hello, welcome to bbc news now. three hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction. we start in russia where the founder of the wagner mercenary group, yevgeny prigozhin, is presumed dead after his plane crashed in the north west of the country. mr prigozhin led a failed mutiny in russia injune. the plane crashed in the tver region in russia's north—west. this image is from the crash scene — that's been confirmed by bbc verify. aviation officials in russia say mr prigozhin was on board with his right—hand man dmitry utkin. it's believed all ten passengers and crew died immediately. us presidentjoe biden said, "there's not much that happens in russia that putin's not behind." mr putin made no mention of the crash, or mr prigozhin, when he spoke by video link to a summit in south africa. from moscow, our russia editor, steve rosenberg, sent this report. caught on camera — the final seconds of a private jet. on board, reportedly, the head of the wagner mercenary group, yevgeny prigozhin. "look over there by the farm, it's burning," the eyewitness can be heard saying. in the distance, a giant cloud of smoke. the embraer plane had crashed in the tver region of russia, north of moscow. mr prigozhin's right—hand man, wagner commander dmitry utkin, is also thought to have been on board. later, a wagner—linked telegram channel confirmed that yevgeny prigozhin had been killed. it claimed it was the result of the actions of traitors of russia. it's two months to the day since the wagner chief launched what he called his march ofjustice, his mutiny — the insurrection by wagner forces who'd been fighting on the kremlin side in ukraine. they rolled unopposed into the city of rostov. their demands — the removal of russia's senior military leadership, who they blamed for setbacks on the battlefield. there were these extraordinary scenes as the paramilitary chief admonished russian generals. and then they marched on in the direction of moscow, in a direct challenge to the authority of president putin. the kremlin leader called it treachery. russia, he said, had been stabbed in the back, the mutineers would be punished. but by evening, a deal had been done to end the insurrection. even though russian servicemen had been killed, there would be no charges against yevgeny prigozhin and his wagner troops. they would have to leave russia, but the agreement left the kremlin looking weak. this was vladimir putin in the city of kursk, commemorating the soviet victory in a famous world war ii battle. there's been no comment yet from the president on the plane crash. on the streets of moscow tonight, there was a mixed reaction. "i couldn't care less," he says. "this was to be expected," says dmitry. "some of the things prigozhin did or didn't do needed to be punished. he had lots of enemies." little surprise, then, but much speculation about why the jet crashed. who had targeted the plane and its controversial passenger? was this an act of revenge against the man who had dared to humiliate those in power in russia? steve rosenberg, bbc news. earlier we had this update from our correspondent in kyiv. irate earlier we had this update from our correspondent in kyiv.— correspondent in kyiv. we have not had much in _ correspondent in kyiv. we have not had much in the _ correspondent in kyiv. we have not had much in the way _ correspondent in kyiv. we have not had much in the way of _ correspondent in kyiv. we have not had much in the way of official- had much in the way of official reaction. we have heard from one advisor who in his words had described what happened in russia as a warning to russia's elite that in his words at disability means death. so i think privately there was a lot of interest. —— that in his words disloyalty means death. yevgeny prigozhin to so many ukrainians is the main architect behind some of the main architect behind some of the most brutal fighting we have seenin the most brutal fighting we have seen in this evasion will stop wagnerfighters, of whom seen in this evasion will stop wagner fighters, of whom years seen in this evasion will stop wagnerfighters, of whom years in charge, have long been seen as the best trained, the best trained. they threw everything at the eastern city of bakhmut before taking it after yer. they often show brutality and ruthlessness in their tactics. also the images we are seeing are being met with a bittersweet reaction because when we got in mounted this armed mutiny injune, the collapse of the russian regime is seen as a possible route out of this war for ukraine in the absence of a military victory, which is still farfrom certain. so i think there is that bittersweet reaction. and now vladimir putin has deployed familiar tactics on how he deals with political opponents and what we have seen time and time again over the past two months of real instability inside russia is that it has done nothing so far to change the nature of the attritional fighting on the front line. development group were partly merged into the russian forces or moved into belarus. the forces or moved into belarus. the forces hope that might weaken at the russian invasion effort but instead we are seeing moscow resort back to its old—fashioned strength of size and that is what is making it so hard for the ukrainians to try and push them back at the moment. james waterhouse reporting _ push them back at the moment. james waterhouse reporting from _ push them back at the moment. james waterhouse reporting from kyiv and you will have seen in the background there were tanks and as he was referring to, that is because today is ukraine's independence day and we can see live pictures there from kyiv, people milling around. the event celebrates ukraine's declaration of independence from the soviet union in 1991. it is usually marked by a military parade but that has not happened since the war began. that hasn't taken place since the war began last year. instead, destroyed russian tanks and military vehicles have been lined up in central kyiv. as we say, ukraine observing independence day. let's talk to vitaly shevchenko, russia editor of bbc monitoring. thank you forjoining us. could you tell us what we definitively know about what happened involving yevgeny prigozhin? we about what happened involving yevgeny prigozhin?— about what happened involving yevgeny prigozhin? we know that a lane yevgeny prigozhin? we know that a plane owned _ yevgeny prigozhin? we know that a plane owned by _ yevgeny prigozhin? we know that a plane owned by him _ yevgeny prigozhin? we know that a plane owned by him crashed - yevgeny prigozhin? we know that a | plane owned by him crashed outside moscow yesterday evening. we know that his name was on the list of passengers registered as travelling on board that plane. what we do not know is if he was actually present there. we're still waiting to from russian investigators studying at the ten bodies recovered from the scene of the crash. there are unconfirmed reports that we have seenin unconfirmed reports that we have seen in the past half an hour or so saying that the bodies of yevgeny prigozhin and his closest deputy, dmitry utkin, have been identified. that is unconfirmed, but even though the bodies from the crash scene are badly burned, it is because yevgeny prigozhin had part of one finger messing on his left hand, that is what reports are saying has helped investigators identify his body. although it is not confirmed officially. in the media that is rife speculation about the possible causes of the crash. a number of accounts on social media linked to wagner saying his plane had been shot down and won a popular trend of thought in russia is that killing yevgeny prigozhin is possibly very way for vladimir putin to reassert his authority following a highly humiliating mutiny mounted by yevgeny prigozhin and wagner back in june, but yet again, in terms of evidence, we have seen nothing to confirm that allegation. find evidence, we have seen nothing to confirm that allegation.— confirm that allegation. and you mentioned _ confirm that allegation. and you mentioned that _ confirm that allegation. and you mentioned that military - confirm that allegation. and you mentioned that military coup, . confirm that allegation. and you mentioned that military coup, it| confirm that allegation. and you l mentioned that military coup, it is worth reminding that is back injune and at that point vladimir putin called him, said traitors would be punished and is it fair to say there was a surprise to some that actually for the following two months there did not appear to be any fallout from that as far as yevgeny prigozhin was concerned? and do we know what he has been doing for the last two months?— last two months? absolutely, in that mutiny several _ last two months? absolutely, in that mutiny several helicopters _ last two months? absolutely, in that mutiny several helicopters were - last two months? absolutely, in that mutiny several helicopters were shot down, at least one plane as well, the pilots killed, and yet yevgeny prigozhin was apparently allowed to walk away, to walk free, and as part of that deal reached with the kremlin, he was offered to move to belarus together with his wagner fighters and stay there. since that time, the planes that we know belonged to yevgeny prigozhin have been tracked as a travelling to and from belarus, travelling to russia, and most recently, in the past couple of days, we saw a video in which yevgeny prigozhin was apparently filmed in africa and in that video he said his wagner group was helping make russia even greater in the african continent. reports say that after returning to russia from africa, he had a stopover in moscow and reportedly boarded the plane that later crashed. {lilia moscow and reportedly boarded the plane that later crashed.— plane that later crashed. ok, for the moment. — plane that later crashed. ok, for the moment, thank _ plane that later crashed. ok, for the moment, thank you, - plane that later crashed. ok, for the moment, thank you, thank l plane that later crashed. ok, for. the moment, thank you, thank you plane that later crashed. ok, for- the moment, thank you, thank you for joining us. let's bring in sergey radchenko, professor of international relations atjohn hopkins university. thank you forjoining us. can i take your views over what has happened? it has been a tumultuous last 12 hours, what are your best guess to what happened? if it hours, what are your best guess to what happened?— what happened? if it is confirmed that it was putin _ what happened? if it is confirmed that it was putin who _ what happened? if it is confirmed that it was putin who ordered - what happened? if it is confirmed that it was putin who ordered the | that it was putin who ordered the killing of prigozhin, i think it will not be confirmed for some time, but i think we can reasonably say that the system is trying to shore up that the system is trying to shore up his authority. was happened in may, june, during the mutiny was highly unusual, that he would allow prigozhin to go like this, it seems to compromise the basis of his authority. but now, by killing him if this is what happened, putin reverted to the old practice of killing his political opponents, like he did in 2006 or the attempted poisoning of alexei navalny, so this is a very tried and all tactic on his part. 50 is a very tried and all tactic on his art. ., , ., ,, . ., ., his part. so lots of speculation onfine his part. so lots of speculation online as _ his part. so lots of speculation online as to — his part. so lots of speculation online as to what _ his part. so lots of speculation online as to what happened. . his part. so lots of speculation online as to what happened. i | his part. so lots of speculation - online as to what happened. i should say president zelensky has said ukraine had nothing to do with the reported deaths of the wagner chief. that is being reported today. i have heard of some russian experts putting that forward today but ukraine clearly saying nothing to do with us. we ukraine clearly saying nothing to do with us. ~ ~ . , ukraine clearly saying nothing to do with us. ~ . ., , ., ukraine clearly saying nothing to do withus.~ . ., , ., ,. with us. we certainly cannot expect to be kremlin _ with us. we certainly cannot expect to be kremlin to _ with us. we certainly cannot expect to be kremlin to confirm _ with us. we certainly cannot expectj to be kremlin to confirm something like this, putin will not say here i killed regarding, —— killed prigozhin. but i'm sure what will emerge now from russian propaganda is that ukraine did or it was an accident but they seem much less likely. accident but they seem much less likel . ~ ., ., , accident but they seem much less likel .~ ., .,, , ., accident but they seem much less likel. ., .,, , ., ., likely. what does this mean for putin if we _ likely. what does this mean for putin if we assume _ likely. what does this mean for putin if we assume that - likely. what does this mean for. putin if we assume that prigozhin likely. what does this mean for- putin if we assume that prigozhin is indeed killed? what are the implications for vladimir putin? fin implications for vladimir putin? on one level it seems putin is implications for vladimir putin? q�*i one level it seems putin is sending signals to the elites saying here is a disloyal person and this is what happens to disloyal people and presumably could be an effort to forestall any attempts. but it could have unintended consequences because prigozhin did have a lot of support, notjust in the russian military but in the broader elites and society, ultra patriots, many of whom thought his criticism of the ministry of defence was justified. so those people will unlikely, will probably be very unhappy with what happened to prigozhin but the question is what can they do in this system? {lilia what can they do in this system? 0k, thank ou what can they do in this system? 0k, thank you so — what can they do in this system? 0k, thank you so much, still clearly lots of questions from this. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. the mps watchdog has ruled that the prime minister failed to correctly declare his wife's financial interest in a childminding agency. the parliamentary commissioner for standards said this arose out of "confusion", and was "inadvertant". rishi sunak has accepted the ruling and apologised. he will face no further action. consultants in the nhs in england have begun a second two—day strike in a long running dispute about pay and conditions. their union, the british medical association, says there's been no progress in talks with the government to end the dispute. ministers say they're "concerned and disappointed" by the industrial action. a strike by ground handlers at gatwick airport planned for the bank holiday weekend has been called off. the unite union said it had secured eight improved pay offers for its members and so had halted the industrial action. there is no further industrial action planned at gatwick airport. you're live with bbc news. britain's backlog of asylum seekers has hit a record high — that's according to new home office figures. more than 175,000 people were waiting for a decision on whether they'll be granted refugee status at the end ofjune 2023. that was a rise of 44% — more than 53,000 people — on the figures at the same time last year. 80% are waiting longer than six months for an initial decision. so how has this situation come about? we asked our home editor mark easton. this system does not work enough and it does seem like funny we may be turning a corner but it is an oil tanker. ~ . , ,., ., tanker. we have been poring over the fiuures tanker. we have been poring over the figures today — tanker. we have been poring over the figures today and _ tanker. we have been poring over the figures today and perhaps _ tanker. we have been poring over the figures today and perhaps for - figures today and perhaps for viewers in the uk the most important thing is how much the asylum system is now costing, because you will remember that the cost of accommodation in hotels which is put at £6 billion a day while the total figure for the asylum system in the financial year ending in march last year was actually £4 billion which is almost double what it was the previous year and if we go back a decade, the cost of asylum was just half £1 billion, so you can see that that represents a huge political pressure on ministers to try and sort this out, today's news that the overall backlog is up will be dispiriting. i think there will be some encouragement from the fact the pace of increase seems to be slowing and you may remember the prime minister last december promised to get rid of the backlog by the end of this year. later clarified that by that he meant the particular backlog that he meant the particular backlog that was in place at the end ofjune last year and that was 120,000 people. they have managed to get that down a bit, i think there are now about 91,000 people in the system. if he was to succeed, he would need a really dramatic increase in the number of cases that are resolved. up to now, since he made the pledge, about 2000 a month, he would have to get up to near 11,300 a month over the next six months so a tall order. that 11,300 a month over the next six months so a tall order.— 11,300 a month over the next six months so a tall order. that was our home editor- _ in the us, the first republican presidential debate has been held in milwaukee. eight candidates clashed over the economy, abortion rights and culture wars issues. but the event was overshadowed by the absence of the frontrunner, donald trump. the former president chose instead to be interviewed by former fox news anchor tucker carlson. let's hear some of the most eye—catching exchanges of the debate. i am incredibly proud of the record of the trump—pence administration. in four short years, we rebuilt our military, we revived our economy, we unleashed american energy, and we appointed three conservatives to the supreme court that gave the american people a new beginning for the right to life. republicans asked for 7.4 billion in earmarks, democrats asked for 2.8 billion, so you tell me who are the big spenders. i think it is time for an accountant in the white house. when it comes to whether president trump should serve or not, i trust the american people. let them vote, let them decide. but what they will tell you is that it is time for a new generational conservative leader. whether or not you believe - that the criminal charges are right or wrong, the conduct is beneath the office of president— of the united states. cheering and applause president trump, i believe, was the best president of the 21st century. cheering and applause it's a fact. and chris christie, honest to god, your claim that donald trump is motivated by vengeance and grievance would be a lot more credible if your entire campaign were not based on vengeance and grievance against one man. this election is not about january 6th of 2021, it is about january 20th of the 2025 when the next president is going to take office. i know what the democrats would like to do, they want to talk about all these other issues, but we have got to focus on your future, we have got to focus on reversing the decline of our country. china is the number one threat to our country, i and every minute that these eight candidates spent talking - about the past instead of the future is time that isjust... _ you know who loves it? l biden loves it, but china loves it i when we are talking about the past. so that was talking about the past — let's talk about the future and where the debate leaves the race going forward with cbs news correspondentjarred hill. he was watching the debate and saw it all. winners and losers no doubt but one person not there, donald trump, did that overshadow debate? he was definitely someone who was not there and his presence some might say potentially overshadowed the debate. he had his separate area on twitter, or x, the debate. he had his separate area on twitter, orx, but the debate. he had his separate area on twitter, or x, but there was a lot of conversation on the state that showcased some of the divisions within the modern republican party right now showcasing where they are on issues like abortion. we saw some members of the stage poring into donald trump for the deficit, so while the elephant was not in the room is one of the moderators said, there was still substance a conversation that happened. 0ne there was still substance a conversation that happened. one of the things that is interesting is seeing someone who is a relative newcomer, vivek ramaswamy, a 38—year—old businessman, not only physically taking centre stage alongside ronda sant is but taking up alongside ronda sant is but taking up a lot of conversation in the room, taking a lot of the shots from other candidates, someone who people might not have been looking at. —— taking centre stage alongside ron desantis. he taking centre stage alongside ron desantis. ., , taking centre stage alongside ron desantis. . , ., , ., . desantis. he was really a centre oint last desantis. he was really a centre point last night. _ desantis. he was really a centre point last night. thank - desantis. he was really a centre point last night. thank you. - desantis. he was really a centre i point last night. thank you. donald trump will be in the news again it later on today when we will be having cameras focusing on the fulton county jail having cameras focusing on the fulton countyjail in georgia where he is due to surrender to judges on the fourth indictment that he is involved with, so donald trump as micro—legal issues continue again today. students in england, northern ireland and wales have been receiving their gcse exam results. the pass rates have fallen for a second year running, bringing them close to where they were in 2019. 0ur reporter harry farley is at wootton park school in northampton. harry, what are the feelings over there? in northampton today. we have been here since first thing and students were streaming in through that door behind me to collect their gcse and other level two results. we saw the full range of emotions, some attention, nerves, excitement, some were relieved and others disappointed as you say. the number of students getting that top grade is down on last year and the number of students getting that crucial pass, that grade four com is also down on last year and that is part of the government effort to bring grades back down to 2090 levels. to talk about that is down, the principle here. first, you too must be a very proud day for you and your students getting these results? absolutely, they have knocked it out the part _ absolutely, they have knocked it out the part. given allthe absolutely, they have knocked it out the part. given all the difficulties they have — the part. given all the difficulties they have had with covid and all those _ they have had with covid and all those things around the strikes and someone _ those things around the strikes and someone that they have done tremendously well and we are incredibly proud of everything they have achieved. and incredibly proud of everything they have achieved.— incredibly proud of everything they have achieved. and on that fall back down to 2090 _ have achieved. and on that fall back down to 2090 levels, _ have achieved. and on that fall back down to 2090 levels, obviously - down to 2090 levels, obviously students in wales and northern ireland have not had such a drastic fall, what is your view on that? —— 2019 levels. it fall, what is your view on that? -- 2019 levels-— 2019 levels. it is a government decision that _ 2019 levels. it is a government decision that we _ 2019 levels. it is a government decision that we cannot - 2019 levels. it is a governmentj decision that we cannot change 2019 levels. it is a government - decision that we cannot change that we have _ decision that we cannot change that we have to — decision that we cannot change that we have to prepare our youngsters to do the _ we have to prepare our youngsters to do the best_ we have to prepare our youngsters to do the best they can put up we look at personalisation and make sure every— at personalisation and make sure every child — at personalisation and make sure every child gets everything they need _ every child gets everything they need and we support them as best we can. need and we support them as best we can these _ need and we support them as best we can. these national decisions that we have _ can. these national decisions that we have to — can. these national decisions that we have to live with but we will do the best— we have to live with but we will do the best with every child we have at the best with every child we have at the school~ — the best with every child we have at the school. ., , , , , the school. finally, very briefly, ou will the school. finally, very briefly, you will be _ the school. finally, very briefly, you will be very _ the school. finally, very briefly, you will be very proud _ the school. finally, very briefly, you will be very proud of - the school. finally, very briefly, i you will be very proud of students getting the top results, for those who have not been able to get great four and have take resits, what is your view on the government's compulsory resits? i your view on the government's compulsory resits? i understand the loric compulsory resits? i understand the logic behind — compulsory resits? i understand the logic behind it. _ compulsory resits? i understand the logic behind it. if _ compulsory resits? i understand the logic behind it. if you're _ compulsory resits? i understand the logic behind it. if you're going - compulsory resits? i understand the logic behind it. if you're going on i logic behind it. if you're going on to the _ logic behind it. if you're going on to the world of work or apprenticeship getting at least a four in— apprenticeship getting at least a four in english and maths i think is going _ four in english and maths i think is going to _ four in english and maths i think is going to so — four in english and maths i think is going to so we are supportive of it and as— going to so we are supportive of it and as i_ going to so we are supportive of it and as i say, — going to so we are supportive of it and as i say, it is about personalisation and making sure the children— personalisation and making sure the children get the support they need in order— children get the support they need in order to — children get the support they need in order to achieve. dan, children get the support they need in order to achieve.— children get the support they need in order to achieve. dan, thank you very much- — in order to achieve. dan, thank you very much- spoke _ in order to achieve. dan, thank you very much. spoke to _ in order to achieve. dan, thank you very much. spoke to a _ in order to achieve. dan, thank you very much. spoke to a number- in order to achieve. dan, thank you very much. spoke to a number of. very much. spoke to a number of students elliott that said whatever the grade they got they were proud of reaching this milestone with everything they have been through of the last few years.— the last few years. thank you so much, the last few years. thank you so much. harry _ the last few years. thank you so much. harry at— the last few years. thank you so much, harry at wootton - the last few years. thank you so much, harry at wootton park i the last few years. thank you so much, harry at wootton park in | much, harry at wootton park in northampton. and our best wishes for all those teenagers opening exam results today, good luck to all of you. stay with us here on bbc news. hello again. today is a day of sunshine and showers. some of those showers have been heavy and thundery already, particularly in the south—east. they are clearing away into the north sea, and then we have got further showers coming in across western scotland and northern ireland. the more persistent rain pushing up into the northern isles. in between, areas of cloud but a fair bit of sunshine. this weak weather front continuing to sink southwards, bringing a band of cloud across parts of england and wales with the odd shower in it, but brightening up behind it. still feeling humid in the south with highs up to 26. now, the cloud continues to move down into the south—east through the course of the night. the northern half of the country still prone to some showers, but there will be some clear spells, as well, and a lot of dry weather. so tonight is going to be cooler than last night, especially where we do have the clearer skies. tomorrow, then, we start with the cloud and the odd splash of rain moving away from the south—east, and then we are looking at a mixture of sunshine and showers. across northern ireland, england and wales, the showers pushing eastwards, but heavier, potentially thundery showers across the north of scotland where it will also be breezy. it is going to be a fresher day where it has been so humid in the last few days, with temperatures that little bit lower in the south—eastern corner. so, if you are off to the reading or leeds festival, you could catch a shower in reading. in leeds, you're more likely to see a bit more cloud at times. on saturday, the low pressure that has been driving the weather, especially in the north of the country, pushes into the north sea. weather fronts crossing us, bringing in some showers, and we have got a ridge of high pressure waiting in the wings. so, on saturday, there will be sunny spells, we will see widespread showers develop, some of those will be heavy and thundery, still going to be breezy in the north and south, and at times there will be large areas of cloud moving around. temperatures, 15 to about 20. into sunday, there is a little bit of uncertainty in the timing of a weather front coming in from the atlantic. it looks like it will bring some rain in later in the day. further east, we are looking at a mixture of sunshine and showers, but fewer showers than on saturday and quite a lot of cloud at times, with highs of up to 20 degrees. there's also a bit of uncertainty in the timing of a front coming in from the atlantic on sunday. what's looking like is going to happen is that will come in later in the day, bringing in some rain. and mostly on sunday it is going to be sunshine and showers. studies department this is bbc news, the headlines: yevgeny prigozhin — the wagner mercenary group leader who led a failed mutiny in russsia — is presumed dead after a plane crash near moscow. vladimir putin addresses a summit by video link — but makes no mention of the crash — or mr prigozhin. there's happiness for some — but gcse exam pass rates fall for a second year running — in england, wales and northern ireland. and monkey business! animals at london zoo are lured on to the scales — for their annual weigh—in. more now from russia where — as we've been hearing — the leader of the wagner mercenary group — yevgeny prigozhin — is presumed dead after a plane crash near moscow. aviation officials in russia say all 10 passengers and crew were killed in the crash — in the tver region.