australians prepare for a fourth consecutive rate hike. we ta ke we take look at how the lives of new are being changed. welcome to asia business report. we begin in australia, where more pain could be on the horizon for mortgage holders. recent figures show the annual inflation is above 6%. catherine birch is a senior economist and she expects the

bank of australia to lift region aggressively. we are expecting — region aggressively. we are expecting to _ region aggressively. we are expecting to lift _ region aggressively. we are expecting to lift the - region aggressively. we are expecting to lift the cash i region aggressively. we are i expecting to lift the cash rate a further 50 points. it would be the highest since 2016. when ou look be the highest since 2016. when you look at _ be the highest since 2016. when you look at the _ be the highest since 2016. when you look at the pain _ be the highest since 2016. when you look at the pain that - be the highest since 2016. when you look at the pain that lots - you look at the pain that lots of mortgage holders are likely to experience as a result, what you see as the sort of knock on impact of spending from a higher interest rate. we think that growth — higher interest rate. we think that growth will _ higher interest rate. we think that growth will slow - higher interest rate. we think that growth will slow as - higher interest rate. we think that growth will slow as well. | that growth will slow as well. but we think it's going to hold it for a little while even as rates rise. people are still... spending more on discretionary good and services. we also have

a very strong labour market. we think it's going to fall further. most people who want a job either have one or find us job either have one or find us job quickly, starts to start deterioration. it job quickly, starts to start deterioration. it surprising that you've _ deterioration. it surprising that you've painted - deterioration. it surprising that you've painted this i that you've painted this picture are spending i want to cross out to a story we've been reporting on... we can listen in. this was bin laden�*s leader. he was his number two men. he was

deeply involved in the planning of 9/11. murdered 2977 people on american soil. for decades, he was a mastermind of client attacks against americans, including the bombing of uss cole in 2000 which killed 17 american sailors. and wounded dozens more. killing 224 and wounding over 4500 others. american service members, american service members, american diplomats, and american diplomats, and american interests. since the united states deliverjustice united states deliver justice to united states deliverjustice to bin laden 11 years ago, zawahiri has been the leader of al-qaeda. all around the world, including priorities for operational guidance that call

for an attack against targets. he made videos, including calling for his allies to attack ours. now, justice has been delivered and this terrorist leader is no more. people around the world no longer need to figure this killer. the united states and used to demonstrate our capacity... we make it clear again tonight that no matter how long it takes, no matter where you hide, if you are a threat to our people, the united states will find you and take you out. we've been seeking zawahiri for years under president bush, 0bama and trump. he moved to downtown kabul to reunite with immediate

family after carefully considering clear and convincing evidence of his location. i authorise a strike that would remove him from the battlefield once and for all. this mission was carefully planned, rigorously minimising the risk of harms, and one week ago, we were can advised that the conditions were optimal, i gave the final order to go get him in the mission was a success. his family members were hurt. i'm sharing this now after confirming the mission�*s total success to the painstaking success of our key allies and partners. my administration has kept leaders informed as well. when i ended our mission in afghanistan, i made a decision that after 20 years of war, the united states no longer needs thousands of

boots on the ground in afghanistan to andi boots on the ground in afghanistan to and i made a promise to the american people that we continue to conduct effective operations in afghanistan and beyond. we've donejust afghanistan and beyond. we've done just that. afghanistan and beyond. we've donejust that. in february, our forces conducted a mission in syria that eliminated the mayor of isis —— leader of isis. last month, we took out another leader. now we have eliminated the leader of al-qaeda. he will never again allow afghanistan to become a terrorist safe haven because he is gone and we're going to make sure nothing else happens. you know, it can't be a launching pad against the united states. this operation is a clear demonstration that we will, we can, we will always make good on a solemn pledge. my administration will continue to

monitor and address threats from al-qaeda no matter where they emanate from. as commander—in—chief, it is my solemn responsibility to make america safe in a dangerous world. the united states did not seek this war against terror, he came to us. we answered with the same principles and resolved that have shaped us for generations upon generations. to protect the innocent, defend liberty, and we keep the light of freedom burning, a beacon for the rest of the entire world, because this is a great and defining truth about our nation and people. we do not break. we never given. we never back down. last year in september 11th, i once more paid my respects to ground zero. standing in the memorial at ground zero, seeing the names of those who died forever etched in bronze is a powerful

reminder of the sacred promise we made as a nation. we will never forget. we made as a nation. we will neverforget. "no day we made as a nation. we will never forget. "no day shell or a shoe from the memory of time." —— schaller race you. we continue to mourn every innocent life that was stolen —— shall erase. friends and co—workers... 0n —— shall erase. friends and co—workers... on that day, it is my hope that this action will bring one more measure of closure. no day shall erase them from the memory of time. today and every day, i'm so grateful for the support atreus —— the per patriots in this community. —— superb. they never forget. community. —— superb. they

neverforget. those community. —— superb. they never forget. those women and men who work tirelessly every day to keep our country safe and prevent future tragedies. it is thanks to their extraordinary consistency and skill that this operation is a success. it made us all safer and to those around the world that continue to seek to harm the united states, hear me now — we will always remain vigilant and we will act and we will always do what is necessary to ensure the safety and security of americans at home and around the globe. today, we remember the loss, we commit ourselves to the safety of the living and we pledge that we shall never waiver from defending our nation as people. thank you all and may god protect our troops and all those who served in harm's way. we will never give up.— we will never give up. studio: we've just _ we will never give up. studio: we've just been _ we will never give up. studio: we've just been listening - we will never give up. studio: we've just been listening to . we've just been listening to president biden with that breaking news, confirming that

the al-qaeda chief ayman al—zawahiri has been killed. president biden said the terrorist leader is no more. no reason to believe anyone else was killed. he also said the us continues to commit to resolve around the world and made it clear again tonight in his remarks that no matter how long it takes, we will find you, he said, and he will —— we will take you out. mark lobel has been listening to that press conference as well, following the latest developments. he joins me from the newsroom. just like myself, you were listening in, and i was struck by the sorts of things we heard from president biden. a very strong and stoic defence of what the us defence has been doing and how he believes this was an important mission to carry out, describing how it was carried out.— carry out, describing how it was carried out. that's right, a big moment. _

was carried out. that's right, a big moment. of— was carried out. that's right, a big moment. of course, i a big moment. of course, president biden was vice president at the time of the 9/11 attacks. this was revenge for the nearly 3000 people killed in 9/11 because ayman al—zawahiri was the mastermind behind them. revenge also because he was involved when other strikes on americans. 17 sailors killed they are in the canyon and tanzanian bombings. —— canyon. —— kenyan. 0sama bin laden was killed in plane site. i remember visiting the site in 2011, and i sold the house that he was living in and there was that us navy helicopter that landed, and they took out 0sama bin laden in plain sight. there was a huge public pathway past the house. sounds like there was a similar type of attack in

the sense that ayman al—zawahiri living in downtown kabul with his family, president biden said. the taliban said it was a residential area and they said a drawn site, —— drone strike, and biden said a precision strike. he said it probably took place over the weekend. suggesting that no other civilians were killed, i know my other family members were killed. —— no otherfamily members. a very significant killing that will affect the al-qaeda group. this is in a group we've been focusing on as much as the islamic state recently, but what they had was a very significant member of the group leaving them. the other question that comes from this will be who will leave them in the future, and will they have somebody of his stature that can take over? one would assume probably not, so that kind of adds to the

success for president biden. indeed, and as you point out, one of the other things president biden was very keen to stress in that speech, and the comments i found interesting, he said when he ended the military operation in afghanistan, he made the decision we didn't need boots on the ground in afghanistan, and a promise to the american people that we would have effective counterterrorism. using this mission as an example that he has kept his promise to the american people at a time that, let's face it, politically, he isn't in the best of times. he's had low approval ratings and had to try and shore up confidence with his voters coming into that crucial midterm election. how significant do you think this mission is in the context of all of it?— all of it? well, one of the reasons _ all of it? well, one of the

reasons his approval - all of it? well, one of the i reasons his approval ratings are low is because of the botched withdrawal of afghanistan last year. if you combine that with the original reason that the americans went into afghanistan, it was at the time consider the home of al-qaeda before the 9/11 attacks, which is why the americans went in with the first place. he square the circle and come around where he's able to remove another leader of al-qaeda from the place in which they launched the 9/11 attacks. 0ne place in which they launched the 9/11 attacks. one of the huge fears when the taliban took over afghanistan last year was that they would harbour terrorists there. they may still be true in terms of the islamic state, but when it comes to al-qaeda, for him to have taken out the leader of al-qaeda, albeit with cia intelligence and probably with a drone strike, this is going to look very good for president

biden. this is certainly something that he's going to refer to as they approach the midterms soon.— refer to as they approach the midterms soon. indeed. mark, 'ust to midterms soon. indeed. mark, just to say _ midterms soon. indeed. mark, just to say that _ midterms soon. indeed. mark, just to say that we _ midterms soon. indeed. mark, just to say that we have - midterms soon. indeed. mark, just to say that we have heard | just to say that we have heard from the taliban with regards to the us operation, and just to the us operation, and just to remind our viewers, they set a clear violation of international offence hasn't taken place. i'm quoting from a taliban spokesperson who said such actions are repetition —— repetition of the failed experience of the past 20 years and against the interests of the us, afghanistan and the region. alluding to those very difficult, which is an understatement, ties between the sides. i think it's also worth pointing out at this point that the united states has been in an attempt to try and find a way to come to some sort of solution of resolution to this crisis for decades now.

lots of experts say to us that in fact what's going to come about as a result is just another leader for the al-qaeda group to possibly dash, possibly somebody with not as much influence. i wonder if we had a sense of that from the speech today. he seemed to express that the united states would need no stone unturned to make sure americans are safe. exactly, he's referred in the speech to a number of strikes that have taken place against members of the islamic state, but he's really unpacked a key relationship that existed in afghanistan for the last seven years. we have the new leader of al-qaeda, emphasising the strong ties they had with the taliban. the taliban came out and said this is more of

america's failures they have seen over the past 20 years, and it's unsurprising. why wouldn't they say that? they were harbouring this person within their society. but i think this goes a long way to show that america can get deep into afghan society and can control their own security narrative. i think going forward, it will be interesting to see how president biden hopes to take forward relations with the taliban. we have reported numerous leak about the tense relationship, be it over women's rights in afghanistan and the americans holding back humanitarian aid, and not wanting to support the taliban, who they fear have gone back on many of their promises that they gave the americans since taking over. they will remain highly suspicious of the taliban, and the nature of the islamic state in parts of the country. the taliban are not in charge of

the islamic state. there are numerous examples of where the state had been attacking the taliban and trying to make sure the —— make their life difficult. this is going to be something that encourage the americans that they have got good intelligence around the world, and this is certainly one of the biggest achievements from the american military and intelligence services to date of counterterrorism. indeed, and i think— of counterterrorism. indeed, and i think they _ of counterterrorism. indeed, and i think they will - of counterterrorism. indeed, and i think they will try - of counterterrorism. indeed, and i think they will try and l and i think they will try and position it in that way. just a reminderfor our position it in that way. just a reminder for our viewers, we arejust tuning in. the us has killed the leader of al-qaeda, ayman al—zawahiri, and a counterterrorism operation in afghanistan that's coming from presidentjoe biden. he was killed in a drone strike carried out by the cia on sunday. president biden said mr ayman al—zawahiri had carved a

trail of murder and violence and justice has been delivered, and justice has been delivered, and this terrorist leader is no more. mark, ijust want to bring you in here. this has come at a critical time for the us president. talk us through some of the challenges he's been facing politically and how much this might speak or reflect on his presidency as a legacy moment for him. president biden has been struggling on many fronts. he's affected by the downturn in the world economy, which is a by—product of the war in ukraine. he's also been trying to bring key pieces of legislation through the us congress and has been struggling on that front, too, and he's also been beset by many decisions that have come out of the supreme court, which is probably one of the largest legacies of the trump presidency. he hasn't come across as a leader that is in control of much of the

direction of where he wanted to take the country. so, this is certainly going to give him a boost and we'll be looking at how that plays out in the midterms coming up shortly. mark lobel, thank you so much forjoining us on the programme with your analysis and with the very latest. i believe we can go to kabul and join our correspondent there, secunder kermani, who's been watching developments as they come in fast and furious. great to get you on the programme. we've heard from president biden in the last few minutes or so. what can you tell us? look, it's late night, _ what can you tell us? look, it's late night, early - what can you tell us? look, | it's late night, early morning here. it's around 4am local time. we haven't had any reaction come into president biden's comments, but early on tonight, taliban officials announced that the drone strike that had been carried out, they

initially said it was a rocket attack that landed in an empty house. they said their investigation determined it was carried out by us drone strike, but they made no mention of any victims, certainly no mention of ayman al—zawahiri or all al-qaeda at all. we'll have to wait and see if the taliban response. this killing of ayman al—zawahiri really does get to the crux of the relationship that the very, very antagonistic relationship that there's always been between the taliban and the united states, and that's because if you cast your mind back to 2001, the reason why they were overthrown by the by the us was because al-qaeda had its haven here in afghanistan. they use afghanistan. they use afghanistan as a base from which to plot the 9/11 attacks. before american troops withdrew, the taliban and

america signed a deal in paving the way for that withdrawal. as part of that deal, the taliban committed to not allowing foreign militant groups to use afghan soil to plot attacks abroad or on the west, but it was never clear what they were going to do with al-qaeda because the taliban and al-qaeda have always been close allies. it never seemed likely like they were going to turn against their old former allies, but certainly, it did seem as if they did not want groups like al-qaeda to be plotting attacks from afghanistan against the west. it was very surprising for many people in afghanistan to learn that ayman al—zawahiri was here in kabul and has long believed to have been in the region between, but the fact that he was here in kabul according to credible reports, either in a house belonging to a senior member of the taliban or next to a house belonging to that

member, that really suggests complicity with at least element of the taliban and ayman al—zawahiri and presumably other members of al-qaeda being here. it would appear to be impossible for him to be here without their knowledge. we have seen in the past few months and this year ayman al—zawahiri releasing more and more propaganda videos on behalf of al-qaeda, suggesting that his communication, his ability to get his message out to the outside world had improved since the taliban took over last year. al-qaeda had celebrated the taliban take over that took place last august. now i think we'll how to wait —— we will have to wait and see to see how everyone responds once the administration official says in the background briefing that it seems clear that members of the

taliban, at least some, were aware of ayman al—zawahiri here. they also said dialogue with the taliban will continue. i don't want you to get you to suspect elite, but given what you just you described, it gives reward difficult relationship —— to speculate. we have heard from a taliban spokesperson describing the operation as a clear violation of international principles, saying quote unquote, such actions are rep position of the field experience of the last 20 years. we would expect the taliban to say something like this, butjust in terms of the possible trust that could have been built tween the two sides, is there any hope of that or wasn't nonexistent?- wasn't nonexistent? that statement _ wasn't nonexistent? that statement from - wasn't nonexistent? that statement from the - wasn't nonexistent? that l statement from the taliban spokes man came out a few hours

ago before news had an urge that the leader of al-qaeda was killed in this drone strike. it was a backstage that the spokesman confirmed that what was described as a rocket attack was indeed carried out by a us drone strike, so we haven't yet had taliban reaction to news specifically of ayman al—zawahiri being killed. we'll be getting that in the next few hours people as begin to wake up here. but you're right, what this will do to the trust, the already terrible relationship between america and the taliban, we'll have to see. that will be one that many people are waiting to see how it pans out, given that problems in it —— given the problems in it —— given the problems in it —— given the problems in this country. i know you'll be watching all of that very closely as afghanistan wakes up. just a

reminder of that breaking news, president biden saying a us drone strike has killed the ical delight —— al-qaeda leader, ayman al—zawahiri. we will have much more on the story on bbc news coming up. hello, then. of course, july 2022 will be remembered for the first time the uk saw temperatures widely in excess of 40 celsius. however, it's also been a very dry month — and in southern england, it's been the driestjuly on record — those records date back to 1836 by the met office. now, anywhere in the brown has seen below—average rainfall, but the darker brown's way below the average rainfall totals for this time of year, and 1—2 stations along the south coast have not seen any measurable rain. now, if you can see over the next few days, we won't see any rainfall either across the far south and east. the heaviest of the rain will be out to the north and west — that's because you're closest to an area of low pressure that's moving in at the moment. the isobars squeezing together, it'll turn pretty windy, and it will be quite wet as well.

so that means it could be a pretty damp start for the commonwealth games in birmingham, but quickly brightening up by lunchtime, so an improving story. and that will be the story generally across the country. some heavy bursts of rain across northwest england and wales drifting their way steadily eastwards. the rain never getting as far south, really, as the south midlands, and then behind it, brightening up with 1—2 showers. a strong south—westerly wind as we go through the day — so blustery, but from a very warm source. it'll feel once again quite humid across the country — 24 celsius in eastern scotland, highs of 30 celsius perhaps in southeast england — that's the mid—80s fahrenheit. now, as we go through the evening and overnight, there's another frontal system that will sink its way south, just really a band of cloud and a few scattered showers, can you see, stretching from hull down to the bristol channel. again, it stays very warm, so a humid start to wednesday morning. that frontal system — a weak affair, a band of cloud, a few isolated showers — continues to sink south.

but behind, its introducing fresher air as the winds here come round to a northwesterly. so more showers being driven in by that northwesterly wind, and temperatures down a few degrees. not so in the far southeast, as that fresher air hasn't quite yet arrived, but it will do so. the northwesterly wind direction continues to dominate for a few days. high pressure then builds in from the west, quietens things down. so, over the next few days, it's dry, settled, and sunny, butjust that little bit fresher.

welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore, i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines: in the last few minutes president biden has confirmed that prominent al qaeda leader ayman al—zawahiri has been killed in a drone strike on kabul. al—zawahiri, one of the world's most wanted terrorists, took over al-qaeda in 2011 after the us killed its leader, 0sama bin laden. he made videos including in recent weeks calling for his followers to attack the united states and our allies. now justice has been delivered. this terrorist leader is no more. we'll be live in washington with all the latest.

also in the programme: one of america's top lawmakers, nancy pelosi