pictures have emerged of the aftermath of the crash, which happened about halfway through the flight from moscow to st petersburg, while the plane was at its cruising altitude. trajectory data suggest the aircraft essentially dropped out of the sky. russia's aviation agency shared what it claimed was a list of the passengers on the doomed flight among them, mr prigozhin and key wagner commander dmitry utkin. as police cordoned off the crash site, russia's emergency ministry claimed that ten bodies has been recovered from the wreckage. the bbc has not been able to independently verify this information yet. but outside the wagner group headquarters in st petersburg, mourners have been laying flowers and lighting candles. if mr prigozhin is indeed dead, it would be an abrupt end but it's not unexpected, as will vernon explains from moscow. i don't think this news has surprised anyone here today. around an hour after that plane crash, the russian federal aviation authority released a statement confirming yevgeny prigozhin�*s name was on the passenger manifest of that plane. that is very fast for that particular agency. it usually takes much longer to respond to incidents like this. but already raise a few eyebrows here because after all, speculation has been swirling for some time now for the exactly about what fate would await yevgeny prigozhin. when yevgeny prigozhin launched his mutiny exactly two months ago, his wagner mercenary is these are major russian city and even marched on my must go. there was hugely written for the kremlin and vladimir putin is not the kind of man to forget that. if you give any progression was killed in the plane crash today which is likely, it will come as no shock whatsoever to most people here. most people will probably be surprised it did not happen sooner. we don't know what exactly caused that crash, russian media are saying investigators are looking into a number of different possibilities, including what they are calling external actions. and earlier on wednesday, us president biden echoed that sentiment. i don't know for a fact what happened but i am not surprised. there is not much that happens in russia that putin is not behind. i do not know enough to have an answer. bill taylor is the vice president of russia and europe at the us institute of peace and former ambassador to ukraine. president biden says not much happens in russia that vladimir putin is not behind for that looking at this news, do you agree? looking at this news, do you auree? ~ , ,., , , looking at this news, do you auree? ~ , ,., agree? absolutely. it is almost certain that _ agree? absolutely. it is almost certain that if _ agree? absolutely. it is almost certain that if prigozhin - agree? absolutely. it is almost certain that if prigozhin is - certain that if prigozhin is indeed dead, we don't know that the shopper it looks like it, if he is indeed dead then president putin was almost certain to have pulled the trigger, given the 0k, to have directed this killing. itjust demonstrates the kind of regime we see in the kremlin. i demonstrates the kind of regime we see in the kremlin.— we see in the kremlin. i was surprised? _ we see in the kremlin. i was surprised? i— we see in the kremlin. i was surprised? i am _ we see in the kremlin. i was surprised? i am not- we see in the kremlin. i was l surprised? i am not surprised. bill barron _ surprised? i am not surprised. bill barron 's, _ surprised? i am not surprised. bill barron 's, the _ surprised? i am not surprised. bill barron 's, the head - surprised? i am not surprised. bill barron 's, the head of - surprised? i am not surprised. bill barron 's, the head of the | bill barron 's, the head of the cia predicted this. he said a month ago this was to be expected. putin was humiliated, as you just pointed out. humiliated two months ago when prigozhin turned on him, turned on his defence minister and chief of staff in the army. and killed some russian soldiers, some pilots. then putin looked really weak as he came out, first saying he was going to arrest and smash prigozhin as a traitor and that they saying actually it is ok and gave him amnesty. two months he has been, prigozhin has been able to move around the country. this is not a surprise. how significant has prigozhin and his wagner group been in the war in ukraine? they were among the best fighters, the wagner folks, troops were amongst the best fighters. best paid. they were mercenaries. some, many actually, were convex pulled out of russian prisons and sent into ukraine to their deaths. in their thousands. but they were responsible, they got the credit for finally, after eight months, taking that little town of bakhmut. and otherforces months, taking that little town of bakhmut. and other forces on the ministry of defence were not able to do this and have not able to do this and have not had the same kind of success. the wagner troops have proven themselves. it success. the wagner troops have proven themselves.— proven themselves. if these are some of the _ proven themselves. if these are some of the best _ proven themselves. if these are some of the best fighters - proven themselves. if these are some of the best fighters for i some of the best fighters for russia, what are the consequences for the defence ministry if you have this news confirmed and wagner fighters who are not particularly happy with what has happened to their leader? ~ ., ., ., leader? the wagner folks have been out in _ leader? the wagner folks have been out in the _ leader? the wagner folks have been out in the fight _ leader? the wagner folks have been out in the fight for - leader? the wagner folks have been out in the fight for two i been out in the fight for two months. when they executed this mutiny, that was in latejune. they have been out in the fight in ukraine for two months. the russians have done not much over two months but have been digging in and defending, but there is no movement on their part. this is no major change therefore that if anything, this helps the ukrainians for the ukrainians are watching for weakness on the russian side, watching for weakness on putin. looking for and observing the chain of command, the russian military chain of command being in disarray. this is further indication of that disarray. so if it is indeed confirmed, how does ukraine act on this information? i does ukraine act on this information?— does ukraine act on this information? ~ ~ ., information? i think ukraine has nothing _ information? i think ukraine has nothing really _ information? i think ukraine has nothing really to - information? i think ukraine has nothing really to say - information? i think ukraine i has nothing really to say about prigozhin. what ukraine does have a lot to say about this when and where they mount their main attack. the one part of that might be determined by a weakness, a distraction on the part of the russians that are concerned about who is loyal to putin and who was not. we are just today, the same day prigozhin was apparently killed by russian forces, they also demoted one of the genitals associated with prigozhin. all today the russian military chain of command is inward looking and worried about who is loyal and who was not. putin is loyal and who was not. putin is worried about who is loyal and who was not, the ukrainians can take advantage of that disarray. can take advantage of that disarra . ~ ., ., can take advantage of that disarray-— can take advantage of that disarra . ~ ., ., ~' disarray. what do you think this tells — disarray. what do you think this tells us _ disarray. what do you think this tells us about - disarray. what do you think| this tells us about president putin and his efforts to consolidate power further? putin and his efforts to consolidate powerfurther? he consolidate power further? he has now consolidate power further? he: has now gotten rid of one of the challenges to him, got rid of mr prigozhin but not consolidated powerfor of mr prigozhin but not consolidated power for the. of mr prigozhin but not consolidated powerfor the. not pull together all the desperate armed forces. wagner was a private military company and there are many others. there is there are many others. there is the regular military, the national guard, the police, security forces. he has all of these armed forces that are under different control all looking to him and he has been shown to be weak.— shown to be weak. very interesting _ shown to be weak. very interesting insights. - shown to be weak. very i interesting insights. thank you so much forjoining us tonight. thank you. good to be here. let's take a step back and look at how yevgeny prigozhin rose to such an influential position in russia. our analysis editor ros atkins has more. we know he took an unorthodox route to a powerful position in russia. in 1981, he was sent to prison for robbery and theft. and when released in 1990, he became a hot dog salesman in st petersburg. but by 1997 he was running a top restaurant and winning lucrative catering contracts. those brought connections to the top. prigozhin even served food to world leaders. and to putin himself. and prigozhin's role was becoming about much more than food. in 2014 russia annexed crimea and launched an insurgency in eastern ukraine. prigozhin was involved. of that time, he's said "a group of patriots was born", which later acquired the name wagner battalion. and soon the wagner group reached far beyond ukraine. the fbi accused prigozhin of interfering in the 2016 us election. in syria, wagner fighters supported pro—government forces. more recently there are multiple reports of wagner's military and commercial activity in africa. with the eu accusing the group of committing... "torture and extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings". and then came the war. when putin wanted to give his invasion of ukraine impetus, prigozhin and his fighters were called in. but as wagner's death toll grew, so did prigozhin's fury. expressed first in video rants. and then in a short—lived mutiny. in the aftermath, putin condemned the "the mutineers and traitors". but for prigozhin, charges were dropped, no arrest followed. and we asked why wasn't putin punishing prigozhin? perhaps he was biding his time. earlier i asked us congressman raja krishnamoorthi of illinois, who sits on the permanent select committee on intelligence in the house of representatives, for his take. always great to have you on our show. you sit on the house intelligence committee. what have you heard about this news? as of now i know it's in published reports, namely that it appears a jet fell out of the sky in areas north of moscow's. as of here, others are reporting on anzai aircraft missal actually brought the jet down and that mr prigozhin was on that plane along with his number two. on that plane along with his numbertwo. i on that plane along with his number two. i think we are seeing mafia politics at play here where it looks like mr putin is i guess serving revenge as some would say best served cold. revenge as some would say best served cold-— served cold. last month when the cia director— served cold. last month when the cia director was _ served cold. last month when the cia director was asked i the cia director was asked about why yevgeny prigozhin was still alive, this is what he said. , :, :, said. putin is someone who generally — said. putin is someone who generally thinks _ said. putin is someone who generally thinks revenge i said. putin is someone who generally thinks revenge is| said. putin is someone who l generally thinks revenge is a dish — generally thinks revenge is a dish best served cold. he is going — dish best served cold. he is going to _ dish best served cold. he is going to try and settle the situation to the extent he can. in situation to the extent he can. in rny— situation to the extent he can. in my experience, putin is the ultimate — in my experience, putin is the ultimate apostle of payback. | ultimate apostle of payback. i know you are not at liberty to disclose intelligence briefings you get on the house intelligence committee but was very sense in us intelligence that prigozhin was indeed not safe and essentially you are waiting for the other shoe to drop? i waiting for the other shoe to dro - ? ~ :, , drop? i think that feeling is laruel drop? i think that feeling is largely probably _ drop? i think that feeling is largely probably yes. i drop? i think that feeling is largely probably yes. of i largely probably yes. of course, we don't have any evidence to document this at this time. i think over the course of the months and weeks to come, i think we will find this out. i have to say i don't think the story necessarily ends here for that mr prigozhin and mr utkin were the number one and two of wagner but there are many leaders and wagner. many in the middle east and africa. we don't know how they will react but winner at this point probably mr prigozhin is dead. although we have not received confirmed reports of that but that is likely the fact. ~ :, that but that is likely the fact. ~ . , :, ~' that but that is likely the fact. ~ . ~' , that but that is likely the fact. ., ~ , , fact. what you think this is about the _ fact. what you think this is about the wider _ fact. what you think this is about the wider power i about the wider power struggles? and as you say, market dynamics in russia for the power struggles between security forces and russia's defence. i security forces and russia's defence. ~ , security forces and russia's defence-— security forces and russia's defence. ~' , ., :, defence. i think things are not as stable in — defence. i think things are not as stable in russia _ defence. i think things are not as stable in russia as - defence. i think things are not as stable in russia as one i as stable in russia as one might otherwise believe. i think that's mutiny and insurrection that was short lived did point out a couple of things. one, as you remember, mr prigozhin on his telegram channel basically talked about how the real reason for this war in ukraine had to do with how the real reason for this war in l had |e had to do with how the real reason for this war in l had to had to do with how the real reason for this war in l had to do to do with how the real reason for this war in l had to do with o with how the real reason for this war in l had to do with certain money, had to do with certain interest in russia, seeing it interest in russia, seeing it in their best interests financially to actually commit this criminal invasion. the second thing that new knee revealed is that there are a lot of people in russia who were willing to go along with prigozhin, potentially or at least waiting on the sidelines to see how things will unfold. i don't know their to putin are as concrete as we might have brought before. final question, as ou brought before. final question, as you said. — brought before. final question, as you said, many _ brought before. final question, as you said, many questions i as you said, many questions being asked about wagner fighters themselves, where their loyalties lie, where they are at the moment, what do you think this means for the war in ukraine? ~ :, �* ~ :, think this means for the war in ukraine? :, �* ~ :, :, think this means for the war in ukraine? ~ :, :, ., , ukraine? we don't know how many of those wagner _ of those wagner fighters are still in ukraine. to the extent that they might be deployed in and around ukraine. again, we don't know where their loyalties lay. certainly those who went with prigozhin towards my scalp seemed to vote with their feet. my scalp seemed to vote with theirfeet. even those my scalp seemed to vote with their feet. even those who did not, we don't know how they view this particular incident. at the end of the day, mr prigozhin paid them a lot of money, employed them for a long time, formed relationships. we have to see how they do this and whether any action is taken as a consequence of what has happened today. compliment, really good — happened today. compliment, really good to _ happened today. compliment, really good to get _ happened today. compliment, really good to get insights i happened today. compliment, really good to get insights on | really good to get insights on the developing story. thank you so much forjoining us.- so much for 'oining us. thank ou so so much forjoining us. thank you so much- _ and for more on the reported killing of yevgeny prigozhin, check out the live page of our website. we have the latest headlines plus background videos and analysis from our global correspondents. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. india has become only the fourth nation in history to land a craft on the surface of the moon, following the us, china and the former soviet union. the lander from the chandrayaan—3 mission was also the first to land in the lunar south pole region. celebrations immediately broke out across the country, with prime minister narendra modi saying "india is now on the moon". two people have been arrested in pakistan over the cable car that was left dangling over a ravine after a rope broke. this is new dramatic drone footage from the incident. the owner and operator are being investigated for endangering lives. six children and two adults were brought to safety after a 12—hour rescue operation. voting in zimbabwe's presidential and parliamentary elections has been extended for a day after accusations of ballot rigging. only a quarter of polling stations opened on time in the capital, harare. 80—year—old president emmerson mnangagwa is seeking re—election amid currency shortages and high unemployment. you are watching bbc news. turning to us politics and we have two major stories this hour, one in the state of georgia and the other in milwaukee wisconsin, where we hand over to the bbc�*s caitrionia perry who's there. thank you. we are live here in milwaukee, where eight candidates are currently on the debate stage to vie for their chance at becoming the 2024 republican presidential nominee. former president donald trump who is the party's leading contender has decided to skip the debates. trump instead has opted for a pre—recorded interview with ex—fox news host tucker carlson which was released just minutes before the start of the debate. well, earlier i spoke with jason miller, a senior advisor in trump's inner circle on his absence. jason mueller, senior advisor forformer president jason mueller, senior advisor for former president donald j trump for former president donaldj trump for his campaign, thank you forjoining us this evening. isuppose you forjoining us this evening. i suppose the first question is what is the former presence giving the debaty a resident trumpism had by 50 points in the republican primary, look ahead to the general election he is the only republican candidate was beating crooked joe biden, the president trump is focusing on joe biden and we need to get this country back on track. resident crompo said he will not be at this debate. that is not be at this debate. that is not unlike what ronald reagan did in his primary campaign years ago, but there is really no reason we have candidate, like president trump, 62% in the polls, and then you have candidates like hutchinson who are less than 1% to go there and throw potshots, that is not how we are going to fix inflation and this is going on with our country, it is a clown car. , , , car. ok, but nevertheless, wisconsin _ car. ok, but nevertheless, wisconsin is _ car. ok, but nevertheless, wisconsin is an _ car. ok, but nevertheless, wisconsin is an importantl car. ok, but nevertheless, i wisconsin is an important state in the election. the convention will be here. is there a risk he is offending republican voters by not turning up do this? :, :, ., ., , ., this? no, not at all. they have had a number _ this? no, not at all. they have had a number of _ this? no, not at all. they have had a number of republican i this? no, not at all. they have i had a number of republican from milwaukee and wisconsin giving high—fives and handshakes as we were entering the arena here, the outside of the arena, this definitely is from country, there's a reason why the president is a headbutts them is, as are many points, in fact nobody is going to, for example, joe biden saying you need to debate rfkjunior, a little bit toasty there. president trump so far, it would be a good show, if you are 17 and zero in the regular season, why should you have pumas around with somebody who is zero and 17 and doesn't raise on the pulse? some of the candidates _ raise on the pulse? some of the candidates in _ raise on the pulse? some of the candidates in owe _ raise on the pulse? some of the candidates in owe him _ raise on the pulse? some of the candidates in owe him really i candidates in owe him really well,, vice president mike pence, nikki haley, chris christie, what if they decide to attack him and he is not here to defend himself? i think the biggest _ here to defend himself? i think the biggest challenge, - the biggest challenge, president trump can handle himself and he can definitely whisper, but i think the challenge a lot of these candidates have is what is it that gives them a value proposition for why they are running? you look at the entire field, nobody has said something that really distinguishes themselves make them step out from the rest of them step out from the rest of the pack, particularly on policy ideas. add to the extent policy ideas. add to the extent policy comes up this evening they will be talking effectively is a cheap imitation of president trump. are you not looking to any of these eight people as possible be big and it is? i these eight people as possible be big and it is?— be big and it is? i would never take that _ be big and it is? i would never take that of _ be big and it is? i would never take that of the _ be big and it is? i would never take that of the table, - be big and it is? i would never take that of the table, they i take that of the table, they would be the quickest way to become a former senior advisor to present troubles of there are several people we really like. : , are several people we really like. , :, are several people we really like-_ i've - like. any names? i've personally _ like. any names? i've personally am i like. any names? i've personally am a i like. any names? i've personally am a fan i like. any names? i've| personally am a fan of like. any names? i've i personally am a fan of the crumber swa the, he will have a good night tonight, senator tim scott, someone like, i think he prezza for ideas ron desantis, the number to canada, he is dropping like a rock, he is on the fifth room —— reboot of his campaign with a new spokesman he has announced stop it is not going so well for ron desantis so he doesn't have a good night tonight. so that she is the causing him to drop out of the race will intensify.— race will intensify. donald trum - race will intensify. donald trump has _ race will intensify. donald trump has recorded i race will intensify. donald trump has recorded an i race will intensify. donald i trump has recorded an interview with doctor carlson they will error the same time, starting five minutes beforehand, what can we expect from that wes ellis i think you will have tens of millions more people watching donald trump's interview with doctor carlson than for the other ghattas. president trump is where the ratings alchemy is where the action is. president trump has already won tonight's republican debate. he casts a shadow... can you win something if you don't turn up though? he has if you don't turn up though? he: has already won. we will have tens of millions more viewers, whether it is the fox news question is of the other candidates, they will spend the entire time talking about president trump. they want to be president trump. they cannot be president trump. they cannot be president trump. president trump can bejoe biden, the other one is done. trump can be joe biden, the other one is done.— other one is done. last question. _ other one is done. last question, the - other one is done. last| question, the president other one is done. last i question, the president has recorded that interview, you will not be, will he be watching on tv?- will not be, will he be watching on tv? will not be, will he be watchin: on tv? :, , watching on tv? not sure. the president _ watching on tv? not sure. the president has _ watching on tv? not sure. the president has not _ watching on tv? not sure. the president has not told - watching on tv? not sure. the president has not told us i president has not told us exactly what he is doing, he is an bedminster, newjersey. we will see. a believe that ibm stop i he will was the he does with doctor carlson, which will get tens of millions of years, think that is what will drive the news tonight.— think that is what will drive the news tonight. jason, senior advisor with — the news tonight. jason, senior advisor with the _ the news tonight. jason, senior advisor with the trump - advisor with the trump campaign, thank you very much. thank you. speaking of the recorded — thank you. speaking of the recorded interview - thank you. speaking of the recorded interview with i thank you. speaking of the i recorded interview with tucker carlson, the former president addressed his decision not to attend himself. why aren't you attend himself. why aren't you at the fox news debate in milwaukee?— at the fox news debate in milwaukee? , , ., , milwaukee? any people have been askin: me milwaukee? any people have been asking me that. — milwaukee? any people have been asking me that, many _ milwaukee? any people have been asking me that, many is _ milwaukee? any people have been asking me that, many is you i asking me that, many is you shouldn't be using the bowls of come out and i am leading by 50 and 60 points and some of them are at one and zero and two and i'm saying to a sit there for an hour or two hours or whatever it's going to be and get harassed by people that shouldn't even be running for president, should i be doing that? in georgia, where more of former us president trump's 18 co—conspirators in the alleged plot to overturn his 2020 election defeat have turned themselves in. today, key figures — trump's personal attorney rudy giuliani and two attorneys associated with the trump campaign, sidney powell and jenna ellis — surrendered to georgia authorities. also surrendering today was georgia republican party chairman david shafer, as well as defendants cathy latham, former coffee county republican party chair, ray smith, former trump attorney in georgia, as well as kenneth chesebro, a trump campaign attorney. trump is expected to hand himself in on thursday. this all comes one day after the lawyer who allegedly orchestrated the fake—elector scheme, john eastman, and a georgia bail bondsman scott hall turned themselves along with trump, former new york city mayor giuliani faces the most charges of the 19 co—defendants. his bond was set at $150,000. giuliani was met with a chaotic scene as he was leaving the atlanta courthouse. he called the case "an attack on the american people" and came out strong against fulton county's district attorney fani willis. she has violated people's first amendment right to advocate the government, to persisted the government's over an election they believe was poorly or falsely conducted. people have a right to believe that in america. biden and the biden state doesn't have a right to tell you what the truth is. and one more note from here in milwaukee — there was one candidate who barely made it onto the stage tonight. doug burgum was injured while playing basketball earlier today, throwing his debate appearance in question. he put his supporters�* fears to rest, posting this picture on twitter before the event saying "i'm in." that's all from here in milwaukee, sumi, back to you in dc. just quickly, we have seen you outside their of the centre all day. tell us what the atmosphere has been like leading up to this debate. it has been quite one of a festival atmosphere. a loss of the invited guests got here quite early on, everyone dressed very well, there was a sort of party atmosphere in the area behind me, grilled meats, food trucks, a rock band playing. 0utside though there have been some small protest between pro— trump and anti—trump supporters, all the action is inside and we will bring that you later on. thank ou ve bring that you later on. thank you very much- _ and for the latest news and analysis from the republican presidential debate check out our website. we'll have the best moments, the key takeaways, and the latest from our colleagues in milwaukee and beyond. that's at bbc.com/news. thank you for watching. stay with us. hello. well, it has been quite warm in the last few days, but nothing compared to what's been happening south of the english channel in france and spain. temperatures recently hit 44 celsius. and for france, a record for august. this is the anomaly map, so the orange colours show temperatures higher than average, the blue colours lower than average. but watch what happens when that jet stream takesa dip. this trough develops and pushes the heat further towards the east of europe, and the temperatures tend to ease somewhat anyway. and we have cooler weather on the way over the next few days for our neck of the woods. in fact, right now, you can see the jet streams right over us, clouds circling, an area of low pressure bringing some showers. there could be some thunderstorms early in the morning. but with low pressure in charge and these northerly winds riding around this western flank of the low, the temperatures are set to drop by a few degrees by the time we get to friday and certainly the weekend. so the outlook is things turning a little bit cooler, but there'll be some sunshine around with occasional showers. here's the forecast then for early thursday, some rain there across northern and eastern scotland, showers elsewhere and also eyes towards the south, thunderstorms could be breaking out early in the morning as well. but it's a very mild start to the day, 12 celsius in glasgow, possibly even 17 celsius on the south coast. now on these thunderstorms, really vicious storms for a time, potentially across the channel islands, crossing the channel, heading roughly to the isle of wight, and then affecting the east, the south east that is, of england. we do think that they will probably veer off towards the east—northeast, so missing most of the south east of england. and i think anyway, for many of us through the course of thursday, it is going to be a mixture of sunny spells and showers. so most of us will not get the storms on thursday. temperatures, 17 celsius in glasgow, about 18 celsius in liverpool. still holding onto some of that warmth there in the southeast, 2a celsius. and then on friday, if you look at the wind arrows, here's the clue, the air�*s coming in from the north. sunny spells and showers, those temperatures around 16—17 celsius in scotland. in the south, 19—21 celsius, and i think we'll lose some of that humidity, so it won't feel quite as warm. and here is the outlook through the weekend and into next week — cooler. bye— bye. central bankers meet injackson hole, wyoming with the focus on the future is for the fed's interest rates policy. while some business districts are empty, one region has seen people return to the office more than most. hello and welcome to asia business report. i am monica miller. the officials from central banks around the world are gathering at an annual three—day conference injackson hole, wyoming in the united states. much of the focus will be on what federal reserve chairmanjerome powell says when he delivers his speech on friday. investors will be looking for signs the us central bank is nearing the end of its push to raise interest rates which are at their highest level in 16 years. by making borrowing more expensive, the fed has been