that has big implications in the region, presumably china would not be pleased to have japan with an army? that is correct, there is definitely a very firm stance. that being said, i think this idea of constitutional revision, the ruling liberal democratic party that is in place has basically been in place since it was created in 1955. it has held the majority almost consistently since then, it is not this huge swing of governments, taking place every four years in the united states and in

other countries. that being said, the prime minister himself, and what was said before shinzo abe was in power was that there is a revolving door of prime ministers, and this is kind of what it has returned to. i think most people living in the uk might not even know who the prime minister is here. shinzo abe was prime minister twice, the second term for nearly a decade, that stability that was created, his politics aside, he was able to form connections around the world that other prime ministerjust didn't have. his absence, even though he had stepped down as prime minister, and others had stepped in, he was still very influential behind—the—scenes, and his powerfor pushing forward for this constitutional revision, reforming article nine of the constitution.

one thing that he pushed for was a doubling of the defence budget, and with his absence, it remains to be known how this is going to be carried forward.— known how this is going to be carried forward. ., ,, , ., , . carried forward. thank you very much for “oininu carried forward. thank you very much forjoining us- — carried forward. thank you very much forjoining us- i _ carried forward. thank you very much forjoining us. i gather— carried forward. thank you very much forjoining us. i gather there - carried forward. thank you very much forjoining us. i gather there is - carried forward. thank you very much forjoining us. i gather there is a - forjoining us. i gather there is a vigilforformer prime forjoining us. i gather there is a vigil for former prime minister shinzo abe tomorrow night. the met office has issued a level three heatwave alert for parts of england. from nine o'clock tomorrow morning until friday, temperatures could get as high as 32 degrees celsius. people are being encouraged to drink plenty of water, wear sun cream and limit time spent in the sun. our correspondent helena wilkinson, has this report from southend—on—sea. southend—on—sea, basking in the hotjuly sun. crowds began arriving here from early this morning,

hoping to secure the best spot for a day at the seaside. we came from london, an hour away, and we came because it is really hot, so we came to enjoy the beach and go in the water. lovely to come down on a lovely hot day, lovely to relax and chill with the grandchildren. you start getting a bit hot, - so when you go to the beach you can swim in the sea and you cool off. by mid—morning the temperature here had reached 21 celsius. it will get hotter as the day goes on. the high temperatures will continue next week across most of the country. parents and carers have been reminded to make sure children are well protected. just being a bit careful, making sure there is plenty of shade if they are feeling a bit overheated. short bursts in the sunshine, covering them top to toe in suncream, regular re—applications of that and also having light clothing on top as well. as temperatures rise, heat health alerts have been issued

by the uk health security agency. they will remain in place until friday. we are all being reminded to check on vulnerable family, friends and neighbours, and particularly people with dementia. somebody who might have memory loss problems, they often forget to drink, may have difficulties getting up and getting themselves a drink, it means they are more likely to become dehydrated so we really want people to do is check on people they know with dementia, if you are a carer, a family member or friend, pop in and make sure they can access fluids. for those who enjoy the heat, the advice is to drink plenty of water, don't stay in the sun for too long and apply lots of sun cream. helena wilkinson, bbc news, southend—on—sea. the temperature is also hotting up in the north of england — jessica lane is in bradford for us.

i hope you are following the good advice. , , ., _, , advice. definitely, of course, aren't we _ advice. definitely, of course, aren't we all? _ advice. definitely, of course, aren't we all? it's _ advice. definitely, of course, aren't we all? it's lovely - advice. definitely, of course,| aren't we all? it's lovely here advice. definitely, of course, i aren't we all? it's lovely here in the park in bradford as well. this is a really popular place to come. we have had lots of families going out on boats in the boating lake, there is also the children's play area, a fantastic gallery and some fountains too. for once, the heatwave has come at the weekend, which means people can get out and enjoy it. significantly, for bradford, it is also the first weekend of eid, so lots of people have been saying they have been delighted to get out and enjoy the festival with family and friends. too warm, we need the trees to protect— too warm, we need the trees to protect us _ too warm, we need the trees to protect us. i'm going to get an ice cream _ protect us. i'm going to get an ice cream. �* , ., . . ., ., cream. i've been eating ice cream to cool down- —

cream. i've been eating ice cream to cool down. what _ cream. i've been eating ice cream to cool down. what have _ cream. i've been eating ice cream to cool down. what have you _ cream. i've been eating ice cream to cool down. what have you been - cream. i've been eating ice cream to i cool down. what have you been coming down for today? _ cool down. what have you been coming down for today? the _ cool down. what have you been coming down for today? the sun! _ cool down. what have you been coming down for today? the sun! i _ cool down. what have you been coming down for today? the sun! i like - cool down. what have you been coming down for today? the sun! i like it - down for today? the sun! i like it when it is — down for today? the sun! i like it when it is sunny _ down for today? the sun! i like it when it is sunny in _ down for today? the sun! i like it when it is sunny in the _ down for today? the sun! i like it when it is sunny in the leather, i when it is sunny in the leather, because — when it is sunny in the leather, because the _ when it is sunny in the leather, because the weather— when it is sunny in the leather, because the weather is - when it is sunny in the leather, because the weather is really. when it is sunny in the leather, - because the weather is really nice. what _ because the weather is really nice. what you _ because the weather is really nice. what you need _ because the weather is really nice. what you need to _ because the weather is really nice. what you need to remember? - because the weather is really nice. what you need to remember? go. because the weather is really nice. i what you need to remember? go in because the weather is really nice. what you need to remember? go in the fountain and — what you need to remember? go in the fountain and go — what you need to remember? go in the fountain and go in _ what you need to remember? go in the fountain and go in the _ what you need to remember? go in the fountain and go in the swimming - fountain and go in the swimming uooi~ _ fountain and go in the swimming ool. �* . , fountain and go in the swimming ool, �* ., , ., fountain and go in the swimming ool. �* ., , ., ., fountain and go in the swimming ool. ~ ., , ., ., ., pool. and that is a great idea, isn't it? luckily, _ pool. and that is a great idea, isn't it? luckily, we _ pool. and that is a great idea, isn't it? luckily, we have - pool. and that is a great idea, isn't it? luckily, we have lots| pool. and that is a great idea, i isn't it? luckily, we have lots of trees here, so we can get lots of shade, because as you have been hearing, we should get out and enjoy the weather, but we do need to make sure, particularly with children, older people, and pets, that they can get lots of water, and they can get in the shade when they need to. don't forget people like me who have not got very much here on top, we need to take particular care!

let's head to wimbledon for the men's singles final, because it is gotten under way. we men's singles final, because it is gotten under way.— men's singles final, because it is gotten under way. we started these championships _ gotten under way. we started these championships in _ gotten under way. we started these championships in the _ gotten under way. we started these championships in the cold _ gotten under way. we started these championships in the cold rain, - gotten under way. we started these championships in the cold rain, but| championships in the cold rain, but here we are, ending it in a heatwave, but i won't rub it in any longer, but let's see what is happening on centre court, because nick kyrgios and novak djokovic are under way. nick kyrgios and novak djokovic are underway. novak nick kyrgios and novak djokovic are under way. novak djokovic trying to win his 21st single's title, it is to games each, and novak djokovic is just trying to hold onto his serve early doors. the top seed here, he did start this match with a double fault, but his numbers are extraordinary, he has won 38 consecutive matches on centre court,

he is trying to win his seventh wimbledon title, which would bring him level with pete sampras. nick kyrgios did not play his semifinal with rafael nadal, and djokovic has double—faulted again, and nick kyrgios has broken him, he has never won a grand slam, he has never been in the final of any of the four majors, and it is 3—2, djokovic broken. it majors, and it is 3-2, d'okovic broken. , . , majors, and it is 3-2, d'okovic broken. , ., , ., majors, and it is 3-2, d'okovic broken. , ., ., broken. it is a very hot day, and some people's _ broken. it is a very hot day, and some people's tempers - broken. it is a very hot day, and some people's tempers get - broken. it is a very hot day, and some people's tempers get a i broken. it is a very hot day, and | some people's tempers get a bit rough and hot weather, i include myself in that, but nick kyrgios has kept his cool quite effectively

recently. do you detect a change, and will that help him on this occasion, against a famously cool challenger? it occasion, against a famously cool challenger?— challenger? it is interesting with nick kyrgios. — challenger? it is interesting with nick kyrgios, because _ challenger? it is interesting with nick kyrgios, because we - challenger? it is interesting with nick kyrgios, because we have l challenger? it is interesting with i nick kyrgios, because we have seen pretty much every side of him across these championships. on centre court, a more serious court, if you like, he has been more considered. when he played the british player pauljubb, we saw all the typical nick kyrgios signs, he spat in the direction of a ball boy, he was later fined, direction of a ball boy, he was laterfined, and direction of a ball boy, he was later fined, and there was a circus against stefanos tsitsipas, often when he looks like he is going to lose that is when we get more of that stuff from nick kyrgios, the stuff that many people say that he does not need, all of that bluster

and frustration. some will say that is part of him, that is where he gets his nervous energy out, but what is fascinating from him today, is that he has not played on a grand slam final before, he has spoken to us about feeling anxious and nervous, he understands the magnitude of playing in a wimbledon final. but he has also say he has put more time into his tennis, previously he has called himself a part—time tennis player, he doesn't put in the same work that fed were or djokovic or nebel has, but winning the australian doubles title earlier this year has given him focus, and i think that has helped him. he was working with the former wimbledon champion before these championships. in 2014, before he played rafael nadal, he said that he was in the pub. i can guarantee that he was not doing that last night. it will be interesting to see, in the heat, if this match does turn, and

if djokovic is in charge, what will we see from nick kyrgios. he has the talent to win this match. keep we see from nick kyrgios. he has the talent to win this match.— talent to win this match. keep your cool, ou talent to win this match. keep your cool. you can _ talent to win this match. keep your cool, you can head _ talent to win this match. keep your cool, you can head to _ talent to win this match. keep your cool, you can head to the pub - talent to win this match. keep your| cool, you can head to the pub later. we have had the weather in london, the weather on the coast, and the weather in yorkshire, but here's the weather in yorkshire, but here's the weather everywhere else. it's been the hottest day of the year so far in scotland, more cloud in northern ireland, but it is hotter yesterday in england and wales, temperatures properly making 29 or 30 degrees. the heat is under the area of high pressure, will have sun sign today, not much happening overnight, temperatures dipping to

11 to 13 degrees, a bit warmer than last night probably in south—eastern areas of england. strong hot sunshine to come, a breeze in the north—west pushing some cloud toward scotland and northern ireland, no breeze at all in england and wales, temperatures continuing rise, not so hot around coastal areas, and a little bit cooler in scotland and northern ireland. hello, this is bbc news — the headlines. the battle to become the next prime minister. trade minister penny mordauntjoins former health secretaries, sajid javid and jeremy hunt, on the growing list of contenders in the conservative leadership contest. at least 15 people have been killed after a residential apartment block was destroyed by russian shelling, in the donestk region in eastern ukraine.