Skip to main content

tv   BBC News Special  BBC News  June 24, 2023 10:00pm-2:00am BST

10:00 pm
as russia was threatened with an armed rebellion. yevgeny prigozhin, who leads a group of mercenary soldiers, said it was time for better russian
10:01 pm
leadership in the war against ukraine. he said his men were on their way to moscow to demand changes but, hours later, he suddenly announced they were turning back, as a deal was struck with the kremlin. earlier, president putin had accused the rebels of "betrayal and treason". now he says avoiding bloodshed is more important than punishment. it's been quite a day in russia. first, a rebellion and the spectre of civil war and then suddenly a resolution and a deal for de—escalation. tonight's news is dominated by the volatile situation in russia. earlier today, president putin was facing the biggest threat
10:02 pm
to his authority since coming to power over 20 years ago. but then, earlier this evening, there was a sudden change and the crisis seemed to be over. it's all down to this man, yevgeny prigozhin, who leads a group of mercenary soldiers who've been fighting in ukraine, known as the wagner group. he's been very critical of the putin approach to the war. he called on russian troops to rebel against their leaders, and he said his men were marching on moscow. but, at 6:30pm this evening, prigozhin issued a statement, saying he'd agreed to stop the movement of his troops and to "de—escalate" the situation and "avoid bloodshed". the kremlin then announced that the wagner force would not be prosecuted and that prigozhin would be moving to live in belarus. president putin had accused the wagner group of "betrayal and treason". tonight, he said that avoiding more bloodshed was more important
10:03 pm
than punishing people. we'll have the latest on a dramatic day from our correspondents steve rosenberg in moscow and andrew harding in eastern ukraine, and i'll bejoined by our chief international correspondent, lyse doucet, with her assessment. let's start in moscow with steve rosenberg. yes, just a few hours ago, it seemed as if wagnerfighters yes, just a few hours ago, it seemed as if wagner fighters were on their way to moscow and there seem to be a real danger of confrontation because of that. but in russia things can change part and, for whatever reason, they did so today. this is how the day began. in the russian city of rostov, armed men and armour on the streets. and thanks outside key buildings. and tanks outside key buildings. in control here, the mercenary group wagner, closely linked to the state. they'd fought for
10:04 pm
russia and ukraine. but this looked like mutiny. their leader, yevgeny prigozhin, seemed to have gone rogue after his feud with the russian defence ministry boiled over — over how the war in ukraine is being fought. at a military hq he told russian generals, "we've come for "the defence minister and the chief of the general staff. "if we don't get them, i'll blockade the city and "head to moscow". this was treachery, said the kremlin. a stab in the back of russia. translation: our actions to defend the fatherland from this _ threat will be harsh. everyone who consciously chose the path of treason and planned the armed uprising has embraced blackmail and terrorist methods. they will be inevitably punished before the law and our people.
10:05 pm
tension rose as reports came in of wagner convoys moving north to moscow. was this heading towards confrontation in the capital? then, out of the blue, a message from mr prigozhin. to avoid bloodshed, he said, wagner would turn around and return to base. a de—escalation deal, which the leader of belarus claims to have negotiated. conflict called off. this is one of those moments where you just have to put up your hands and say, "what on earth was that about? "i mean, just a few hours ago yevgeny prigozhin seemed "determined to march his men to the top of the hill, "and then he marched them down again." we may never know what agreements were
10:06 pm
or were not reached between the key players of this bizarre drama. confused? muscovites were, by the whole affair. "before they told us wagner was good", svetlana says. "they gave them medals for fighting in the special military operation. "but now suddenly they are villains? "that's hard for me to get used to." preparing to leave rostov tonight, wagner fighters got quite a sendoff. they're celebrating what they clearly see as a victory after a day of drama. steve hinting at the mystery around this deal that was negotiated. steve, have you pieced together what might have been the clinching element today?— might have been the clinching element today? might have been the clinching element toda ? ~ ., ~ ., element today? well, we may not know all the details — element today? well, we may not know all the details of _ element today? well, we may not know all the details of what _ element today? well, we may not know all the details of what was _ element today? well, we may not know all the details of what was agreed. - all the details of what was agreed. this is what the kremlin has told us about the deal which has been made
10:07 pm
public. in a late—night kremlin conference for journalists, public. in a late—night kremlin conference forjournalists, first of all, apparently, it was the need of belarus, alexander lukashenko, who allegedly negotiated this deal because apparently he has known mr prigozhin for some time. according to the deal, all criminal charges against mr prigozhin will be dropped and he will move to belarus. as for the wagner fighters who took part in this mutiny, they will not be charged orface this mutiny, they will not be charged or face any criminal charges because of their front line service, the kremlin said. those are the bare bones of the deal that has been made public. what you have is, in effect, a situation which has turned round completely because, just a few hours ago, there seemed to be a real danger of a confrontation. mr prigozhin was saying he was going all the way, he was furious with the military leadership of russia and things have turned around and he
10:08 pm
says, no, to camp, we've done a deal. that's the situation tonight. many thanks. we'll catch up again later. let's take a closer look at the man who called for the rebellion, yevgeny prigozhin, and the group of mercenary soldiers he leads, known as the wagner group. our security correspondent, gordon corera, has more details. yevgeny prigozhin outside russian military headquarters in rostov—on—don this morning, boasting his wagner group have taken it without firing a shot. butjust who is this man challenging russia's leaders? prigozhin began as a criminal from st petersburg. after leaving jail, he began selling hotdogs but then graduated to running expensive restaurants. he caught the attention of russia's leader, leading him to be known as putin's chef. he catered to world leaders when they visited, even america's president, but also became rich from lucrative military contracts.
10:09 pm
about a decade ago, he began to carry out operations around the world on behalf of the kremlin, even interfering in america's 2016 election. but prigozhin became best known as head of wagner, an often—brutal private mercenary group working to the kremlin�*s agenda. it has been operating across the middle east and africa, including syria, libya and mali, allowing putin to project power without being directly involved. but it is in the last year in ukraine that it has really come to the fore. as putin's plans for a quick victory faded, prigozhin�*s forces undertook some of the heaviest fighting. some of them came from prisons. here's prigozhin recruiting them in return for an early release. laying flowers on the graves of those who died helped him cultivate an image in russia as a nationalist hero, one who would fight harder in ukraine.
10:10 pm
but battles like the one in bakhmut have led to growing tension between prigozhin and the regular russian military leadership. he angrily accused its leaders, like the defence minister shoigu and military chief gerasimov, of using his men as cannon fodder and denying them vital supplies. prigozhin claimed russia's soldiers had been let down by their leaders and his attacks on them became increasingly outspoken. it was clear one side or other would have to move, bringing what had been a simmering crisis to the boil. where does all of this leave the wagner group? is it the end for them? it wagner group? is it the end for them? . . , wagner group? is it the end for them? . ., , ~ them? it certainly looks like it. the tension — them? it certainly looks like it. the tension between _ them? it certainly looks like it. the tension between wagner i them? it certainly looks like it. l the tension between wagner and them? it certainly looks like it. - the tension between wagner and the russian military leadership was becoming unsustainable in recent days. you could sense the anchor
10:11 pm
growing on both sides. one of the sides was going to move in some way, especially because there were already plans to put wagner under the control of the regular russian military soon, so prigozhin made his move and there would always have been extraordinary that he could have marched all the way to moscow, but it would also have been very difficult for vladimir putin to unleash his forces in a group, the wagner group, which until recently he lauded as heroes for their part in ukraine, so prigozhin survives in excel, strips in wagner are not prosecuted and don't get killed. —— prigozhin survives in exile. i think it is overfor wagner as prigozhin survives in exile. i think it is over for wagner as a prigozhin survives in exile. i think it is overfor wagner as a group that it was but also, for vladimir putin, this damaging, because he has lost a group which had been able to conduct some party for him in ukraine and it's damaged his own credibility, his ability to project strength at home so, in a sense, neither side wins.—
10:12 pm
strength at home so, in a sense, neither side wins. gordon parreira, our security — neither side wins. gordon parreira, our security corresponded. - in london, the government has held a meeting of its emergency cabinet committee, known as cobra, to discuss the impact of the events in russia. the prime minister had this to say earlier today. it's an evolving situation. and i think the right thing at this juncture is for us to make sure that we are on top of it, that we are in touch with our allies, which we are. and i'll be speaking to them later today. and that we call on all parties to exercise responsibility and to protect civilian lives. that's the most important thing for us in the uk to be doing at this juncture. rishi sunak, the prime minister, speaking a bit earlier. these latest events have to be seen against the backdrop of the latest fighting between russian and ukrainian forces. the forces of president zelensky have been pushing to recapture some of the territory invaded by russia, including settlements in the eastern donetsk region and the southern region of zaporizhzhia, but progress has been slow. fighting is also continuing around the eastern city of bakhmut, most of which is still under russian
10:13 pm
control, after prolonged fighting, and this is where the wagner group have suffered heavy losses. president zelensky said today that the latest chaos in russia showed the weakness of president putin. our correspondent andrew harding reports from the donbas in eastern ukraine. a ukrainian army doctor rushes to help yet another casualty this morning near the front lines. russia may be in disarray today, but the fighting here near the town of bakhmut is as ferocious as ever. rough and ready treatment for this soldier, who's got a chunk of shrapnel in his thigh. the doctor here, his callsign is yoda, plots the next rescue mission to the nearby battlefield. as for the news of
10:14 pm
mutiny in russia... with weary eyes, yoda says, "most of us don't really believe it, "or maybe it's a performance, something to try to distract us. "what matters is that we fight on." they are just heading off now to the front line to pick up some more wounded. the fighting seems to be getting much more intense around bakhmut. and the word from the ukrainians is that they are advancing now steadily, metre by metre. so are ukrainian troops already taking advantage of the chaos in russia's military? that must surely be the plan. there is certainly a big opportunity to seize here, with ukraine's counteroffensive already poised to move up several gears. that's ukrainian jets flying above. that was two ukrainian jets
10:15 pm
flying very low overhead. we are having to stand at the trees here because the medics here are telling us russian drones are constantly patrolling every day looking for them. another doctor, known as afghan, who i last met a year ago, is weary and cautious about what comes next. how is the counteroffensive going? hm. difficult? yes. as if to prove the point... incoming russian artillery. then another casualty arrives from the front. 56—year—old alexander. more shrapnel. and yet, as heavy as the fighting still is, there is renewed hope here that a demoralised, divided russian enemy may be in big trouble and that putin's warjust
10:16 pm
might have reached a turning point. let'sjoin andrew in eastern ukraine. what is your reading of the potential impact of these events now on the fighting in the next few weeks? ,., ., , ., ., weeks? good evening. the situation here and in — weeks? good evening. the situation here and in russia _ weeks? good evening. the situation here and in russia is _ weeks? good evening. the situation here and in russia is so _ here and in russia is so unpredictable right now that ukrainians might well be tempted simply to shock, keep calm and carry on with their counterattack as planned. on the other hand, it is clear there is potentially an opportunity for ukraine, so i think they will be watching closely in the coming days to see if the instability in russia is transferred to the front lines here in ukraine to the front lines here in ukraine to stop will the wagner trips comeback? will there be new divisions, infighting, sudden retreats of units from the front
10:17 pm
lines? opportunities for ukraine to exploit. on the other hand, there are clearly risks involved as well for ukraine. willow kremlin rattled by recent events simply try to exert its authority over this conflict, perhaps by accelerating things, perhaps by accelerating things, perhaps even by launching some sort of nuclear provocation or sabotage? that is something the ukrainians have been concerned about. overall, i think this is clearly something the ukrainians will see as an opportunity. the timing is perfect for them, opportunity. the timing is perfect forthem, coming opportunity. the timing is perfect for them, coming as they are trying to ramp up their counteroffensive, with tens of thousands more troops and western weapons poised to join offensive. so plenty of risks but manual opportunities right now for ukraine. —— many more opportunities. lots of unanswered questions. and lots of things to consider about the potential impact in the days and weeks ahead.
10:18 pm
joining me now is our security correspondent, frank gardner. how do you see the position of the main characters in this ongoing conflict? ., u, main characters in this ongoing conflict? ., , , main characters in this ongoing conflict? ., , conflict? you can sum it up by sa in: , conflict? you can sum it up by saying. wagner— conflict? you can sum it up by saying, wagner finished, - conflict? you can sum it up by - saying, wagner finished, prigozhin excelled, saying, wagnerfinished, prigozhin excelled, putin neutered, but is more common that complex was the success of the wagner group was larger because they operate outside the mainstream army infrastructure, which was weighed down with corruption, bureaucracy and poor leadership. they have now been brought to heel and they are going to be under the command of the russian minister of defence. prigozhin is off to belarus, how long he'll survive as a free man is open to debate. mr putin is not left looking very strong from this and some people say this all a ruse, but it doesn't make him look good. the thing that doesn't change is the strength of russian defences in
10:19 pm
southern ukraine, which is what ukraine has tried breakthrough. none of this change the fact that russia has a triple layer of defences, barbed wire, interlocking fields of fire, trenches, bunkers, all of which is covered by artillery that will rain down rounds on the advancing ukrainian troops. that is what they still have to tackle if this war is going to end. it hasn't changed. this war is going to end. it hasn't chanced. ., ~ this war is going to end. it hasn't chanced. . ~' . ~' i” as for the international community, leaders have been keeping a close eye on events in russia today, without wanting to appear to be interfering in the crisis that seemed set to engulf president putin at one point. so let's get a sense of the global perspective with our chief international correspondent, lyse doucet, who's joined me in the studio. monitoring this fast moving situation today, and then i really
10:20 pm
wanted to ask you, will perceptions of present putting round the world of present putting round the world of change? it’s of present putting round the world of chance? 3 , of present putting round the world ofchanae? �*, , . , ., of change? it's been a breathtaking da and of change? it's been a breathtaking day and there _ of change? it's been a breathtaking day and there must _ of change? it's been a breathtaking day and there must have _ of change? it's been a breathtaking day and there must have been - day and there must have been throughout the day sharp intakes of breath as the phone lines were burning between presidents, prime ministers, military chiefs, top diplomats, sharing intelligence and assessments. it was just between european and north american leaders but in the middle east, asia, africa. there would not be a region untouched by these dramatic elements in russia. in a crisis where braces like coup and civil war were being used throughout the day, and we've been reported on that, there would have been a huge worry for the fate of a major nuclear power, of instability in russia, and now with this immediate crisis averted focus is now on president putin, a leader who survive this crisis but is
10:21 pm
dented, damaged, even worse for him, humiliated, and this is a leader who harbours grudges and takes revenge. he no longer looks in the eyes of his own people or the world is a cool his own people or the world is a cool, calm, supremely confident commander that we saw at certain stages of what he called the special military operation in ukraine, and i think the big question on the minds of many tonight is, how does he take revenge? will he double down on the war in ukraine question what will he lash out against his neighbours? tonight, we have more questions than answers, but some of the answers will play out on the battlefields of ukraine. ., ~ , ., will play out on the battlefields of ukraine. ., ~ i. , , will play out on the battlefields of ukraine. ., ~ , , . ., ukraine. thank you, lyse doucet, our cheap international _ ukraine. thank you, lyse doucet, our cheap international correspondent, i cheap international correspondent, making clear points about the questions that will be facing president putin, so let's get to moscow and have a final word with steve rosenberg, our russia editor. what are your thoughts on what has happened today and what has changed today?
10:22 pm
what a strange 2a hours. i've said before that trying to work out what is happening in russian politics is a bit like doing a jigsaw with half the piece is missing. it is very difficult to build up an accurate picture of what is going on, and that applies to this story as well. in the close, machiavellian world of russian politics, you don't exactly know all the details about the agreements that were reached between mr prigozhin and the kremlin and all the parties involved in this, and there are so many questions, more than answers about what has happened in the last day. for example, last night, when mr prigozhin claimed that the defence ministry had launched a missile strike on a wagner camp, he presented no evidence for that and we heard a lot today about wagner companies moving north towards moscow. —— wagner convoys. there was very little video and social media that came out about them. all we can do is continue to
10:23 pm
try to collect the pieces of this change jigsaw. try to collect the pieces of this change jigsaw— change 'igsaw. thank you again, steve change jigsaw. thank you again, steve rosenberg, _ change jigsaw. thank you again, steve rosenberg, with - change jigsaw. thank you again, steve rosenberg, with his - change jigsaw. thank you again, i steve rosenberg, with his thoughts at the end of such a dramatic day in russia. our russia editor, steve rosenberg. tomorrow, docker tomorrow, laura kuenssberg will be speaking to docker the prime minister at 9am on bbc one. but that's all from me this evening. it's a day that's been dominated by the news from russia. thank you for watching. goodnight.
10:24 pm
a nuclear sabotage, perhaps at the power plant, which could happen, but it's clearly something that the ukrainians are very worried about, having said that the timing of the instability is convenient for ukrainian forces, it comes right as the counter offensive which is slowly is looking to ramp up and looking for spaces and opportunities to make really substantial advances, and clearly the events in russia must have had some kind of impact on front line morale, amongst russian troops, we have all been following what has been going on, just as ukrainian troops have been doing in recent hours. {lilia ukrainian troops have been doing in recent hours-— recent hours. 0k, thank you very much, recent hours. 0k, thank you very much. and _ recent hours. 0k, thank you very much. andjust— recent hours. 0k, thank you very much, and just to _ recent hours. 0k, thank you very much, and just to bring - recent hours. 0k, thank you very much, and just to bring you - recent hours. 0k, thank you very| much, and just to bring you some breaking news, in the last few moments, coming into us from the
10:25 pm
reuters news agency, the governor of rostov—on—don have confirmed that wagner fighters have left his region, that is the region 100 kilometres east of the ukrainian border, the first place that wagner fighters entered as they list russian occupied territory without a shot being fired before they started moving north, and then over the last few hours this has unravelled without march towards moscow being undone, and the wagner leader saying his troops were doing an about turn. you can keep up—to—date with a story on the bbc news website, of course, you are watching bbc news. for more on the geography of all these developments, yasmin khatun dewan has been giving us the latest from our newsroom.
10:26 pm
thank you so much, rich. it's now been just over four hours since we heard that this lightning like advance to kaluga, almost to moscow, had taken a turn and that the wagner mercenary group are retreating. we had a statement saying that this was to avoid bloodshed. i mean, but the scale of this we heard from president putin earlier in the day saying that this was an attempted mutiny, the advance from crimea, rostov—on—don all the way up to kaluga. i mean, moscow said that the wagner group fighters will not be punished. we have heard had a statement from the kremlin, power goes into will not be punished. any criminal charges against him will be dropped and he will go to belarus. that was from kremlin spokesperson dmitry peskov, who said wagner troops would be returning to their camps. now, let's take a look at the man behind these negotiations, belarusian president alexander lu kashenko. here with president putin. just a few weeks ago, he was the man behind these negotiations that halted this advance by the wagner group to moscow. i mean, clearly, you can see both leaders here,
10:27 pm
putin and lukashenko. it was just a few weeks ago injune, this meeting. and lukashenko wasn't the only one saying he'd play a role in trying to halt the advance. we heard from the likes of president recep tayyip erdogan of turkey, who said he would get involved in any negotiations if needed. but it was lukashenko who secured that deal. now, let's take a look at what took place over the course of the day, going back to crimea, which the russian occupied area in red. you can see that that was annexed in 2014. many of the troops involved in that annexation went on to become a part of the wagner mercenary group. i mean, in 2014, at the time, the group weren't well known at all. they were, you know, a little known group with about 5,000 men. i mean, now they're thought to have at least 50,000 men are part of that mercenary group. they started down to rostov—on—don. that advance we heard went
10:28 pm
without a shot being fired. that was what we heard in a statement from the mercenaries. but the advance further north didn't go quite as smoothly, going up the m4. we heard about some armed fire between the groups and troops across that path on the m4. the group that continued to advance taking that territory and going even further up to kaluga. but it was kaluga where that once halted and things took a turn. a look at the geography of what has been happening over the last day. let's bring you up to speed. the governor of the rust of of don area has said wagner troops have left the area. that was the first area they
10:29 pm
entered after leaving russian occupied territory in ukraine. this march north unravelled over a 24—hour period, and it seemed from an outsider�*s perspective that it was all happening pretty quickly, thenit was all happening pretty quickly, then it seemed to come crumbling down, we have had information from belarus's president's offers that he spoke to president putin and the wagner leader, and troops were doing an about turn, and the kremlin has now said yevgeny prigozhin of will move to belarus, he was missing for much of the day. we will keep you updated with all the latest hero bbc news. this is bbc news. the headlines... wagner mercenary fighters withdraw from the city of rostov after their leader orders them to return to their bases, in order to avoid bloodshed. the fighters are met
10:30 pm
with chants of support as they begin their retreat — after tensions appear to deflate. their convoy came within a few hundred kilometres of moscow before an agreement to de—escalate was reached. the kremlin now says it will drop charges against the wagner leader and will not prosecute wagner fighters after earlier accusing the group leader of treason. it's been an extraordinary 2a hours. wagner, the private military company which works closely with the russian government, has pulled back from rostov—on—don — that's according to the governor there. a huge convoy had been heading towards moscow in what vladimir putin had described as an attempted mutiny. chanting and these are images of locals chanting "wagner" as the troops from the mercenary group were leaving rostov. these are tanks boarding trucks and leaving the area.
10:31 pm
a kremlin spokesman says today's events were tragic but a criminal case against the wagner leader yevgeny prigozhin will be dropped and other fighters will not be prosecuted. we've learned that the leader of belarus, alexander lukashenko, helped mediate between moscow and wagner. earlier in an audio message posted on the social media site telegram, prigozhin said, the time had come to stand down. take a listen to this english translation. translation: they wanted to disband the wagner. - onjune 23rd, we went out on a justice march. within a day, we were just 200 kilometres away from moscow. during that time, we did not spill a single drop of blood of our fighters. now the moment has come when the blood can be spilt. therefore, understanding all the responsibility for the fact that russian blood will be spilt on one of the sides, we're turning our comms back and leaving in the opposite direction to the field camps, according to the plan.
10:32 pm
in an audio message, the kremlin press secretary dmitry peskov explained what will happen to the wagner fighters and prigozhin. translation: wagner will return to its bases. translation: wagner will return to its laases- in — translation: wagner will return to its bases. in some _ translation: wagner will return to its bases. in some of— translation: wagner will return to its bases. in some of them - translation: wagner will return to its bases. in some of them in - translation: wagner will return to its bases. in some of them in the - its bases. in some of them in the future will sign contracts with the military defence. as for the other fighters, no one will pursue them. taking into account their merits of the front, we have always respected their heroic deeds at the front, and will always keep this respect. you ask what will happen to prigozhin personally? the criminal case will be dropped against him, and he himself will go to belarus. the belarusian president, alexander lukashenko has claimed credit for turning the troops back, with his office saying the belarusian leader, a close ally of president putin's, took the lead in negotiations and talking down the mercenary leader.
10:33 pm
but many say the damage may already be done. vladimir putin has called the actions of prigozhin — and his wagner group in the last 2a hours — a stab in the back and an attempted mutiny that won't go unpunished. well, across the border in kyiv, ukrainian president volodomyr zelensky said that the days action was a clear sign of weakness in the kremlin. translation: the man - from the kremlin is obviously very afraid and probably hiding somewhere, not showing himself. i am sure that he is no longer in moscow. he knows what he is afraid of because he himself created this threat. and to you, people of russia, the longer your troops stay on ukrainian land, the more devastation they will bring to russia. the longer this person is in the kremlin, the more disaster there will be. for more on this we're joined by our chief international correspondent lyse doucet. i want to talk about the role of
10:34 pm
belarus's leader. talk to us about the role he has played in this, and how that sets the tone for the future. ., ., ~ ., ., ., future. for what we know now, and there's still — future. for what we know now, and there's still a _ future. for what we know now, and there's still a lot _ future. for what we know now, and there's still a lot we _ future. for what we know now, and there's still a lot we don't - future. for what we know now, and there's still a lot we don't know, i there's still a lot we don't know, but what does seem to be the case is that the belarusian president has made an absolutely pivotal role in averting this growing crisis, a crisis, let your mind viewers, throughout the day there was talk of a coup, there was talk of a civil war, and whatever the discomfort, particularly in the west with resident vladimir putin's leadership, there was as much money is with the possibility that it would be yevgeny prigozhin of the mercenary wagner group, with a reputation for brutality, a criminal in their eyes, could be making his way towards moscow with their forces. we understand from what we know that president lukashenko, one of the closest allies of president putin from before the war in ukraine, rememberwhen he putin from before the war in ukraine, remember when he himself
10:35 pm
was facing unprecedented protests in his country, it was president putin who rescued him, and since then he has had to keep repaying the favour. we understand there was a telephone conversation with president putin, they must have discussed what would be the offer or the threat to yevgeny prigozhin. that seem to happen in no time at all, and before we knew it there was the announcement that yevgeny prigozhin was pulling back from events in moscow, that the forces were going back to their bases, and now we hear that he is even going to belarus, which seems to be an extraordinary turn this after the tough rhetoric and condemnations of the russian military leader stop for the first time, president putin himself, we heard earlier in the day. there has been a second telephone conversation this evening between the belarusian and russian presidents, that must have been to inform him about what
10:36 pm
happens next. we still don't know what mr prigozhin will do in belarus, but the president of belarus, but the president of belarus must feel very satisfied indeed that he has been able to play this role of a crisis mediator, a role he has often tried to play and failed to succeed when it came to the crisis in ukraine. i failed to succeed when it came to the crisis in ukraine.— the crisis in ukraine. i want to ick u- the crisis in ukraine. i want to pick up on _ the crisis in ukraine. i want to pick up on something - the crisis in ukraine. i want to pick up on something you - the crisis in ukraine. i want to - pick up on something you mentioned a moment ago. vladimir putin is well known for not tolerating descent, and as you mention, strong words from him earlier on the day, and it seems a complete 180 u—turn, and yevgeny prigozhin allowed to go to belarus with all charges dropped. is he really off the hook, do you think? , , , , ~ , think? this is very, very early hours. think? this is very, very early hours- we — think? this is very, very early hours. we know _ think? this is very, very early hours. we know from - think? this is very, very early hours. we know from the - think? this is very, very early i hours. we know from the history think? this is very, very early - hours. we know from the history of president putin, from the 23 years he has been in power, and even before in his role as a secret agent, that this is a man who does not like to be crossed. it is a man
10:37 pm
who'd harbours grudges, who takes revenge. we have seen that, in a series of poisoning of russian dissidents, his opponents, even though russian involvement is always denied. the question is, when will he take his revenge? for the moment, this is been resolved in quite a conciliatory fashion, if you can call it that, that there will be no prosecution of any fighters of the wagner group who took part in what was described as an insurrection, that mr prigozhin will go to belarus, but we still don't really know as i mentioned what will be the future involvement of mr prigozhin, what happens at the wagner group. remember, before this crisis in the days preceding there was this planned that the forces of the wagner group were meant to be absorbed into the regular russian forces, something that obviously mr prigozhin did not want. he did not want to lose his powerful position commanding these forces. they have
10:38 pm
not only played such a key role on major front lines not only played such a key role on majorfront lines in ukraine, major front lines in ukraine, including majorfront lines in ukraine, including the broad—based —— including the broad—based —— including the broad—based —— including the bloodiest battle in backlit. it is too early to say the consequences of this unprecedented challenge and very open challenge to president putin's rule is over. —— bloodiest battle in bakhmut. president putin's rule is over. -- bloodiest battle in bakhmut. russia is a bi bloodiest battle in bakhmut. russia is a his country. _ bloodiest battle in bakhmut. russia is a big country, and _ bloodiest battle in bakhmut. russia is a big country, and the _ bloodiest battle in bakhmut. russia is a big country, and the wagner- is a big country, and the wagner fighters in made their way into a few cities, but not many. whilst it may have been a bit of a challenge to president putin,... whether it is the treasury or the media, how much of a threat realistically was potentially if few thousand fighters marching towards moscow? than potentially if few thousand fighters marching towards moscow? an immense challen . e marching towards moscow? an immense challenge not — marching towards moscow? an immense challenge not in — marching towards moscow? an immense challenge not in the _ marching towards moscow? an immense challenge not in the sense _ marching towards moscow? an immense challenge not in the sense that _ marching towards moscow? an immense challenge not in the sense that he - challenge not in the sense that he was about to bring president putin down, but remember this was a president who does not tolerate any
10:39 pm
dissent, orany president who does not tolerate any dissent, or any opposition. the very fact that a man who had been very close to president putin, remember the rise and rise of mr prigozhin, who started off as a hot dog seller, who started off as a hot dog seller, who rose to become a caterer to the kremlin, with very lucrative contract catering to president putin and his cronies who grew very powerful, and went on to command this private army. it has been said that when he criticised the russian military leadership, including the defence minister general shoigu and general gerasimov, the chief of the general staff, general gerasimov, the chief of the generalstaff, he general gerasimov, the chief of the general staff, he was doing it with tacit approvalfrom president general staff, he was doing it with tacit approval from president putin. he had been very careful not to criticise the russian president directly. we saw today for the first time that he did criticise him in public, and of course then called
10:40 pm
for rebellion within the russian army. his forces started advancing towards moscow, so that's the kind of challenge we were talking about. a very open, a very public challenge, rattling a leader who does not like to be rattled, most of all not to be rattled in public. earlier on in the day, belarus's leader alexander lukashenko described this coup, if we want to call it that, as a gift to the west. is the west going to try and capitalise on what is potentially a slightly weakened vladimir putin now? ~ ., slightly weakened vladimir putin now? ~ . , ., now? well, at the beginning of the da , in now? well, at the beginning of the day. in fact — now? well, at the beginning of the day, in fact yesterday _ now? well, at the beginning of the day, in fact yesterday evening, - now? well, at the beginning of the i day, in fact yesterday evening, when the tensions first started erupting in the open, any of our viewers who are following this on social media, there were those trademark memes from ukraine, stories that there is now a shortage of the popcorn in ukraine because everyone was watching this with very disguised glee, but of course this quickly
10:41 pm
turned to concern about what would be the consequences of this very open leadership spat, it didn't stop russian strikes against targets in ukraine, the air raid sirens sounded last night. there were strikes against the capital kyiv, and instability in russia was no laughing matter. much of the west would certainly like to see president putin weekend, a very messy collapse of the russian state, that didn't seem to be on the agenda, but very wide open splits, this kind of instability, would not auger well for any region, and that is why this is being watched very closely, especially when, in the middle of the day and is the day began, it wasn't clear how this was going to unfold. i remember at about lunchtime, there was this expression being used by many, two to three days they said, president putin had two to three days to cross this
10:42 pm
rebellion and stamp —— or his authority would be so dented. the enemy of our enemy is ourfriend, as much as dented. the enemy of our enemy is our friend, as much as we don't yevgeny prigozhin, the fact that he was moving against putin meant that they could try to move together. it was a very uncertain moment earlier in the day. while the immediate threat has subsided, i don't think we can see it that all of the danger has gone out of this crisis in the immediate, in the immediacy of it. thank you so much forjoining us. before we move on to our next guest, let's take a look at this picture. the head of the wagner mercenary
10:43 pm
group has been pictured by reuters news agency apparently leaving the city of rostov—on—don, which his fighters took control of earlier today. reuters says yevgeny prigozhin was driving away from the district military headquarters in the city. asi as i said, that is the first city that his fighters took, which he proudly proclaimed they were able to do without firing a single shot. it the last hour or so, we have had the governor from that region confirming that the wagner fighters have packed up that the wagner fighters have packed up and left. that photo from the reuters news agency of yevgeny prigozhin leaving the area. joining us from washington is andrew d'anieri, assistant director at the atlantic council's eurasia centre. we did get some comments earlier on from the white house about how they were communicating with our allies and partners. what willjoe biden's administration be looking for in the
10:44 pm
days to come? i administration be looking for in the days to come?— days to come? i think we will certainly _ days to come? i think we will certainly be _ days to come? i think we will certainly be watching - days to come? i think we will certainly be watching closely| days to come? i think we will. certainly be watching closely as days to come? i think we will- certainly be watching closely as the reports we have seen indicate, and it is not clear that any particular action is needed on the us part. there has been a lot of kerfuffle up and down the m4 highway in russia, but not a whole lot that might be actionable in terms of policy changes from the us side. if you look at the conflict between prigozhin and shoigu and gerasimov, they are really arguing over the most expedient way to destroy ukraine and kill ukrainians. in that sense, i don't think the imperatives in moscow or washington have changed. they need to step up even more support for ukraine having seen these events in moscow over the past 24, 27 hours. it wrecked the wagner group emerged in 2014, there were funding links to tru,—
10:45 pm
funding links to tru, always se arate funding links to tru, always separate from _ funding links to tru, always separate from the _ funding links to tru, always separate from the russian l funding links to tru, always - separate from the russian state, but very closely aligned. it seemed that that relationship may be irreparably damaged. is this the end of the wagner group? it is damaged. is this the end of the wagner grown?— damaged. is this the end of the wagner group? it is tough to say, because the _ wagner group? it is tough to say, because the information - wagner group? it is tough to say, - because the information environment is really hard to say. what is actually going on, there is a bit of a fog of war in the last day. from what we do seem to know, prigozhin is going to belarus, and wagner fighters are being absorbed into the ministry of defence forces headed back down south to ukraine. that would seem to me that wagner could be on the out, and that doesn't mean that all the private military companies are on the out either. even though private military companies are technically illegal in russia, we have seen a proliferation of them in the past 12 months or so. the russian president, vladimir putin, keeps a very tight circle around him. there are very few who have direct access to the president.
10:46 pm
yevgeny prigozhin was certainly one. can you talk to us about the dynamics of the top of russia's leadership, and how the events at the last 24 hours might change that. this is a really good question, because i think one of the things we did learn in the pasty isjust because i think one of the things we did learn in the pasty is just how small the decision—making circle is in moscow. not only is it weak, but is really a small core stop if you followed along with the main kremlin propagandist, state affiliated that is, and on raschl channel one, there was a lot of silence and not knowing what to do stop —— russia channel one. they didn't seem to be our comic fan of how to respond to this wagner advance. comic fan of how to respond to this wagneradvance. i comic fan of how to respond to this wagner advance. i think not only does the show us how brittle the
10:47 pm
putin regime is, but it shows us how small this core of decision—makers is in moscow and the kremlin. small this core of decision-makers is in moscow and the kremlin. people around the world _ is in moscow and the kremlin. people around the world have _ is in moscow and the kremlin. people around the world have been - is in moscow and the kremlin. people around the world have been watching| around the world have been watching events unfold today, but of course the russian state controls the media in russia itself. hand on heart, will many russian people even know what has been happening today? russian people i think do know and have been following along. most of the media and videos we have seen over the past 24 hours have been on telegram, which is the main decentralised media place in russia. it is a russian social media network, and is proliferated around the world, and we have seen what some might say is the best of telegram in getting out these kind of civilian videos of things going on when there really was a lack of information, especially from the official news channels in russia
10:48 pm
stop i think russians have been following along, i think it is right that it following along, i think it is right thatitis following along, i think it is right that it is a really restricted information environment, but i think russians have been following along, especially in rostov as well. we saw people live streaming this. i think it will be difficult for russians to get away from the events of the past day or so. get away from the events of the past da or so. ., ., , ., ., day or so. you have been monitoring the life and — day or so. you have been monitoring the life and work— day or so. you have been monitoring the life and work of _ day or so. you have been monitoring the life and work of vladimir - day or so. you have been monitoring the life and work of vladimir putin i the life and work of vladimir putin for many years. is there any chance that this will make him think, perhaps it's time i step down? absolutely not. i think over the past day this is really illustrated for putting again how small and weak his regime really is. we can see 5000, some say 25,000, there is a big range in the number of wagner forces that were travelling up this highway from rostov to voronezh towards moscow. it does raise
10:49 pm
questions about the efficacy of the regime. putin will take that as a sign to part it even further, and probably restrict things even more in russia. watch this space, i would say. in russia. watch this space, i would sa . ~ ., in russia. watch this space, i would sa , ~ ., ., " say. we will leave it there. thank ou for say. we will leave it there. thank you forjoining — say. we will leave it there. thank you forjoining us. _ these latest events have to be seen against the backdrop of the latest fighting between russian and ukrainian forces. the forces of president zelensky have been pushing to recapture some of the territory invaded by russia, including settlements in the eastern donetsk region and the southern region of zaporizhzhia, but progress has been slow. our correspondent andrew harding reports from the donbas in eastern ukraine. a ukrainian army doctor rushes to help yet another casualty this morning near the front lines. russia may be in disarray today, but the fighting here near the town of bakhmut is as ferocious as ever.
10:50 pm
rough and ready treatment for this soldier, who's got a chunk of shrapnel in his thigh. the doctor here, his callsign is yoda, plots the next rescue mission to the nearby battlefield. as for the news of mutiny in russia... with weary eyes, yoda says, "most of us don't really believe it, "or maybe it's a performance, something to try to distract us. "what matters is that we fight on." they are just heading off now to the front line to pick up some more wounded. the fighting seems to be getting much more intense around bakhmut. and the word from the ukrainians is that they are advancing now steadily, metre by metre. so are ukrainian troops already taking advantage of the chaos in russia's military? that must surely be the plan.
10:51 pm
there is certainly a big opportunity to seize here, with ukraine's counteroffensive already poised to move up several gears. jets pass. that's ukrainian jets flying above. that was two ukrainian jets flying very low overhead. we are having to stay under the trees here because the medics here are telling us russian drones are constantly patrolling every day looking for them. another doctor, known as afghan, who i last met a year ago, is weary and cautious about what comes next. how is the counteroffensive going? hm. difficult? yes. as if to prove the point... incoming russian artillery. explosion.
10:52 pm
then another casualty arrives from the front. 56—year—old alexander. more shrapnel. and yet, as heavy as the fighting still is, there is renewed hope here that a demoralised, divided russian enemy may be in big trouble and that putin's warjust might have reached a turning point. trouble and that putin's warjust might have reached a turning point. lets ta ke lets take a look at the man right at the centre of this. yevgeny prigozhin. he is the commander of the wagner mercenary group, who led his forces north towards moscow. in the last half hour or so, reuters news agency released these photos of him leaving rostov on don, one of the southern cities they took earlier. this isjust come the southern cities they took earlier. this is just come to us the southern cities they took earlier. this isjust come to us in the last 30 minutes or so. we can turn out to a report from arc
10:53 pm
security correspondent, looking at the background of this individual. yevgeny prigozhin outside russian military headquarters in rostov—on—don this morning, boasting his wagner group have taken it without firing a shot. butjust who is this man challenging russia's armed forces, and now its president? prigozhin began as a criminal from st petersburg. after leaving jail, he began selling hotdogs but then graduated to running expensive restaurants. he caught the attention of russia's leader, leading him to be known as putin's chef. he catered to world leaders when they visited, even america's president, but also became rich from lucrative military contracts. then, in the last decade, he branched out, running operations around the world on behalf of the kremlin. that led to the fbi placing him on their most wanted list for allegedly interfering with america's 2016 election. but prigozhin became best known as head of wagner,
10:54 pm
an often brutal private mercenary group working to the kremlin's agenda. it has been operating across the middle east and africa, including syria, libya and mali, allowing putin to project power without being directly involved. but it is in the last year in ukraine that it has really come to the fore. his forces have played a major role in the bloody combat. some of them came from prisons. here is prigozhin recruiting them in return for an early release. but battles like the one in bakhmut have led to growing tension between prigozhin and the regular russian military leadership. he has angrily accused its leaders, like the defence minister shoigu and military chief, gerasimov, of using his men as cannon fodder and denying them vital supplies.
10:55 pm
in recent weeks he had been growing even more outspoken, increasingly seeming to challenge notjust the military but also vladimir putin, bringing what had been a simmering crisis to the boil. as we have heard in the last half hour, we have seen photographs of yevgeny prigozhin leaving rostov on don, the first city that he and his wagner forces took earlier on in the day, without firing a single shot. it has been quite the 24 hours. to stick with us here on bbc news. let's ta ke let's take a look on the geography surrounding all of this and how the developments of twisted and turned throughout the day. yasmin khatun dewan is at our newsroom. it really has been a day of twists
10:56 pm
and turns- _ it really has been a day of twists and turns. there _ it really has been a day of twists and turns. there wasn't - it really has been a day of twists and turns. there wasn't this - and turns. there wasn't this expectation of this lightning like advance of the wagner mercenary group from crimea to rostov on don, all the way up to just 200 kilometres from moscow. and now this retreat, we are hearing just half an hour ago that wagner troops have left rostov on don where this campaign began earlier today. five hours ago, we heard the news that this retreat began early this morning that started with his advance. it has been this lightning like advanced throughout the match that you saw there. here, you see two pivotal men, president putin and alexander lukashenko of belarus. alexander lukashenko of belarus. alexander look played a critical role in negotiations with president putin and the racal group to halt the advance, and we saw other leaders come out like recep tayyip erdogan singh they would also... and played a role in negotiations, but
10:57 pm
it was alexander lukashenko who went on to do that. let's go back to how the day started. back to 2014, russia annexed crimea, and a number of the troops involved in that annexation were from, went on to join the wagner group. at that point, the vacuously group had just come to the surface. there are 5000 troops that were part of that group in 2014, and now, years later, we heard that they have amassed 50,000. that began with a move to rostov on don, and then up further through the m4 to voronezh and then lipetsk, and then that went up to kaluga. it felt like it would get up to moscow, but didn't quite. we have heard that the wagner mercenary groups have left rostov on don. we have also heard
10:58 pm
that the wagner troops won't be punished and will actually go back to their camps. that was unexpected, the day beginning with president putin saying there was a mutiny. the actions were taken extraordinarily seriously, the lightning advance, unexpected, to take this with the success we have seen, the wagner group did come across some fire in the region with the move from rostov on don to voronezh, the move from crimea to rostov on don, they say they went through without any fire being shot. an unexpected cop, but for the wagner group to take on this type of role, you wonder what the purpose and intention is behind such a move when they retreated following those negotiations, and it seems like business as usual. will we see the wagner group take on the type of role that they have played for russia and beyond ukraine into africa and the middle east, will they continue to do so? it is a wonder whether they will play that
10:59 pm
role. they have been playing for russia over the last few decades —— over the last decade, you are watching with seniors. —— you are watching with seniors. —— you are watching bbc news. live from washington. this is bbc news. from rebellion to retreat, wagner troops turn back after a dramatic day in russia.
11:00 pm
i'm helena humphrey, good to have you with us. we start with what has been an extraordinary 24 hours in russia. the wagner group, a group of mercenary soldiers who've been fighting in ukraine, is pulling back fighters from rostov—on—don. wagner's leader yevgeny prigozhin, who had been very critical of putin's approach to the war in ukraine, earlier called on russian troops to rebel against their leaders and said his men were marching on moscow. however in a development in just the last few hours, russian state media reported that prigozhin has left for belarus amid his decision to stand his troops down. a huge convoy had been heading towards moscow in what vladimir putin had described, as an attempted mutiny, but charges against him and his wagnerforces will be dropped. president putin's press secretary said that wagner mercenaries who wish to sign a ministry of defence contract can, and fighters who took part in the uprising will not be prosecuted.
11:01 pm
meanwhile these are the latest images of locals chanting 'wagner�* as the troops from the mercenary group were leaving rostov. and here you see tanks boarding trucks and leaving the area. the departures come as belursian leader lukashenko helped to mediate between moscow and wagner. earlier in an audio message posted on the social media site telegram, prigozhin said the time had come to stand down —— in an effort to 'de—escalate' the situation and 'avoid bloodshed'. take a listen to this english translation of his message. translation: they wanted to disband the wagner. - onjune 23rd, we went out on a justice march. within a day, we were just 200 kilometres away from moscow. during that time, we did not spill a single drop of blood of our fighters. now the moment has come when the blood can be spilt. therefore, understanding all the responsibility for the fact that russian blood will be spilt
11:02 pm
on one of the sides, we're turning our comms back and leaving in the opposite direction to the field camps, according to the plan. the belarusian president, alexander lukashenko, who as we mentioned, has claimed credit for brokering a deal between wagner and russian forces. his office said the belarusian leader, a close ally of president putin's, took the lead in negotiations and talking down the mercenary leader, which ultimately led to prigozhin turning his troops back. but the damage may already be done. vladimir putin has called the actions of prigozhin — and his wagner group in the last 24 hours — a stab in the back and an attempted mutiny that won't go unpunished. well across the border in kyiv, ukrainian president volodomyr zelensky said that the days action was a clear sign of weakness in the kremlin. demand is obviously very afraid and probably hiding somewhere. not showing himself. i'm sure he's no
11:03 pm
longer in moscow. he knows what he is afraid of because he himself created this threat. and to you, people of russia, the longer your trip stay on ukrainian land, the more devastation they will bring to russia. the longer this person is in the kremlin, the more disaster there will be. live now to general douglas lute — former us permanent representative to nato. an extraordinary series of events — a rebellion and retreat within 24 hours. what do you think prigozhin was looking to achieve here? well, it's absolutely not clear it has been an extraordinary 24 hours. the notion that a private military company, the wagon or group can reverse course after in ukraine and turn into russia, seize control of
11:04 pm
rostov—on—don, the headquarters of the southern military discourse of the southern military discourse of the russian command structure it eventually turned north and move towards moscow is just unbelievable. equally unbelievable is the reversal of all this, and the last several hours, with the suggestion that everything will be forgiven and forgotten in vladimir putin's mutiny that he labelled a mutiny somehow just being dismissed. i do not think this is over and we should not by the recent explanation that everything will be ok. and i think there's much more to come —— wagner. nato leaders watching this, what do you think they would've been making essentially seeing a challenge from inside russia? they will be reviewing a defence plant which is already on the high level readiness
11:05 pm
because of the ongoing war but in the back of the mind, many nato leaders will be in fact, vladimir putin has been demonstrating that he is much more fragile and that the command structure in russia has much more brittle than they imagined. and this brings nightmare scenarios to mind which could include the security of russia's 7000 nuclear weapons. security of russia's 7000 nuclear wea ons. ., j security of russia's 7000 nuclear weaons. ., j , weapons. you said they'll be thinkin: weapons. you said they'll be thinking potentially - weapons. you said they'll be thinking potentially that - weapons. you said they'll be thinking potentially that this | weapons. you said they'll be l thinking potentially that this is exposing weaknesses in the leadership of president putin, how do you think the united states, ukraine, should be taken advantage of this week? i ukraine, should be taken advantage of this week?— of this week? i don't think there's an hinu of this week? i don't think there's anything we _ of this week? i don't think there's anything we should _ of this week? i don't think there's anything we should be _ of this week? i don't think there's anything we should be doing - of this week? i don't think there's anything we should be doing to i of this week? i don't think there's i anything we should be doing to push the events forward in russia. rather, we should be focusing on the situation in ukraine on the battle in ukraine because this move over
11:06 pm
the last 24 hours exposing weakness in the kremlin and placing at risk the operational headquarters in rostov—on—don, diverting the attention of russian soldiers and probably decreasing morale of russian front—line soldiers presents a huge opportunity for ukrainian counteroffensive and now, it is the time to strike while the's attention is divided and my russia has to look not only to the west to the ukrainian counteroffensive but also increasingly to the east and wondering about the loyalties of forces in russia itself. what wondering about the loyalties of forces in russia itself.— forces in russia itself. what you think happens — forces in russia itself. what you think happens next _ forces in russia itself. what you think happens next year- forces in russia itself. what you think happens next year was - forces in russia itself. what you think happens next year was my forces in russia itself. what you - think happens next year was my cat prigozhin go developers, can is meant the essentially in terry on. —— essentially an carry—on. i -- essentially an carry-on. i think priuozhin -- essentially an carry-on. i think prigozhin and _
11:07 pm
-- essentially an carry-on. i think prigozhin and wagner _ -- essentially an carry-on. i think prigozhin and wagner group - -- essentially an carry-on. i think prigozhin and wagner group will l -- essentially an carry-on. i think. prigozhin and wagner group will be cut down to size. i do not buy this recent explanation the pollution president broke —— belarusian president broke —— belarusian president broke —— belarusian president broke a deal and the harsh form of vladimir putinjustice brought to prigozhin and the leadership of the wagner group. this would not be forgiven or forgotten. whether he can carry on about the wagner group forces —— without the forces? wagner group forces -- without the forces? , ., ., .,, forces? they were among the most active and while _ forces? they were among the most active and while suffering _ forces? they were among the most active and while suffering very - active and while suffering very heavy attrition themselves, among the most successful in the last six months or so, even removing them from the front lines in ukraine presents the ukrainian counteroffensive and opportunity. i do not accept that this could be an
11:08 pm
rostov—on—don, welcomed by the russian people, even portions of it headed to moscow on the m4 highway in the tomorrow simply return without incident to the front lines of ukraine. there is more to the story that will play out in the coming hours and days we will be watching it closely. in coming hours and days we will be watching it closely.— watching it closely. in other countries — watching it closely. in other countries will _ watching it closely. in other countries will be _ watching it closely. in other countries will be watched i watching it closely. in other- countries will be watched closely. china has been walking a tight line. and what about internationally — we have seen countries like china, india, turkey walking a tightrope when it comes to support for putin. will there be any reconsidation of this, based on how they perceive putin's grip on power? it will make i think president xi jinping and the chinese communist party jinping and the chinese communist pa j . . ., jinping and the chinese communist pa . w, party have a long time viewed russia as the weaker. _ party have a long time viewed russia as the weaker, less _ party have a long time viewed russia as the weaker, less a _ party have a long time viewed russia as the weaker, less a subordinate i as the weaker, less a subordinate partner in this partnership between china and russia. the events of the last 24 hours only add emphasis to the perception.
11:09 pm
last 24 hours only add emphasis to the perception-— the perception. what you think the us military generals _ the perception. what you think the us military generals will— the perception. what you think the us military generals will also - the perception. what you think the us military generals will also be i us military generals will also be thinking about putin's grip on power and this timeline? i thinking about putin's grip on power and this timeline?— and this timeline? i think the us military perspective _ and this timeline? i think the us military perspective will- and this timeline? i think the us military perspective will be - and this timeline? i think the us military perspective will be one | military perspective will be one that i related earlier this presents an opportunity, and operational opportunity for ukrainian counteroffensive and now is the time to take advantage of that. and counteroffensive and now is the time to take advantage of that.— to take advantage of that. and how should they — to take advantage of that. and how should they do _ to take advantage of that. and how should they do that _ to take advantage of that. and how should they do that briefly, - to take advantage of that. and how should they do that briefly, if - to take advantage of that. and how should they do that briefly, if you l should they do that briefly, if you do not mind?— should they do that briefly, if you do not mind? ~ ., ., ., do not mind? with the withdrawal of the forces and _ do not mind? with the withdrawal of the forces and the _ do not mind? with the withdrawal of the forces and the disruption - do not mind? with the withdrawal of the forces and the disruption and i the forces and the disruption and the forces and the disruption and the command of control of russian forces in ukraine because of the occupation and rostov—on—don, there's opportunity here for ukrainian offensive to gain momentum quickly and take advantage of this disruption in the situation among resin forces. and that is what i think we will see. the next shoe to fall here will be an increased tempo
11:10 pm
and ukrainian counteroffensive trying to take advantage of the events of the last 24 hours. thank ou so events of the last 24 hours. thank you so much- _ cbs news is now reporting that top congressional leaders in the us have been briefed multiple times in recent days in addition to today on the risk posed by the wagner group according to multiple sources. let's go to lieutenant general stephan twitty, former deputy commander of us european command for more on the day's events unfold in the past hours. how significant do you think this moment is? it is definitely significant. we are in a period of uncertainty and we do not know the concessions that were made as a result of the belarusian president back to negotiations so we
11:11 pm
do not know what's going to happen here other than prigozhin going in the wagner group will be integrated into the russian military. and the wagner group will be integrated into the russian military.— into the russian military. and what we did see over— into the russian military. and what we did see over this _ into the russian military. and what we did see over this past _ into the russian military. and what we did see over this past 24 - into the russian military. and what we did see over this past 24 hours| we did see over this past 24 hours was that and what we did see over this past 24 hours prigozhin claimed that his troops got within 200 km of moscow. what do you make of how close they reportedly got? it says a couple of things. first of all, let's go back to the command centre in the south there. i was it seized without a shot fired? in either the russians capitulated and gave their headquarters to the wagner group where they vanished? i don't know. i suspect that president putin will want to know what happened there and then when you look at moving to the city, we saw
11:12 pm
the russian populace taking pictures with the wagner group and so forth. that is an indicator that at least there was some russians on the side of the wagner group and as they continue to move north, unopposed by any russian military, whether it be ground forces or air forces. and any russian military, whether it be ground forces or airforces. and i do not know whether or not those orchestrated to president putin or not, but if you are moving towards moscow, you'd better have some type of defensive mechanism and ready to strike that is opposing the seat of government and we did not see that happen. in government and we did not see that ha en. ., government and we did not see that hauen. ., ., happen. in that convoy moving throu~h happen. in that convoy moving through russia, _ happen. in that convoy moving through russia, we _ happen. in that convoy moving through russia, we also - happen. in that convoy moving through russia, we also saw i happen. in that convoy moving - through russia, we also saw some reports of locals chanting for the wagner group in some areas. you see a prospect for potential internal russian warfare? we
11:13 pm
a prospect for potential internal russian warfare?— a prospect for potential internal russian warfare? ~ ., ., , russian warfare? we will have to see as the days — russian warfare? we will have to see as the days progress _ russian warfare? we will have to see as the days progress and _ russian warfare? we will have to see as the days progress and it _ russian warfare? we will have to see as the days progress and it seems i russian warfare? we will have to see as the days progress and it seems to | as the days progress and it seems to me that russian seat of government is not threatened at this point in time and that president putin is a sound hand on the situation now and i don't suspect there will be any type of bribes that will lead to a cooler anything and i think now they're headed to the area and it will be given back to some type of normalcy here but i will tell you is that this force that they integrate into the military, ijust can't see how that will happen without the distrust as well as the infighting thatis, distrust as well as the infighting that is, between these two forces, the wegner group and the russian military. i don't see this is a good mix to integrate these two forces
11:14 pm
together but we will have to see in the coming days and months. what the coming days and months. what does that mean _ the coming days and months. what does that mean for _ the coming days and months. what does that mean for the _ the coming days and months. what does that mean for the forces? up and see them weekend and will be watching all of this and what could play out? watching all of this and what could -la out? ., , , watching all of this and what could -la out? . , , ., play out? perhaps, if their leader now is gone _ play out? perhaps, if their leader now is gone and _ play out? perhaps, if their leader now is gone and they _ play out? perhaps, if their leader now is gone and they pretty - play out? perhaps, if their leader| now is gone and they pretty much rallied around their leader and we do not know what was going to step forward and lead to now put the new leader of this organisation has been around for a while and fought in 2014 and they fought in syria and africa they have a lot of experience, a lot of professionals within that organisation but they also have prisoners within that organisation as well and so, we do not know will happen over the coming days and that is something i suspect most people will be watching. what most people will be watching. what ou think most people will be watching. what you think this _
11:15 pm
most people will be watching. what you think this could _ most people will be watching. what you think this could mean for ukrainian's counteroffensive on the battlefield? i ukrainian's counteroffensive on the battlefield? , ., , , battlefield? i believe that this is an opportunity _ battlefield? i believe that this is an opportunity for _ battlefield? i believe that this is an opportunity for them - battlefield? i believe that this is an opportunity for them an - an opportunity for them an opportunity for two fronts my mind. go back to the distrust and also going back to the lack of morale and the lack of teamwork between the russian forces and ukrainians need to exploit that and the information space as well as on the battlefield. we know if there russians out there, we do not understand why they are fighting and they don't want to be fighting and they don't want to be fighting their cousins and their uncles and their relatives in ukraine and also taking this opportunity to exploit that, you also take the opportunity to exploit the fact that there is a headquarters in this particular point that is in disarray that commenced this fight from the russian army that is now down and
11:16 pm
you have to exploit the board of the russian command headquarters and go after some deep targets, go after command. �* �* . , after some deep targets, go after command. �* �* ., , ., , command. and i'm really intrigued as to how ou command. and i'm really intrigued as to how you think _ command. and i'm really intrigued as to how you think nato _ command. and i'm really intrigued as to how you think nato should - command. and i'm really intrigued asj to how you think nato should respond here and now europe should respond here? i here and now europe should respond here? ., . here and now europe should respond here? ~' ., ., , here? i think we have to be careful with nato and _ here? i think we have to be careful with nato and i've _ here? i think we have to be careful with nato and i've been _ here? i think we have to be careful with nato and i've been pretty - with nato and i've been pretty impressed with nato as well and that the us we have stayed low in this and they realise that this is an internal problem within russia is going to take the russian people to solve this problem. so, i think nato needs to continue to do what they've been doing and back ukrainians and give them what they need to be successful in this war. [30 give them what they need to be successful in this war.— give them what they need to be successful in this war. do you think there's a prospect _ successful in this war. do you think there's a prospect for _ successful in this war. do you think
11:17 pm
there's a prospect for any - successful in this war. do you think there's a prospect for any kind - successful in this war. do you think there's a prospect for any kind of. there's a prospect for any kind of feud here between two very important men in russia because my cousins were just became more dangerous men in russia because my cousins werejust became more dangerous —— as this warjust become more dangerous?— as this warjust become more dangerous? it will spell a cross borders and — dangerous? it will spell a cross borders and perhaps _ dangerous? it will spell a cross borders and perhaps even - dangerous? it will spell a cross borders and perhaps even into | dangerous? it will spell a cross - borders and perhaps even into nato. but we mitigate those things and try to respond appropriately and with nato being quiet about it in the us being quiet about it and letting russia to deal with its own internal problems, absolutely. hour russia to deal with its own internal problems, absolutely.— russia to deal with its own internal problems, absolutely. how we can do ou think problems, absolutely. how we can do you think the — problems, absolutely. how we can do you think the chief _ problems, absolutely. how we can do you think the chief vladimir _ problems, absolutely. how we can do you think the chief vladimir putin - you think the chief vladimir putin is —— how shaken do you think he is a a disasterfor
11:18 pm
is —— how shaken do you think he is a a disaster for russia. and is -- how shaken do you think he is a a disaster for russia.— a a disaster for russia. and this ha--ened a a disaster for russia. and this happened in _ a a disaster for russia. and this happened in the _ a a disaster for russia. and this happened in the world - a a disaster for russia. and this happened in the world stage, i a a disaster for russia. and this l happened in the world stage, this a a disaster for russia. and this - happened in the world stage, this is a total disaster for happened in the world stage, this is a total disasterfor him happened in the world stage, this is a total disaster for him and he a total disasterfor him and he did not anticipate this war that this type of outcome and they certainly did not anticipate that they would have internal strife that they are having now. and so, they have been weakened on the world stage we know the russians are not ten feet tall now in terms of the military and they've been exposed. so, this is been a terrible campaign for the russians. ., ., , , ., ., russians. from a deputy commander of us european — russians. from a deputy commander of us european command, _ russians. from a deputy commander of us european command, we _ russians. from a deputy commander of us european command, we really - us european command, we really appreciate your analysis and insight and thank you for being with us. live now to samuel ramani, associate fellow at the royal united services institute. sam — we've heard prizoghin could be headed to belarus, that there won't be punishments for wagner troops but that putin has also called this a stab in the back and an attempted mutiny that won't go unpunished. where do you see this going?
11:19 pm
your mac i think the situation has been resolved at the moment. and been resolved at the moment. and demetri is not _ been resolved at the moment. situc demetri is not clarified been resolved at the moment. fific demetri is not clarified it been resolved at the moment. el“ic demetri is not clarified it and it doesn't seem to be any changes in russian command. a lot of speculation that prigozhin was going to abandon the school and they're about to get dismissed and he was asked about his position is that there is no evidence they anything is changed. i think for right now, there's bit of calm before the storm. �* ., ., , ., storm. and what about storm look like? the storm _ storm. and what about storm look like? the storm could _ storm. and what about storm look like? the storm could look- storm. and what about storm look like? the storm could look like i storm. and what about storm look like? the storm could look like a l like? the storm could look like a number of _ like? the storm could look like a number of things. _ like? the storm could look like a number of things. what - like? the storm could look like a number of things. what a - like? the storm could look like a i number of things. what a problems integrating the wagner group and russian military and the wagner group have a very difficult relationship with several groups and is releasing a statement attacking prigozhin's arrogance and personal ambitions and the fighters to resist
11:20 pm
their whole outlook and he was posting the body sent thousands of trips to the bed of moscow, they're very critical of the russian generals and more troubles that were not there before. what do you think prigozhin's motive was here. what was he looking to achieve? i think he was trying to make a grab for power and at the very least, she wanted to use the takeover of rostov—on—don as some kind of a bargaining chip to remove others and guarantee his autonomy over military operations on the ground of ukraine and maybe he downsized the ambitions and maybe he downsized the ambitions a bit when he was concerned that maybe it wouldn't succeed as moscow and others didn't come to his side and others didn't come to his side and that he could be arrested for treason and spend the rest of his life in jail treason and spend the rest of his life injail would be killed in this
11:21 pm
gambit didn't work out. he is either going to go for a full—scale power grab or get a lot more footman and hit the server something much less probably not even personnel changes in the russian military. hour probably not even personnel changes in the russian military.— in the russian military. how long do ou think in the russian military. how long do you think he — in the russian military. how long do you think he had _ in the russian military. how long do you think he had been _ in the russian military. how long do you think he had been planning - in the russian military. how long do| you think he had been planning this? i think it been planning this for a long time, it was strictly public about being the head of the wagner group and is probably priming the telegram in the ultranationalist space inside russia with messages that were surfacing during this attempt showing you what his goals were for leading russia into an attack on ukraine and columns is that the russian leadership were betraying the russian motherland and also, presenting themselves as a champion who opposed anti—that looking at his claims in his requests and it appears as though maybe that was about this but is
11:22 pm
merely trying to stockpile for potential coup attempt. the think he started planning the narrative is a list of fallen his military campaign was a few months ago. what list of fallen his military campaign was a few months ago.— list of fallen his military campaign was a few months ago. what you make of alexander's — was a few months ago. what you make of alexander's reported _ was a few months ago. what you make of alexander's reported role _ was a few months ago. what you make of alexander's reported role in - was a few months ago. what you make of alexander's reported role in all - of alexander's reported role in all of alexander's reported role in all of this as an arbiter and potentially what this could potentially what this could potentially look like? after 2020, when he clung — potentially look like? after 2020, when he clung to _ potentially look like? after 2020, when he clung to power _ potentially look like? after 2020, when he clung to power on - potentially look like? after 2020, when he clung to power on behalf potentially look like? after 2020, i when he clung to power on behalf of russia, she was seen as a complete satellite of putin and the latest humiliation for the belarusian president was now, i think he is refuting himself and much the way putin saved them in 2020 and also if given the ability to carve out a role as a diplomatic back channel
11:23 pm
between russia and ukraine. there were talks at the start of the war don't mean commitment russia and putin will not pressure him to put pollution troops on the ground. see make it a three years of looking like a client of putin —— belarusian. like a client of putin -- belarusian.— like a client of putin -- belarusian. ., ., belarusian. one would imagine the vladimir putin — belarusian. one would imagine the vladimir putin himself _ belarusian. one would imagine the vladimir putin himself is _ belarusian. one would imagine the vladimir putin himself is a - belarusian. one would imagine the vladimir putin himself is a bit - belarusian. one would imagine the vladimir putin himself is a bit of i belarusian. one would imagine the vladimir putin himself is a bit of a | vladimir putin himself is a bit of a calculation to make an prigozhin is shown his hand, he has shown himself as a threat but he has also been someone that putin very much needed in this war. what does he do? this is a very difficult _ in this war. what does he do? t“i 3 is a very difficult dilemma form because injuly of 2022 when the russians took over the area for an entire year, the only two military successes were with the wagner group in that by prigozhin forces. the absence of prigozhin and the wagner group on the front line may not have
11:24 pm
initial effects on the battlefield because the wagner group forces of never been good on defensive lines driven out by turkey and more of a defensive force for against them. but if the world lingers on its next year, and russia tries to restart its offensive operations in the winter spring, then putin is a real problem in terms of finding people in the military that have defensive capacity and it becomes a quandary for the russian military performance of down the road and i don't know how he will be able to square that circle. ~ . , ., ~' how he will be able to square that circle. ~ ., i. ~ , _, circle. what you think this could mean for the — circle. what you think this could mean for the russian _ circle. what you think this could mean for the russian people? l circle. what you think this could l mean for the russian people? to visio for the crackdown? i mean for the russian people? to visio for the crackdown?- mean for the russian people? to visio for the crackdown? i think in some ways _ visio for the crackdown? i think in some ways will — visio for the crackdown? i think in some ways will see _ visio for the crackdown? i think in some ways will see vladimir- visio for the crackdown? i think in some ways will see vladimir putin visio for the crackdown? i think in i some ways will see vladimir putin as vulnerable, outsourcing and the coup attempt towards moscow had very limited resistance. ilil" attempt towards moscow had very limited resistance.—
11:25 pm
limited resistance. our associate fellow, limited resistance. our associate fellow. thank _ limited resistance. our associate fellow, thank you _ limited resistance. our associate fellow, thank you so _ limited resistance. our associate fellow, thank you so much. - for more info please add to the bbc news website and those red team is tracking every development with full background analysis and the bbc report. thank you for watching and stay with us here on bbc news and we'll have plenty more for you coming up at the top of the hour. goodbye for now. hello. a hot night out there, very humid indoors too, after what was a hot day. on saturday in the south east of england, temperatures hit 29 degrees celsius. and sunday is going to be hotter still.
11:26 pm
again, humid for many of us, and there's a chance of storms, particularly across northern parts of the uk. now, some of the storms could be pretty nasty with frequent lightning, hail and gusty winds. this is what's happening right now. there is a cold frontjust to the west of our neighbourhood. it is going to sweep in some fresher conditions. but ahead of it, we've got that plume of heat and also moisture, that humidity coming in from the southern climes. so there is a change on the way. this is what it looks like early in the morning on sunday. those temperatures still holding around the high teens. this is where the weather front is, it's ready to sweep across the uk. not everybody�*s going to get the rain. the rain will fall in northern ireland during the morning. then the skies will brighten up, and it'll be a fresh afternoon. and then that rain will reach scotland and parts of northern england. there'll be a few showers in wales too, but it's across northern and eastern scotland, the northeast of england and all the way down to lincolnshire. this is where we're likely to see the heaviest downpours with the hail and the gusty winds as well.
11:27 pm
south of that, that's where we'll have the heat and humidity. in london and the south east, temperatures could hit 32 degrees celsius, but for the west, it's going to be fresher, plymouth, 23 celsius, about that in cardiff, and i think a very pleasant 19 degrees celsius in belfast in the sunny spells and maybe the odd shower. and during the course of sunday evening, still some showers there across parts of scotland and northern england. but for many of us, a very pleasant end to the day. let's have a look at monday now. we're sort of in between weather systems. one weather front clears away, another one waiting in the wings out towards the west of the uk. so the morning starts off sunny on monday. through the course of the afternoon, clouds will bubble up. there'll be a few showers here and there, particularly across northern parts of the uk, but essentially a very pleasant day, a lot fresher too. you really will notice the difference across many parts of england. in london, from the 32 celsius, more like 23 degrees celsius. and if we have a look at the weather for the week ahead, you can see the weather is looking a little bit mixed every now and then, but still pretty warm in the south, temperatures low
11:28 pm
or mid 20s. the high teens expected further north. bye— bye.
11:29 pm
this is bbc news. we will have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hours straight after this programme.
11:30 pm
come on out, you big coward! come on out! it was an earthquake of a ruling. hellfire for you! last summer, millions of americans were blocked from accessing a constitutional right... murder! ..an abortion. a year on, the dust has far from settled, and no more so than in the south. we've travelled thousands of miles across two very different states. alabama has one of the strictest abortion bans in the us. neighbouring florida has become a destination state for the procedure... thank you very much! ..a reputation its governor and now presidential nominee wants to undo. we've spoken to people on either side of this divisive debate... i would like to see an outright ban of abortion in america. it makes me angry. it makes me sick to my stomach that, on my watch, this happened. ..and spent with patients
11:31 pm
who've fallen through the gaps. she showed us the ultrasound photo and she kept saying, "i wish there was more i could do for you". 12 months on, how are restrictions on essential healthcare impacting america? famed for its southern hospitality, you can't stay a stranger for long in alabama. the republican stronghold is also known for its conservative and christian values and has one of the country's highest per capita execution rates. come on, boss. this lawyer moved here to defend inmates on death row. i'm alison mollman. i live and work in montgomery, alabama, with my partner steph and ourfarm of two dogs,
11:32 pm
three cats and two chickens. i think living in alabama as a woman is challenging. living in alabama is a queer woman is doubly challenging. for 50 years, pregnant women in the us had a right to an abortion during the first three months. alabama had been blocked from banning terminations until last summer... woman yells: abortion is violence! _ ..when the us supreme court reversed the roe v wade ruling and lawmakers in individual states were handed the power to decide. the procedure is now illegal here, unless there's a serious risk to the mother, with no exceptions for rape or incest. in january, alison found out she was pregnant. i was at home by myself and called my partner and was like, "you need to come home," like, "something's happened". so, she was very nervous and then, got home and then, i think we were both excited.
11:33 pm
so talk me through — if it's ok — what happened next. yeah. so, it was valentine's day and i was at work and i went to the bathroom and when i wiped, i saw blood and so, i called my ob/gyn. she showed us the ultrasound photo and she just told me, "there's nothing we can do. "this is a pregnancy thatjust, like, — it's not going to make it" and she got kind of choked up, actually, and she kept saying "i wish there was more i could do for you" and in that moment, i didn't know what that meant. i thought she was just, like, giving condolences. doctors in alabama who perform an abortion which isn't deemed to be life—saving risk up to 99 years in prison. while miscarriage treatment is not part of the ban, pro—choice advocates say
11:34 pm
the way the law is written makes it challenging for health workers to provide care without endangering their license. alison's doctor could've offered her abortion medication which speeds up the miscarriage process. instead, she was forced to wait for it to happen naturally. so, it's been eight days since i started bleeding and seven days since i saw my doctor and was told that my pregnancy wasn't viable. it has been one of the worst weeks of my life, just kind of feeling like i'm in purgatory. i've lost a fair amount of tissue and blood in the last week and so, i'm hoping that everything has passed naturally. i'm nervous. i want this to be over.
11:35 pm
desperate, alison drove several hours to get help from another clinic in tuscaloosa. once one of alabama's only abortion providers, since roe was overturned, it's now a non—profit reproductive health services. it promises to offer medical interventions for non—viable pregnancies, so if alison had come here first, she would've had that option. i'm dr leah torres and i'm medical director of the west alabama women's center. it's something that i've seen happen more than a few occasions, where people who would otherwise should have been helped were not and fortunately, find care here and have that care that they need before something irreversible happens, whether that's death or a hysterectomy because of an infection. these are real consequences of not getting healthcare in a timely fashion. abortion is healthcare.
11:36 pm
you don't have to like it. but the politicisation, the criminalisation of this aspect of healthcare makes it so healthcare providers are afraid. since moving to alabama in 2019, dr torres has faced death threats and had her medical license temporarily revoked, but she refuses to back down. 84% of maternal deaths are preventable and what do we do? we make it worse. without access to abortion care, the maternal mortality rate rises. more people die. so, over the past year, patients in alabama who've wanted or needed an abortion have had to travel hundreds of miles, normally by car and often, to florida. now, this neighbouring states does have restrictions in place but the 15—week ban is far more permissive, compared to other
11:37 pm
parts of the south—east. but as i think we're going to see, florida's reproductive care system hangs in the balance. once upon a time, the home of disney was viewed as a swing state but in recent years, it's slipped out of the democrats' reach, most notably following the rise of governor ron desantis. cheering. the floridian native who came from humble beginnings is one of the leading candidates for the republican presidential nomination and his right—wing policies on gender, race and reproductive rights have propelled him. here he is defending his 15—week abortion law. these are unborn babies that have heartbeat, they can feel pain, they can suck their thumb. months later, he was re—elected... florida held the line!
11:38 pm
..and it was a landslide win. he signed a 6—week abortion ban into law in april but it's currently pending due to ongoing legal action. the so—called sunshine state has more thunderstorms than anywhere else in the us. they come fast and hard. the remnants of last year's hurricane ian, which cost lives, homes and businesses, still litter fort myers beach. but many in this city are happy with how governor desantis responded. i'm olivia, i'm 24 years old and i'm the president of the southwest florida young republicans. olivia grew up open to both political parties but during the 2016 election, she couldn't afford to attend a democrats rally, while donald trump spoke for free. she sees the overturning of roe as a positive moment for local democracy.
11:39 pm
i never really felt that the federal government should have a say in, like, reproductive rights and so, when you bring it back to the state level, you're bringing it back into the hands of the people. olivia is supporting desantis's bid to be president. what would you say to people who think governor desantis is trying to out—trump trump? he wants to be the next president and he doesn't really care about the people in florida? i would say that's completely false. you can just look at his response to south—west florida during the hurricane, and even after. he's always very concerned about constituents. his number one thing is supporting families and ensuring that children are protected and safe in this state. when i think people have an issue with desantis, it very much is because the media kind of twists the story and pushes a narrative. but we know for sure with abortion that what he wants
11:40 pm
is there to be a 6—week bad and if you are a victim of rape or incest, you would need proof of that within the first 15 weeks, but that sits comfortably with you? that's not a concern for you? no, i'm completely fine with that bill. i think with abortion, we kind of lose that humanity, we kind of try and erase, it in a sense, whereas if you just allow those mothers to carry to term and give birth, you do kind of have this humanity of at least, you know, that child dying in the mother's arms and, like, being given some sort of chance. you can never be sure what's lurking beneath the thousands of lakes and rivers in florida. but for now, the waters appear calm in broward county. i'm lauren book and i'm the democratic leader in the florida senate. my two children were born same day, three minutes of each other.
11:41 pm
my daughter has fewer rights than my son than the day they were born, just by her sex. that's wrong! senator book took part in a sit—down protest over florida's proposed 6—week ban. i thought, "what a way to just sit and bear witness and let "the consequences and chips fall where they may". she and ten others were arrested for trespass. governor desantis has the support of floridians. do you not have to accept what he's calling for, what he wants? i don't — well, here's what i know. they may support this individual but not necessarily all the ideology or the policy behind it. in fact, we know that 75% of floridians don't accept abortion band in it this way. don't support 6—week abortion bans? correct — don't support a 6—week abortion ban,
11:42 pm
don't want to go this far. but this is democracy at while people may not be points has truly destroyed floridians. completely in favour of this 6—week ban, they're not against it enough to not vote — or weren't against it enough to not vote for him? his need and want and desire to have political talking points has truly destroyed floridians. they have taken away their rights and i think he's trying to speak to a very — very specific base of people, an evangelical, religious base, outside of florida for his political ambitions and for a run for president. and i think the reality is no—one can out—trump trump when it comes to abortion. governor desantis was unavailable to speak to us but has distanced himself from donald trump. he's made clear his intention is to protect children and ensure florida is a family friendly state. senator book is part of a coalition who is seeking a state constitutional amendment which would allow abortions during the
11:43 pm
first three months. they need a million signatures by december for the ballot question to be proposed at the 2024 election. it makes me angry. it makes me sick to my stomach that, on my watch, this happened. and i'll work every day to undo what they've done. there is no peace with the murder of children! you are the ones who are guilty of it, unless you repent. outside this busy abortion center in orlando, the battle lines are drawn. murder! on one side is a group who believe they're the last line of defence before an innocent life is taken. on the other side are pro—choice volunteers known as swans, who formed last summer and offer to shield patients from people likejohn. we can help you, young lady. they'll only let one of you in there.
11:44 pm
you got my best side? it's back here. laughter. i understand that you've been protesting outside this clinic for 20 years. i don't protest but i've been here for 20 years. what do you do? i come here to offer help and hope to women that come here. what if the help that that woman needs is to have an abortion? well, i'm not going to help anyone have an abortion, and there's no need for it. there really isn't. we can take care of everything. can you understand your presence might make patients coming here feel uncomfortable? do you have any sympathy for them? these guys make 'em more uncomfortable. these guys have gotten rid of more people here that i ever could. they dance around out here, ringing their bells and cheering and playing their accordions and it — girls are coming here struggling, girls are coming here — and these guys are out here like it's a party. it drives 'em away. so, we use a lot of noise makers as tactics to distract anti—abortion protesters, mainly because they're funny, they're silly. we don't have to yell and scare patients, we can make a lot of noise. we get a lot of chickens and stuff down here,
11:45 pm
too. bell rings. do you ever worry that your presence is making a difficult situation even more difficult for some patients? i don't think so. we have a lot of patients that say hey, "you saw us on saturday and we were so thankful that "you were here". i'm sure that some patients wish that no—one was out here. but if we all look stupid and we all look absurd, then at least they don't look scary, you know what i mean? research suggests the majority of abortion patients in the us are considered poor or on a low income. time off work, child care, fuel, accommodation — the costs stack up with black and hispanic communities disproportionately affected. the swans have raised money for abortions on tiktok after they found women begging on the streets. that's your future! hellfire for you! you are a murderer! you hate... john denies he's ever harassed
11:46 pm
anyone but admits others have. some people bring cut—up baby pictures and all that stuff and i beg them, "please don't bring that stuff here. "please respect. "i've been here this long. "please respect" — what? i don't know why you're shaking your head but i've never — i don't let people bring that stuff down here. you don't agree? oh, i absolutely disagree. what followed next was a lengthy row. you told someone the other day who had a toddler, you said, "oh, killthat one and let the other one..." no, no, no — i was using their own ridiculous way of reasoning. i said, "why don't you kill one of them and let this one live?" when patients are here with a male or a perceived male partner, they're called "cowards". oh, yeah. they are. it's done, john. yeah. horrible. so why are you yelling at them? why are you yelling at someone on anaesthesia? i'm not yelling at them. 0h. you say, "oh, we could have helped you!" we could've! but is that something they need
11:47 pm
to hear when they've just had a medical procedure? you mean when they killed their baby? yes. how is that helpful? how is any of that that we just said helpful? because they need to repent of what they did. 200 miles south, it's quiet outside another women's clinic in the city of naples. hi! it treats unplanned pregnancies and ages range from 11 to late 40s. this is where the patients come for their initial exam. funded by private donors and local churches, services are free, including ultrasounds. but if a patient wants an abortion, they have to go elsewhere. i'm doctor karysse trandem. i'm on a board—certified obstetrician and gynaecological surgeon. i would like to see an outright ban of abortion in america. doctor trandem trend showed us research which suggests elective abortions physically and mentally harm women.
11:48 pm
but the broad medical consensus contradicts this. the american college of obstetricians and gynaecologists states abortions are a safe medical intervention with fewer risks than childbirth. there are risks to pregnancy but they are less than the risks of having an abortion. if the pregnancy is hurting the mother physically, taking her physical life, such as an ectopic pregnancy, and i do think it is necessary for a separation of the pregnancy to occur. so, what do you think about the argument that ultimately, you are entitled to believe what you want but that shouldn't negate a woman's right to have an abortion if she feels that's what she needs? i would say there is two patients for every woman who is pregnant — it's the woman and the baby. they can continue that pregnancy which is protective for them emotionally and physically and offer that child to another family who is in need.
11:49 pm
but social workers warn these babies could end up in the struggling care system with more than 100,000 children estimated to already be on waiting lists. so, here's what they get. it's like a store, isn't it? next door to the clinic is the baby boutique. new parents can attend classes and earn baby bucks. she's able to get these clothes and diapers and wipes and everything she needs for free. it's stilljust a fraction of the cost of what bringing a baby into this world equates to. we have a job—find service that we offer to our mums and also, there's churches — local churches — who offer free daycare to our patients. hello, kim. hi! this is kim, our director for next steps... kim had an abortion in 1978, five years after the roe ruling. she says it's her biggest regret.
11:50 pm
five months later, i got pregnant with my daughter and that was when it really hit home — is when you have that baby and you hold that baby in your arms and you see what you could've had. decades on and i can see tears in your eyes. it's why i'm here. and it's not too late, you know, for us to tell the girls the truth. it's not a ball of tissue, it's a human being inside of you. at an anti—abortion fact sheet that doctor trandem had back in alabama, we asked dr torres to take a look at an anti—abortion fact sheet that doctor trandem had shared with us. the resources seemed very flawed and they have been debunked and so, i didn't really give much credit to the fact sheet. i don't engage in debates about when life begins because the fact of the matter is no—one and no thing can be inside my body without my consent, and to say otherwise is dehumanising. but doctor trandem
11:51 pm
stands by the research. we've heard quite a lot about the traumatic impact of having an abortion, that a woman may go on to regret it. i would question how much that person had been shamed and stigmatised about seeking abortion care. it's not so much the procedure itself but rather, how our society treats people that is the problem. a year on since the reversal of roe, 14 states are navigating a new world where a previously held right is no more while states without restrictions have seen a surge in abortion tourism. we've heard of texan women driving for ten hours, patients from the south flying to new york or washington, and delayed care means increased risk. but for millions, this new direction is the right one, a lifesaver, and they
11:52 pm
won't rest until there is a nationwide ban. you get benny in. i'll get bad dog. we're finishing ourjourney where we started, with alison. a couple of weeks ago i tested positive, so i'm about six weeks pregnant right now. and how do you feel? it doesn't feel real yet. luckily, i had the means that if i needed to go out of state, that would be an option, but i am worried about criminality. even if you go out of state or do something that you need to for your body, there's conspiracy and other charges that could be brought against you and, of course, i'm scared but more than anything, i'm just, like, really, really hopeful.
11:53 pm
hello. a hot night out there, very humid indoors too, after what was a hot day. on saturday in the south east of england, temperatures hit 29 degrees celsius. and sunday is going to be hotter still. again, humid for many of us, and there's a chance of storms, particularly across northern parts of the uk. now, some of the storms could be pretty nasty with frequent lightning, hail and gusty winds. this is what's happening right now. there is a cold frontjust to the west of our neighbourhood. it is going to sweep in some fresher conditions. but ahead of it, we've got that plume of heat and also moisture, that humidity coming in from the southern climes. so there is a change on the way. this is what it looks like early in the morning on sunday. those temperatures still holding around the high teens. this is where the weather front is,
11:54 pm
it's ready to sweep across the uk. not everybody�*s going to get the rain. the rain will fall in northern ireland during the morning. then the skies will brighten up, and it'll be a fresh afternoon. and then that rain will reach scotland and parts of northern england. there'll be a few showers in wales too, but it's across northern and eastern scotland, the northeast of england and all the way down to lincolnshire. this is where we're likely to see the heaviest downpours with the hail and the gusty winds as well. south of that, that's where we'll have the heat and humidity. in london and the south east, temperatures could hit 32 degrees celsius, but for the west, it's going to be fresher, plymouth, 23 celsius, about that in cardiff, and i think a very pleasant 19 degrees celsius in belfast in the sunny spells and maybe the odd shower. and during the course of sunday evening, still some showers there across parts of scotland and northern england. but for many of us, a very pleasant end to the day. let's have a look at monday now. we're sort of in between weather systems. one weather front clears away, another one waiting in the wings out
11:55 pm
towards the west of the uk. so the morning starts off sunny on monday. through the course of the afternoon, clouds will bubble up. there'll be a few showers here and there, particularly across northern parts of the uk, but essentially a very pleasant day, a lot fresher too. you really will notice the difference across many parts of england. in london, from the 32 celsius, more like 23 degrees celsius. and if we have a look at the weather for the week ahead, you can see the weather is looking a little bit mixed every now and then, but still pretty warm in the south, temperatures low or mid 20s. the high teens expected further north. bye— bye.
11:56 pm
11:57 pm
11:58 pm
11:59 pm
live from washington. this is bbc news. a dramatic day in russia, from rebellion to retreat, following wagner boss going rogue. we have the latest.
12:00 am
hello, i'm helena humphrey. we start with what has been an extraordinary 24 hours in russia. the wagner group, a group of mercenary soldiers who've been fighting in ukraine, is pulling back fighters from rostov—on—don. wagner's leader yevgeny prigozhin, who had been very critical of president putin's approach to the war in ukraine, earlier called on russian troops to rebel against their leaders and said his men were marching on moscow. however in a development in just the last few hours, russian state media reported that prigozhin come to an agreement to stand his troops down. here you see the wagner leader departing russia for belarus, following the announcement to cancel the rebellion. prior to that announcement, a huge convoy had been heading towards moscow in what vladimir putin had described, as an attempted mutiny. as wagner troops leave rostov—on—don, charges against prigozhin and his wagner forces will be dropped. president putin's press
12:01 am
secretary said that wagner mercenaries who wish to sign a ministry of defence contract can, and fighters who took part in the uprising will not be prosecuted. meanwhile these are the latest images of locals chanting 'wagner�* as the troops from the mercenary group were leaving rostov. and here you see tanks boarding trucks and leaving the area. the departures come as belursian leader lukashenko helped to mediate between moscow and wagner. earlier in an audio message posted on the social media site telegram, progoshin said the time had come to stand down, in an effort to 'de—escalate' the situation and 'avoid bloodshed'. here's an english translation of his message. translation: they wanted to disband the wagner. - onjune 23rd, we went out on a justice march. within a day, we were just 200 kilometres away from moscow. during that time, we did not spill a single drop of blood of our fighters.
12:02 am
now the moment has come when the blood can be spilt. therefore, understanding all the responsibility for the fact that russian blood will be spilt on one of the sides, we're turning our comms back and leaving in the opposite direction to the field camps, according to the plan. live now to cbs news foreign affairs correspondent christina ruffini, cbs news is reporting that top congressional leaders in the us have been briefed multiple times in recent days in addition to today on the risk posed by the wagner group according to multiple sources. what do we know about the us's concerns? the us is watching this closely. president biden had what is essentially an all hands meeting of national
12:03 am
security adviser, secretary of state for the outside and talked about this and try to figure out what was happening because as you know, the news and information stripping out very slowly in president biden went to camp david and taken the national security adviser with them and you're supposed to be in copenhagen for a conference on ukraine but is staying close to the president watching the sun forward and congressional leaders have been briefed multiple times in the past days about the dangers posed by the wegner group but it is unclear what exactly that danger was and if the us intelligence knew that this specific incident could play out and this wagner group group as its known quantity and as officials and former officials and diplomats all over the road reacted to this today, i heard a lot of expletives and got texted off the record a lot of
12:04 am
expletives people trying to figure out what was going on. as events try to calm down a little bit, they'll try to regroup and get some statements but will we have seen so far have mainly been the president, secretary state and people reaching out to their counterparts in europe reaching out as they tried to get on the same page and watch with him for the today overseas.- for the today overseas. really interesting — for the today overseas. really interesting insight _ for the today overseas. really interesting insight about - for the today overseas. really interesting insight about this | interesting insight about this response and what else do we know about president biden, his team and what they have been doing today?— team and what they have been doing today? untilthe russians did the special— doing today? untilthe russians did the special operation - doing today? untilthe russians did the special operation in - did the special operation in ukraine, the us gulf russian policy had essentially been to put guardrails on the relationship and is one set today, the war in ukraine basically drove a big armour tank through those guardrails and they no longer exist in the us is been trying to match this relationship i think it is a wait—and—see kind of situation
12:05 am
and they're all trying to step back and i think the instinct that a lot of people except as this is to be good for the us and anything that is bad for putin is good for the us but thatis putin is good for the us but that is not necessarily the case. president biden may not be a fan of putin but russia is a major nuclear weapons holder at the us does not want those nuclear weapons falling into the hands of an unpredictable actor or even for the kremlin to lose command—and—control and it's officials in europe and around the world are very concerned about as they watch this play out inside russia. how will this impact us russian relations? i how will this impact us russian relations? ., , how will this impact us russian relations? ~ , ., ., relations? i think it is too soon to — relations? i think it is too soon to tell. _ relations? i think it is too soon to tell. we - relations? i think it is too soon to tell. we have - relations? i think it is too soon to tell. we have to l relations? i think it is too i soon to tell. we have to see what comes out of this. it's prigozhin going to stay in belarus is that what's going to happen, go to state with with the pollution president, going to moscow and commend this military force? ——
12:06 am
belarusian. a slightly diminished putin may be good for them but more unpredictable and dangerous we saw the fall of the soviet union and an unstable rush is not necessarily good for the rest of the world. the official position is that they do not support regime changes, that is “p support regime changes, that is up to the russian people we have to see what happens in power vacuums are never particularly good for stability in the region, especially with this war going on in ukraine evenif this war going on in ukraine even if he gives ukrainian opportunities to go forward on the offensive, and the long term, it's not quite clear what this means for allied goals in ukraine, allied security and safety throughout the world. we thank you for your reporting and it is good to talk to you.
12:07 am
let's bring injason crow, democratic member of the us house of representatives who sits on the house committee on foreign affairs. let's begin with your thoughts. it's suppressing, it is not surprising considering what's happened and we have seen how prigozhin is been consolidating his power and he's been pushing back on russian military establishment and testing his power both politically and militarily over the last year it is not surprising this is happening but the speed in which she marches on moscow and how quickly and how far he got to moscow was pretty shocking. how do you think this could impact the us and russia. vladimir putin is weaker, no doubt about that but the russian military and the war
12:08 am
machine is significantly weaker. we have disrupted command—and—control with the russian military is going be a lot of changes in the russian military in the days and weeks ahead and drastically hit the morale of the russian people but one of the biggest most powerful tools that putin had and that is the wagner group, mercenary army of 30,000 of the most experienced battle tested soldiers that they had in their arsenal if you've taken it off the field. this is the force that has been holding the line for the russians for the last six months and places in the south and eastern provinces and they are effectively neutralising the battlefield at the same time ukrainians are pushing their counteroffensive it absolutely will an impact. how do you think ukrainians can use this to their advantage on the battlefield? i use this to their advantage on the battlefield?— use this to their advantage on the battlefield? i am a former army ranger _ the battlefield? i am a former army ranger and _ the battlefield? i am a former army ranger and have - the battlefield? i am a former army ranger and have been l the battlefield? i am a former| army ranger and have been in iraq and afghanistan and the
12:09 am
capacity and what are the principles of war is that when there an opening and something happens, you need to be able to move quickly, boldly and aggressively take of that. that is what i think ukrainians will do it they've never missed an opportunity to take advantage of an opening and being bored right now is probably something there looking at doing. that situation happening - there looking at doing. that situation happening on the ground in ukraine, you have prigozhin going to belarus and we don't know what his role will be there in that feud between putin and prigozhin is been spilling onto the opening and can we this spill over into and can we this spill over into an even more serious conflict which should the us to? it weakened and insecure vladimir putin is not necessarily a good thing and i am no fan of vladimir putin and i would love to see him not be the leader of russia have to look at the
12:10 am
political element global and the wagner group has their arms and wanted in different places around the world, africa, the middle east and a number of countries and autocrats that rely on the wagner group for the run security to prop up their machines. we have to keep a close eye on those mercenaries when they withdraw from those areas and under control is destabilising and other conflicts in africa and the middle east in particular might be coming up to the surface here in the weeks ahead. ., , ., �* ahead. how should the biden administration _ ahead. how should the biden administration respond - ahead. how should the biden administration respond to - ahead. how should the biden i administration respond to this? one thing they're already doing is they up and engaging over the last couple of months from the last couple of months from the countries that have been very reluctant to take sides in this conflict have been silent about the aggression in ukraine and the same look, this is the battle for freedom and democracy in you cannot stay neutral in russia is not a stable and reliable partner and you should come our way. it is
12:11 am
more beneficialfor you should come our way. it is more beneficial for you to align with democracy than you are autocracies and as matter fact, there is senior biden admitted administrators and those in the global south africa and other places trying to make that case and frankly, all they have to do is turn the tv on makes the case for them there is no future in partnering with an autocratic country in russia because there's no predictability and stability in that.— stability in that. democratic member of _ stability in that. democratic member of the _ stability in that. democratic member of the house - stability in that. democratic member of the house of. member of the house of representatives and sits on the house committee on foreign affairs, we thank you for being with us. and here in washington we've received the following statement from the white house: president biden spoke today with president emmanuel macron of france, chancellor olaf scholz of germany, and prime minister rishi sunak of the united kingdom. the leaders discussed the situation in russia. they also affirmed their
12:12 am
unwavering support for ukraine. with me is barbara starr, former pentagon correspondent at cnn and national security expert. what did you think the administration will be making of extraordinary events of the the 24 hours? i of extraordinary events of the the 24 hours?— the 24 hours? i think it is too soon to tell _ the 24 hours? i think it is too soon to tell what _ the 24 hours? i think it is too soon to tell what exactly - the 24 hours? i think it is too soon to tell what exactly the | soon to tell what exactly the administration at the highest levels of the intelligence community and the white house may know that we are not saying, how much do they know and what if they assessed and what intelligence of actually been able to gather because right now, most of us in the world have absolutely no idea what's really going on. why did prigozhin do this mostly trying to achieve and why did he give up to achieve and why did he give up so easily and most importantly is where position is vladimir putin and? is essentially weekend, what does that mean and what will happen going forward? does anyone
12:13 am
really think prigozhin is going to go into a nice quiet retirement across the border and belarus is going to going to a nice quiet retirement across the border and belarus? maybe not. this is the key thing. maybe not. this is the key thin. maybe not. this is the key thin _ ., , maybe not. this is the key thin. ., , , ., , thing. so many questions right now and at _ thing. so many questions right now and at the _ thing. so many questions right now and at the beginning - thing. so many questions right now and at the beginning of i now and at the beginning of this war, there were a lot of questions as to whether or not there would be a challenge from inside russia itself and we have been focused so much on battles the battle in the spring counteroffensive which turned into the summer counteroffensive do you think anyone was surprised by this? do you think the administration had seen intelligence about the possibility of this? all]! possibility of this? all indications _ possibility of this? all indications is - possibility of this? elii indications is that there have been some intelligence that the wegner group was stockpiling ammunition, some weapons and being very public in recent weeks about the opposition to how the war was being conducted and you want changes and the russian military command and thought they were incompetent
12:14 am
and he was complaining that he didn't have enough ammunition in the way the war was being conducted and persecuted was causing the death of thousands of russians of troops —— thousands of russian troops. that did not go unnoticed but his moves and the rapid abandonment of the move, that's the keeping right now. we have to see . , the keeping right now. we have to see ., , ., ., , to see eventually how it does end u- to see eventually how it does end up playing _ to see eventually how it does end up playing out _ to see eventually how it does end up playing out but - to see eventually how it does end up playing out but will i to see eventually how it does| end up playing out but will be could be seeing here is the potential for a weekend potentialfor a weekend vladimir putin. if potential for a weekend vladimir putin. if that is the case, how do you think nato can help ukraine capitalise on what could be for them an opportunity? i could be for them an opportunity?- could be for them an opportunity? could be for them an o- ortuni ? ., �* opportunity? i think the biden administration _ opportunity? i think the biden administration and _ opportunity? i think the biden administration and the - opportunity? i think the biden administration and the allies l administration and the allies pretty much want to very publicly want to stay out of the russian element of this conflict right now, they do not want to give putin any room to
12:15 am
say the us in the west are interfering in russian internal affairs, do not look for the administration to do something public. behind the scenes, look for more intelligence gathering, more ability to try and figure out what is going on. whether it is through satellite imagery collection signals intelligence or eavesdropping on top of kremlin officials, they are going to try to get as much information as they can. try to get as much information as they can-— as they can. speaking to his partners _ as they can. speaking to his partners and _ as they can. speaking to his partners and allies - as they can. speaking to his partners and allies as - as they can. speaking to his partners and allies as one i partners and allies as one would expect, what you think he is doing right now shallow i think the administration is trying to gather much intelligence as possible should a buffer take another look as the eastern flank of nato, against ukraine, against russia, against the war, they want to see if there is no room
12:16 am
for new miscalculations by russian forces or belarus forces and russian presence to challenge that. we forces and russian presence to challenge that.— forces and russian presence to challenge that. we are seeing a weaker and _ challenge that. we are seeing a weaker and angry _ challenge that. we are seeing a weaker and angry putin - challenge that. we are seeing a weaker and angry putin not - challenge that. we are seeing a weaker and angry putin notjustj weaker and angry putin notjust for this conflict but potentially for the eastern flank and other countries quite shallow that is what everyone is going to be looking for. but, but i think we also do not know is who, have there been changes in the russian high command of the military? the minister of defence, the chief of staff, these are the two key russian military players and putin is made it clear that he is not through with the conduct of the war and so, who was really in charge and was giving putin military advice and suggesting to him any next steps you —— he may take.
12:17 am
walking a tight grip on this, but you think —— walking a tight line on this but what do you think?— you think? looking at both sites, if putin _ you think? looking at both sites, if putin is _ you think? looking at both sites, if putin is weaker, i you think? looking at both i sites, if putin is weaker, what does that mean for them, they need to rethink a lot of people are suggesting that china may be rethinking its military ambitions seeing how hard military operations are to do and easy to get in but not easy to get out. we will see but i think in most people that were taken very think in most people that were ta ken very slowly think in most people that were taken very slowly and try to see what develops over the coming days and weeks. thank ou for coming days and weeks. thank you for monitoring _ coming days and weeks. thank you for monitoring the - you for monitoring the situation for us. let's take a closer look at the man who called for the rebellion, yevgeny prigozhin, and the group of mercenary
12:18 am
soldiers he leads, known as the wagner group. our security correspondent gordon corera has more details. yevgeny prigozhin outside russian military headquarters in rostov—on—don this morning, boasting his wagner group have taken it without firing a shot. butjust who is this man challenging russia's leaders? prigozhin began as a criminal from st petersburg. after leaving jail, he began selling hotdogs but then graduated to running expensive restaurants. he caught the attention of russia's leader, leading him to be known as putin's chef. he catered to world leaders when they visited, even america's president, but also became rich from lucrative military contracts. about a decade ago, he began to carry out operations around the world on behalf of the kremlin, even interfering in america's 2016 election. but prigozhin became best known as head of wagner, an often—brutal private mercenary group working to the kremlin's agenda. it has been operating across the middle east
12:19 am
and africa, including syria, libya and mali, allowing putin to project power without being directly involved. but it is in the last year in ukraine that it has really come to the fore. as putin's plans for a quick victory faded, prigozhin's forces undertook some of the heaviest fighting. some of them came from prisons. here's prigozhin recruiting them in return for an early release. laying flowers on the graves of those who died helped him cultivate an image in russia as a nationalist hero, one who would fight harder in ukraine. but battles like the one in bakhmut have led to growing tension between prigozhin and the regular russian military leadership. he angrily accused its leaders, like the defence minister shoigu and military chief gerasimov, of using his men as cannon fodder and denying them vital supplies. prigozhin claimed russia's soldiers had been let down by their leaders
12:20 am
and his attacks on them became increasingly outspoken. it was clear one side or other would have to move, bringing what had been a simmering crisis to the boil. earlier i spoke to lieutenant general stephan twitty ? former deputy commander of us european command about this. do you see internal russian warfare here?— warfare here? you left the scene states _ warfare here? you left the scene states progress - warfare here? you left the scene states progress and| warfare here? you left the i scene states progress and it seems to me that the russian seat of government is not threatened at this point in time and president putin has a sound hand on the situation now and i did not suspect that there will be any kind of riots that will lead to a coup d'etat
12:21 am
or anything like that. i think now that prigozhin is headed to the area, will get back to some type of normalcy here but what i will tell you is, this force that they integrate into the military, ijust don't that they integrate into the military, i just don't see that they integrate into the military, ijust don't see how that can happen with the distrust, as well as the infighting that is, between these two forces, the wagner group and the russian military, i do not see this as being a good mix to try to integrate these two forces together but we will have to see in the coming days and months. what does that mean _ coming days and months. what does that mean for _ coming days and months. what does that mean for the - coming days and months. what does that mean for the forces? does this mean we could see them weaker, there will be watching all of this summer can play out? watching all of this summer can -la out? . , , play out? perhaps, if their leader now _ play out? perhaps, if their leader now is _ play out? perhaps, if their leader now is gone - play out? perhaps, if their leader now is gone and i play out? perhaps, if their. leader now is gone and they pretty much rallied around their leader and so, we do not
12:22 am
know what was going to step forward but the new leader of this organisation, they've been around for a while and they fought in 2014 and they fought in syria and they fought in africa and so, they have a lot of experience a lot of professionals within their organisation they also have prisoners within that organisation as well. so, we do not know will happen over the coming days and that is something i suspect most folks will be watching. find something i suspect most folks will be watching.— will be watching. and what could this _ will be watching. and what could this mean _ will be watching. and what could this mean for - will be watching. and what i could this mean for ukraine's counteroffensive on the battlefield?— counteroffensive on the battlefield? ~ . battlefield? with lieutenant general doug, _ battlefield? with lieutenant general doug, this - battlefield? with lieutenant general doug, this is - battlefield? with lieutenant general doug, this is an - general doug, this is an opportunity for them and this is an opportunity for her to france in my mind. going back to the distrust but also going back to the lack of morale and the lack of teamwork among the
12:23 am
russian forces and ukrainians need to explore that in the information space as well as on the battlefield and we note that if russians are out there who do not understand why they are fighting, they don't want to be fighting their cousins and their uncles and their relatives from ukraine and i think you take this opportunity here to exploit that but you also take the opportunity to explore the fact that there is a headquarters at this particular time that is in disarray that has this fight from the russian army that is now down and so, you have to explore the russian headquarters and gorgeous and deep targets. find headquarters and gorgeous and deep targets-— deep targets. and i'm sorry to interru -t deep targets. and i'm sorry to interrupt there, _ deep targets. and i'm sorry to interrupt there, but _ deep targets. and i'm sorry to interrupt there, but i'm - deep targets. and i'm sorry to interrupt there, but i'm really| interrupt there, but i'm really intrigued as to how you think nato should respond here in our europe should respond here? we
12:24 am
have to europe should respond here? - have to be careful with nato and i've been impressed with them as well and then stayed low in this and we realise this is an internal problem within russia and it will take russian people to solve this problem and nato is to continue to do with they have been doing and back ukrainians and give them what they need to be successful in this war. but what they need to be successful in this war-— in this war. but about the prospect _ in this war. but about the prospect of _ in this war. but about the prospect of any _ in this war. but about the prospect of any it - in this war. but about the prospect of any it we've i in this war. but about the i prospect of any it we've seen in this war. but about the - prospect of any it we've seen a few here between two very important man and has this word discover more dangerous? absolutely and every day we wake up there is a potential for this war to spread across borders and spill into nato. but what we have been sure of is when things such as this happen, we mitigate those
12:25 am
things and try to respond appropriately and in this case here, neither being quiet about it in the us being quiet about it in the us being quiet about it and letting russia to deal with its own internal problems, absolutely way to go in this case here. and for more info on everything happening in russia, please head to the bbc news website and app — where our team is tracking every development — with full background, analysis, and the latest bbc reporting. stay with us here on bbc news. hello. a hot night out there, very humid indoors too, after what was a hot day. on saturday in the south east of england, temperatures hit 29 degrees celsius. and sunday is going
12:26 am
to be hotter still. again, humid for many of us, and there's a chance of storms, particularly across northern parts of the uk. now, some of the storms could be pretty nasty with frequent lightning, hail and gusty winds. this is what's happening right now. there is a cold frontjust to the west of our neighbourhood. it is going to sweep in some fresher conditions. but ahead of it, we've got that plume of heat and also moisture, that humidity coming in from the southern climes. so there is a change on the way. this is what it looks like early in the morning on sunday. those temperatures still holding around the high teens. this is where the weather front is, it's ready to sweep across the uk. not everybody�*s going to get the rain. the rain will fall in northern ireland during the morning. then the skies will brighten up, and it'll be a fresh afternoon. and then that rain will reach scotland and parts of northern england. there'll be a few showers in wales too, but it's across northern and eastern scotland, the northeast of england and all the way
12:27 am
down to lincolnshire. this is where we're likely to see the heaviest downpours with the hail and the gusty winds as well. south of that, that's where we'll have the heat and humidity. in london and the south east, temperatures could hit 32 degrees celsius, but for the west, it's going to be fresher, plymouth, 23 celsius, about that in cardiff, and i think a very pleasant 19 degrees celsius in belfast in the sunny spells and maybe the odd shower. and during the course of sunday evening, still some showers there across parts of scotland and northern england. but for many of us, a very pleasant end to the day. let's have a look at monday now. we're sort of in between weather systems. one weather front clears away, another one waiting in the wings out towards the west of the uk. so the morning starts off sunny on monday. through the course of the afternoon, clouds will bubble up. there'll be a few showers here and there, particularly across northern parts of the uk, but essentially a very pleasant day, a lot fresher too. you really will notice the difference across many parts of england. in london, from the 32 celsius, more like 23 degrees celsius. and if we have a look at the weather for the week
12:28 am
ahead, you can see the weather is looking a little bit mixed every now and then, but still pretty warm in the south, temperatures low or mid 20s. the high teens expected further north. bye— bye.
12:29 am
this is bbc news. we will have the headlines and all the many news stories for you at the top
12:30 am
of the hours straight after this programme. hello everybody in a very warm welcome to talking business weekly. let's take a look at what is on the show. the great crypto crackdown, regulators around the world are mounting up around the world are mounting up to reign in what has been dubbed the wild west of the financial world. washington— it's the latest to make a move stepping and hard to civil charges being brought against america and the world's largest crypto exchanges. major markets like china have made crypto illegal. new restrictive laws are set for the eu and there are set for the eu and there are calls from the uk for it to be treated like gambling. so, is this the beginning of the end for crypto? can it survive in a new world of strict financial controls? or are we overreacting to something few of us really understand that could still be the future of money? we are going to hear from, and here they are, but clean enthusiasts, a crypto critic, as well as a member of the european parliament responsible for putting
12:31 am
together what has been described as the world's first comprehensive crypto regulation. also on the show, i'm going to have a lengthy chat with the chief legal officer at queen —based, the largest us crypto exchange, that at the heart of the us crackdown. wherever you arejoining me from around the world, once again, a big hello and a warm welcome to the show. it's been a wild ride, but could it be coming to an end? crypto currencies, they've come from nowhere to $1 trillion industry in the near 15 years since their creation. it is a journey that has seen made and lost as a decentralised form of money born out of the 2008 financial
12:32 am
crisis is now butting up against a financial system it was created to avoid. but let's just take a step back and quickly explain what we are talking about here. just what are crypto currencies? well, it is digital money that exists purely in the virtual world, currency that is not backed by a central bank like traditional money for its value, but purely by the market. which is one of the reasons it can be so volatile. crypto currencies can be used to buy things on what is called a peer to peer basis. this means the transaction doesn't involve, say, a bank or any third party but go straight to the recipient, and every transaction ever made is recorded on a huge database known as a block chain. something like a huge spreadsheet. now, that black chain is spread among a huge network of volunteers verifying its authenticity by using computer programmes. with all of that information, accessible to everyone. institutions around the world are now taking aim at what has been a largely unchecked sector in many major
12:33 am
economies with the us one of the most important markets in the most important markets in the crypto world, making the latest move. the main wall street regulator, the fcc, the securities and exchange commission —— s cc. and america's biggest crypto exchange for operating as unregistered exchanges. allegations both businesses denied. finance is also facing a whole bunch of allegations implying fraudulent behaviour. they said they will defend the platform vigorously. two to very different allegations but at the heart of the crackdown is the nub of the issue. that the sec sees most crypto set securities commander for the exchange is offering them are unlicensed, arguing that many crypto assets function like, well, other investments, which are subject to regulatory oversight. checks and balances are sorely needed. the oversight. checks and balances are sorely needed.— are sorely needed. the crypto industry desperately - are sorely needed. the crypto industry desperately needs i industry desperately needs regulation. we have seen over
12:34 am
the last year, year and a half orso the last year, year and a half or sojust a the last year, year and a half or so just a string of failures throughout the industry that have been devastating on some investors who put life savings into those companies, believing that this was an opportunity for them to make financial returns that they weren't seeing elsewhere. and a lot of those failures i think could have been prevented by proper oversight from regulatory agencies that would have been able to detect some of the fraud or where the poor operating practices that would have come out in audits or had they been required to disclose how they were trying to make these absurd returns in some cases. and so i think that the idea that this industry should be allowed to continue operating in the way that it has been without the type of regulatory oversight that is really required, i think, in financial markets is plainly absurd. �* , financial markets is plainly absurd. , ., financial markets is plainly absurd. �* , ., .,
12:35 am
absurd. but it is that a lack of central _ absurd. but it is that a lack of central control _ absurd. but it is that a lack of central control that - absurd. but it is that a lack of central control that is i absurd. but it is that a lack. of central control that is part of central control that is part of the plaintiff crypto currencies. particularly for the forefather, the original crypto, bitcoin, which to its advocates has many more meetings than simply its monetary value. i5 meetings than simply its monetary value. is challenging the status _ monetary value. is challenging the status quo. _ monetary value. is challenging the status quo. it _ monetary value. is challenging the status quo. it is _ monetary value. is challenging the status quo. it is exposing i the status quo. it is exposing the status quo. it is exposing the inherent biases that are embedded in our current monetary system. this was constructed under a patriarchal framework. so bitcoin is providing a much—needed opportunity for the readership of economic structures and it creates— of economic structures and it creates more of a inclusive and egalitarian society for all genders. and i think the excitement for me personally it comes— excitement for me personally it comes from the equality perspective. ijust think it's time — perspective. ijust think it's time to— perspective. ijust think it's time to disrupt this, disrupt the old _ time to disrupt this, disrupt the old boys club of finance and — the old boys club of finance and money, and i'mjust gonna be bold — and money, and i'mjust gonna be bold and say that bitcoin is the revolution and this is where _ the revolution and this is where women can thrive and shatter— where women can thrive and shatter the glass ceiling. you can hold that _ shatter the glass ceiling. you can hold that can _ shatter the glass ceiling. you can hold that can even - shatter the glass ceiling. ym. can hold that can even spend can hold that can even spend can save it, transact with it.
12:36 am
send it around the world. gamble with it. do whatever you want with it and you don't have to ask someone's permission, which is a wonderful thing. and thatis which is a wonderful thing. and that is economic empowerment. that is freedom.— that is freedom. that's nice, economic— that is freedom. that's nice, economic empowerment. itl that is freedom. that's nice, i economic empowerment. it is. it empowers _ economic empowerment. it is. it empowers people _ economic empowerment. it is. it empowers people all— economic empowerment. it is. it empowers people all over - economic empowerment. it is. it empowers people all over the i empowers people all over the world. as empowers people all over the world. �* , ., world. as mentioned, the forefather i world. as mentioned, the forefather and i world. as mentioned, the forefather and still i world. as mentioned, the forefather and still the i world. as mentioned, the i forefather and still the market leading crypto currency is bitcoin, created in 2009 out of the ashes of the financial crisis. its steep climb into huge speculations in value can be seen to be a driver and a reflection of the whole sector. all helping to grow $1 trillion industry that today hosts thousands of different coins that at its peak at the end of 2021 was worth around $3 trillion. but is now fallen to around $1 trillion. but how countries are dealing with crypto currencies differs widely around the world. from outright bans in countries like egypt, qatar and now crucially
12:37 am
china, to fully embracing crypto in outliers like el salvador and central african republic, where bitcoin is now legal tender. republic, where bitcoin is now legaltender. but republic, where bitcoin is now legal tender. but for much of the world, the situation is still very much evolving. here in the uk, some lawmakers are calling for it to be treated like gambling. as new marketing restrictions for crypto currencies, including a 24 hour cooling off period for buyers, are coming into place later this year. and over in the eu, lawmakers, they have approved what has been heralded as the world's first comprehensive framework for crypto regulation, due to come into line next year. so, i have been speaking with the member of the european parliament responsible for getting the ball rolling on eu crypto regulation. andrei, a real pleasure having you on the show. let's start with this. the eu has recently passed what is called the market in crypto act, for those not in the know,
12:38 am
just explain what this act is. it's actually a very first in the european level. but i think also worldwide, to actually introduce a comprehensive regulatory framework for trading and offering issues of digital assets and crypto currencies, etc. and it has been proposed back in 2020. it took us almost three years to finalise it, but here we are. it's actually entering and should be fully applied a couple of years from now. what does this mean i couple of years from now. what does this mean for, i couple of years from now. what does this mean for, well, i couple of years from now. what does this mean for, well, whatl does this mean for, well, what does this mean for, well, what does it mean for crypto traders and to those who want to invest and crypto currencies? i and to those who want to invest and crypto currencies?— and crypto currencies? i think particularly — and crypto currencies? i think particularly for i and crypto currencies? i think particularly for the i and crypto currencies? i think particularly for the investors, | particularly for the investors, this new regulatory piece of information should actually bring more clarity, also more predictability and also, i think in a sort of a safety net. ., ., , , net. how does this eu regulation i net. how does this eu regulation protect i net. how does this eu i regulation protect investors?
12:39 am
for instance, you will know this, we saw a lot of people lose vast sums of money with the collapse of exchanges like ftx just last year.— ftxjust last year. very good week question. i ftxjust last year. very good week question. the i ftxjust last year. very good | week question. the regulation introduces some of the safeguards we know from the financial services world. —— very good question. those we are more use to. for instance, if you have your money invested through a custodian account, thatis through a custodian account, that is actually safeguarded by a specific exchange or a traitor. it's actually insured. so if there is a collapse, especially of token specific investment, at least some part of your investment should be recovered and you should get your money back, which is not the case right now. also, he introduces and standardises the practice of issuing the so—called white papers. so any time an issuer introduces a
12:40 am
token to a market, it's got to be accompanied by weight papers explaining exactly what is the token meant for, what is it architecture and other features so that investors have better informed decisions before investing. informed decisions before investing-— informed decisions before investinu. ~ ., ., investing. when the regulation and the rules _ investing. when the regulation and the rules come i investing. when the regulation and the rules come into i investing. when the regulation and the rules come into place | and the rules come into place next year, i am wondering how does the eu police at? how do you punish bad practices? there is actually _ you punish bad practices? there is actually a _ you punish bad practices? there is actually a number i you punish bad practices? there is actually a number of i is actually a number of sanctions already embedded in those companies that would not comply. i would say i think the main feature of it is that they introduce conflicting regime, so a specific company as a service provider would like to continue the business in europe or start their business in europe, they would have to require a licence from the authority. and that is not the case until now. one of the sanctions if the company does not fulfil the rules and does not fulfil the rules and does not abide by the rules as set,
12:41 am
it means that the licence can be revoked and company activities could be seized in european territory. and i think this would be the main feature, this would be the main feature, this would be the main feature, this would come in my view, change profoundly the landscape of crypto business in europe. i want to talk to about the environmental aspect of the crypto industry. you know, it used to be said that mining for a bit coins over the course of a bit coins over the course of a year produces similar carbon footprint to a country like the netherlands, for instance. what is the eu approach to those issues? , ., issues? there will be a disclosure i issues? there will be aj disclosure requirement issues? there will be a i disclosure requirement in the weight papers. so if a trader or were issued a token, if a trader trades a token... there is a need accompanied with a white paper, the white paper will include specific information regarding the
12:42 am
sustainability dimension of such a token stop byjust listening to you, listening to all the details that are behind this, i've got to say this certainly _ this, i've got to say this certainly puts i this, i've got to say this certainly puts the i this, i've got to say this certainly puts the eu i this, i've got to say this i certainly puts the eu leaps this, i've got to say this certainly puts the eu leaps and bounds in front of many other countries, especially the united states, correct? that united states, correct? at least by — united states, correct? elt least by the fact that it is actually a comprehensive framework and it is very comprehensive, it is detailed in many areas. that sets the rules of business for years to come. so it is not actually something that will be decided case by case by specific authorities. it is actually a framework that has to be respected. and for companies, it provides stability unpredictability. and we will see a little bit more interest for instance by venture capitalists cannot given the fact that it creates a new environment. i think for us in europe, the key for the success of this, also in terms of global standards and global examples would be a successful
12:43 am
implementation of it. we can have a really good rules on paper, but if you fail in the implementation, then i think also the otherjurisdictions will look somewhere else. let's watch this _ will look somewhere else. let's watch this space. i will look somewhere else. let's watch this space. on i will look somewhere else. let's watch this space. on that i watch this space. on that point, andre, member of european parliament, a real pleasure having you on my show. thank you for your time and we will definitely talk to you next year. will definitely talk to you next year-— will definitely talk to you next ear. ., ., ., next year. thank you for having me. next year. thank you for having me- you _ next year. thank you for having me. you know, i next year. thank you for having me. you know, at— next year. thank you for having me. you know, at the i next year. thank you for having me. you know, at the heart- next year. thank you for having me. you know, at the heart ofl me. you know, at the heart of the crypto _ me. you know, at the heart of the crypto crackdown i me. you know, at the heart of the crypto crackdown in - me. you know, at the heart of the crypto crackdown in the i the crypto crackdown in the united states are the moves from wall street's main regulator, the sec against america's biggest crypto exchange, queen base, the sec alleges they are an unregulated exchange most of the company says, hey, the rules aren't clear. so i decided to catch up at the chief legal officer at clean base. paul, a real pleasure having you on the show. because for the uninitiated, just tell us what exactly coinbase is and what it is you do. exactly coinbase is and what it is you dw— exactly coinbase is and what it is you do— exactly coinbase is and what it is ou do. . ~' ., .
12:44 am
is you do. thank you for having me on with _ is you do. thank you for having me on with you. _ is you do. thank you for having me on with you. coinbase - is you do. thank you for having me on with you. coinbase is i is you do. thank you for having me on with you. coinbase is a l me on with you. coinbase is a place for people to buy, sell and trade crypto currencies, digital assets of all types wherever they may be and however they may wish to engage with the crypto economy, over 100 million users now use ftx to access crypto, and it is, in simple terms commits a place to take fiat money, regular cash, and converted into digital money or digital assets in ways that are simple, safe and secure. ,., �* , that are simple, safe and secure. �*, ., ~ ., secure. ok, so let's talk about the sec for _ secure. ok, so let's talk about the sec for the _ secure. ok, so let's talk about the sec for the security - secure. ok, so let's talk about the sec for the security and i the sec for the security and exchange commission. of course, america's market regulator, and bear with me on this one, i want to give some context because it is clear, their tone towards clean base has changed since a few years ago. back in 2018, the now chair of the sec, gary, he basically said that several crypto currencies are not securities. in 2021, the sec gave you it's a blessing to
12:45 am
trade as a public company, to list on the stock exchange. but now they have a lawsuit against you, coinbase, for being an unregulated exchange, because they view a number of crypto currencies as securities, which are traded on the platform. this is a very different tone today. i'm wondering what has changed. fix, today. i'm wondering what has chanced. �* ., ., ., changed. a lot has changed, and the time on _ changed. a lot has changed, and the time on the _ changed. a lot has changed, and the time on the layout _ changed. a lot has changed, and the time on the layout i - changed. a lot has changed, and the time on the layout i think i the time on the layout i think only speaks to how dramatically different the conversation has been with our market regulator in the united states from just a short while ago. as you point out, clean base has been engaged with our security exchange commission for some time on these topics. we have sought regulatory clarity over whether certain types of crypto currencies or tokens are securities and the one hand or commodities on the other for some time. it's an issue that matters here in the united states because we have notjust one regulator, the securities and exchange commission at the federal level, but a second regulator, a commodity futures
12:46 am
trading commission as well. so the definitions medicament the labels matter. as we have gone to the process of listing is public company, please come to realise that the sec, the market responsible for cicada regulation has changed course can has taken a very different view of its authority and now claims that all digital assets are securities other than perhaps it's going. a very different perspective than they had when they allowed us to list in 2021.— list in 2021. but isn't part of this huge — list in 2021. but isn't part of this huge news _ list in 2021. but isn't part of this huge news story - list in 2021. but isn't part of this huge news story that i this huge news story that happened in your industry last year? the collapse of the ftx exchange? —— or two. year? the collapse of the ftx exchange? —— ortwo. i'mjust wondering if that left certain regulators with egg on their face or at least embarrassed that happen under their noses and that is why you are in the situation you are today. there is no question _ situation you are today. there is no question that _ situation you are today. there is no question that when i situation you are today. there is no question that when ftx| is no question that when ftx blew up in november of last year, it left a black eye, not just on the industry, but on
12:47 am
the regulators who were responsible for protecting investors from that calamity. while many of us have been working for years for sensible rules to operate in a safe compliant and regulated manner, the situation with ftx with all of us in the industry with a very dark brash.— of us in the industry with a very dark brash. just briefly, ou talk very dark brash. just briefly, you talk about _ very dark brash. just briefly, you talk about these - very dark brash. just briefly, you talk about these set i very dark brash. just briefly, you talk about these set of l you talk about these set of rules that you've been asking for, again, to the uninitiated, what do these rules look like? well, we have already talked about the importance of understanding which digital assets are securities on the one hand and commodities on the other. so perhaps the most important role that we are looking for clarity on is a definition of securities as applied to digital assets that can make clear notjust to lawyers and regulators but to lay people. the most important clarity we seek is a confirmation that digital assets are a recognised and indeed respected part of the
12:48 am
financial system has a whole. the whole opportunity that crypto currencies and digital assets provide is to eliminate inefficiencies and to allow for greater transparency and also to allow for greater access for regular consumers to basic financial services, confirming these elements would unlock tremendous opportunity, tremendous opportunity, tremendous value, and until we have the clarity, until we have that, unfortunately, we are not realising this technology's full potential.— realising this technology's full potential. paul, if those rules had — full potential. paul, if those rules had been _ full potential. paul, if those l rules had been implemented, full potential. paul, if those i rules had been implemented, i'm wondering, what they have prevented the collapse of the ftx exchange? if prevented the collapse of the ftx exchange?— ftx exchange? it would have almost certainly _ ftx exchange? it would have almost certainly created i almost certainly created greater line of sight for regulators into the nefarious activities of exchanges like ftx. for example ftx is unique in many important ways, but a critical way in which it was unique is that it was set up in a jurisdiction outside the united states, and yet allowed traders inside the united
12:49 am
states to have access to its services. if there had been sensible rules in place at the time of its creation, i think there would've been a much stronger incentive to set up operations on shore. with onshore operations, with ongoing oversight by a respected regulator, you are naturally going to have much greater visibility because you have a much more direct regular presence inside the enterprise. paul, i've got to ask you this, do you think that the sec have any valid points, that some of the coins that you trade on your exchange are seen as securities and that should be treated as such.— securities and that should be treated as such. coinbase does not list any _ treated as such. coinbase does not list any securities - treated as such. coinbase does not list any securities on i treated as such. coinbase does not list any securities on our. not list any securities on our exchange day because we operate and apply an exact listing process, a deep analysis of each asset to confirm that the asset is not a security. it's one of the reasons why, for example, coinbase rejects over 90% of the assets it considers
12:50 am
per listing. but we do agree with the sec that offering digital asset securities should come to market sooner rather than later, and we would like to be able to do this in the future. of course, there needs to be sensible rules in place to be sensible rules in place to be sensible rules in place to be sure that investors are protected in the process. at present, however, the sec has decided to pursue those rules or establish those standards to litigation. we think that rule—making or lawmaking is a much more efficient and effective process.- much more efficient and effective process. paul, how do ou see effective process. paul, how do you see that— effective process. paul, how do you see that crypto _ effective process. paul, how do you see that crypto exchanges l you see that crypto exchanges being able to exist in the united states after all of this? i am just one could this be the beginning of the end for the crypto industry in the us? well, i think the crypto industry in the us? well, ithink it the crypto industry in the us? well, i think it is important to understand that americans have decided for themselves that they want crypto in their financial future already today, 20% or more of americans have either bought or sold digital assets are interacted with the economy in some way. the
12:51 am
american people made it clear they want crypto as part of their financial future. they want crypto as part of theirfinancialfuture. if they want crypto as part of their financial future. if they think i think to bear in mind is that crypto globally is a reality in ways that cannot and will not be affected by the decisions of the united states or one particular regulator in the united states. so i think the united states. so i think the question for the american regulators is do they want to allow their constituency, american investors access to the same financial opportunities, digital asset projects the rest of the world undoubtedly will have access to. ,, , . , undoubtedly will have access to, ,, , ., , , undoubtedly will have access to. surely, any rules, any regulations, _ to. surely, any rules, any regulations, they - to. surely, any rules, any regulations, they have i to. surely, any rules, any regulations, they have to | to. surely, any rules, any. regulations, they have to be global for regulations, they have to be globalfor them regulations, they have to be global for them to work, right? i agree. there is no question that in orderfor crypto i agree. there is no question that in order for crypto to realise its full potential, there do need to be global standards in place because of course, the ultimate potential and opportunity crypto provides were borderless global access to products and services so
12:52 am
that someone sitting in a small town or a small village in a remote part of the world has access to the same opportunities as someone sitting in a globalfinancial capital. fortunately, we are seeing global standards emerge, even as the us continues to wrestle with this unfortunate regulatory turf battle. europe through its framework has led the way in promulgating standards around safety, security, the right ways to monitor potential illicit or nefarious activity in ways that the rest of the world is taking notice. the uk, i think, the rest of the world is taking notice. the uk, ithink, has committed an important contribution to this debate as it looks forward to legislation and consultation. we see similar conversations and debates taking place in india, and australia. the list goes on and australia. the list goes on and on. it's really only the united states and critically one part of the united states government that seems to be consuming itself that this turf battle and arguments over
12:53 am
jurisdiction.— battle and arguments over 'urisdiction. ~ , ., ~ jurisdiction. why do you think that is, then? _ jurisdiction. why do you think that is, then? you _ jurisdiction. why do you think that is, then? you listed i jurisdiction. why do you think that is, then? you listed off. jurisdiction. why do you thinkj that is, then? you listed off a list of countries is what you see as appropriate action, what is it in the us that is causing this? i is it in the us that is causing this? ~ ., �* , this? i think that it's important _ this? i think that it's important to - this? i think that it's - important to understand that part of this reflects an unusual feature of our government. we do have a divided system here in the united states. not only do federal regulators have a say in overseeing these markets, but there are also regulators at the state level. even within the federal government, we do not have a single market regulator as is the case in the uk and in most other jurisdictions all over the world. and unfortunately, these fights over authority and jurisdiction can sometimes consume regulators in ways that are counterproductive. and ultimately hopeful and optimistic that the united states is going to figure this out. we have legislation now proposed in our congress that
12:54 am
would set standards in ways that are sensible that would be strict on the industry, but at the same time allow for innovations to flourish. i think the vast majority of policymakers and regulators in the united states understand and appreciate that the rest of the world is not waiting and that washington risks being left behind if it cannot move past these petty fights. hath past these petty fights. how important — past these petty fights. how important it _ past these petty fights. how important it is _ past these petty fights. how important it is black - past these petty fights. how important it is black chain technology, things like web three for the future? do you see these, has the direction of travel for finance? see these, has the direction of travel forfinance? his see these, has the direction of travel for finance? no question about it. the _ travel for finance? no question about it. the benefit _ travel for finance? no question about it. the benefit of- travel for finance? no question about it. the benefit of block i about it. the benefit of block chains is that they operate and offer a way for a public ledger to be maintained that is not under the control or the authority of any single firm or entity. in other words, there is transparency that comes from block chains in addition to greater efficiencies. and we think one of the prime reasons why, for example in the united states, 80% of americans have
12:55 am
suggested that the financial system is stacked against them and in favour of incumbents. 60% of them want to see a major upgrade to that system. one of the reasons we think crypto and digital assets offer opportunity for that is that it does provide for greater transparency, visibility and autonomy for participants of the financial system and that is going to be true regardless of which particular project or tokens ultimately are successful. that is what has me excited as anything else about the future of this technology. on that plane, paul, a real pleasure having you on the show. good luck with everything, my friend coming and i will check in with you soon. �* , , . ., and i will check in with you soon._ that i and i will check in with you soon._ that is | and i will check in with you i soon._ that is it soon. appreciated. that is it for this week's _ soon. appreciated. that is it for this week's show. - soon. appreciated. that is it for this week's show. i i soon. appreciated. that is it for this week's show. i hope | for this week's show. i hope you enjoyed it. don't forget can even keep up on the latest of our global economy and our app. if chris can he can also follow me on twitter. tweet me, i will tweet you back. thanks for watching. i will tweet you back. thanks forwatching. i i will tweet you back. thanks for watching. i will see you soon. goodbye.
12:56 am
hello. a hot night out there, very humid indoors too, after what was a hot day. on saturday in the south east of england, temperatures hit 29 degrees celsius. and sunday is going to be hotter still. again, humid for many of us, and there's a chance of storms, particularly across northern parts of the uk. now, some of the storms could be pretty nasty with frequent lightning, hail and gusty winds. this is what's happening right now. there is a cold frontjust to the west of our neighbourhood. it is going to sweep in some fresher conditions. but ahead of it, we've got that plume of heat and also moisture, that humidity coming in from the southern climes. so there is a change on the way. this is what it looks like early in the morning on sunday. those temperatures still holding around the high teens. this is where the weather front is, it's ready to sweep across the uk. not everybody�*s going to get the rain. the rain will fall in northern ireland during the morning. then the skies will brighten up, and it'll be a fresh afternoon. and then that rain will reach scotland and parts of northern england. there'll be a few showers
12:57 am
in wales too, but it's across northern and eastern scotland, the northeast of england and all the way down to lincolnshire. this is where we're likely to see the heaviest downpours with the hail and the gusty winds as well. south of that, that's where we'll have the heat and humidity. in london and the south east, temperatures could hit 32 degrees celsius, but for the west, it's going to be fresher, plymouth, 23 celsius, about that in cardiff, and i think a very pleasant i9 degrees celsius in belfast in the sunny spells and maybe the odd shower. and during the course of sunday evening, still some showers there across parts of scotland and northern england. but for many of us, a very pleasant end to the day. let's have a look at monday now. we're sort of in between weather systems. one weather front clears away, another one waiting in the wings out towards the west of the uk. so the morning starts off sunny on monday. through the course of the afternoon, clouds will bubble up. there'll be a few showers here and there, particularly across northern parts of the uk, but essentially a very pleasant day,
12:58 am
a lot fresher too. you really will notice the difference across many parts of england. in london, from the 32 celsius, more like 23 degrees celsius. and if we have a look at the weather for the week ahead, you can see the weather is looking a little bit mixed every now and then, but still pretty warm in the south, temperatures low or mid 20s. the high teens expected further north. bye— bye.
12:59 am
live from washington, this is bbc news. a dramatic day in russia — from rebellion to retreat, following the wagner boss going rogue. we have the latest.
1:00 am
iam i am helena iam helena humphrey, good to have you with us. we start with what has been an extraordinary 21l hours in russia. the head of the wagner mercernary group, yevgeny prigozhin, has left for belarus. prigozhin told his forces to return to their bases earlier to "avoid bloodshed" after negotiations with belarusian leader alexander lu kashenko to end their rebellion against the russian army. wagnerfighters have begun to leave the southern city of rostov—on—don, where their mutiny began less than 21l hours ago, according to reports. security had been tightened in moscow, with the mayor telling residents to avoid travelling. all mass outdoor events have been cancelled until 1 july. but russia's tass news agencey is now reporting that all restrictions previously imposed on russia's motorways have been lifted by the federal road agency following the retreat
1:01 am
of the wagner forces. sections of roads had been blocked along the route to moscow from southern russia over the last 21l hours, including in the rostov, lipetsk, voronezh and tula regions. here you see the wagner leader departing russia for belarus earlier, following the announcement to cancel the rebellion. prior to that announcement, a huge convoy had been heading towards moscow in what vladimir putin had described as an attempted mutiny. as wagner troops leave rostov—on—don, charges against prigozhin and his wagner forces will be dropped. president putin's press secretary said that wagner mercenaries who wish to sign a ministry of defence contract can, and fighters who took part in the uprising will not be prosecuted. meanwhile, these are the latest images of locals chanting "wagner" as the troops from the mercenary group were leaving rostov. and here you see tanks boarding
1:02 am
trucks and leaving the area. the departures come as belarusian leader lukashenko helped to mediate between moscow and wagner. earlier in an audio message posted on the social media site telegram, prigozhin said the time had come to stand down in an effort to deescalate the situation and avoid bloodshed. here's an english translation of his message. translation: they wanted to disband the wagner. i onjune 23rd, we went out on a justice march. within a day, we were just 200 kilometres away from moscow. during that time, we did not spill a single drop of blood of our fighters. now the moment has come when the blood can be spilt. therefore, understanding all the responsibility for the fact that russian blood will be spilt on one of the sides, we're turning our comms back and leaving in the opposite direction to the field camps, according to the plan. with me now is barbara starr, former pentagon correspondent at cnn and national security expert. great to have you with us again
1:03 am
barbara. barbara, the speed with which this happened was incredible. i'm sure the us officials would have been preparing for a range of scenarios. but when they necessarily have been anticipating something like this, that escalated so quickly?— this, that escalated so cuickl ? ., ,, ., , ., quickly? perhaps not. they have been watching _ quickly? perhaps not. they have been watching prigozhin - quickly? perhaps not. they have been watching prigozhin for- been watching prigozhin for some time who had been public about his opposition for how the russian military was prosecuting the war. he was very opposed to russian military commands, critical of vladimir putin, claimed to have ammunition shortages, and by several accounts there had been some intelligence that he may have been stockpiling ammunition and weapons but it wasn't clear what his goal was and what he was going to do without. even now i don't know that we really understand what prigozhin thought his endgame would be here. so there was — there was some watching but perhaps not the anticipation that this would move and then
1:04 am
reverse with such lightning speed. has reverse with such lightning seed. �* , reverse with such lightning seed. a , speed. as you say, multiple question — speed. as you say, multiple question marks _ speed. as you say, multiple question marks right - speed. as you say, multiple question marks right now i question marks right now exactly what the endgame was. what do you think president biden, what conversations will he be having right now? defence secretary austin, for example? there are several things, they will be trying to step up whatever intelligence they need to gather whether it is satellite imagery, eavesdropping on conversations, some of the most classified efforts the us has, so they can gather all the intelligence and try to get a sense of what is happening now. ithink everybody believes the russian military, the top commanders will be on the phone non—stop. the us wants to know what they're talking about. but then i don't think you will seejoe biden really step into it in a big way. he doesn't want to give vladimir putin any chance to say the us is interfering. remember there are two americans still being held by the russians that the us wants
1:05 am
back, evan gershkowitz, and paul whalen. there is a lot of behind—the—scenes effort to try to get those men out of russia, not successful so far. so they will want to understand whether that problem now changes with what has happened.— that problem now changes with what has happened. important to make that point, _ what has happened. important to make that point, barbara, - what has happened. important to make that point, barbara, and i make that point, barbara, and see these potential developments, bringing in that situation as well. stay with us. i want to look, now. last hour i spoke to democratic congressman jason crow who shared his perspective on the latest developments. to begin with, your thoughts on what we have been seeing? this has been what we have been seeing? “in 3 has been surprising that this has been surprising that this has happened as soon as it has happened. it isn't surprising this has necessarily happen. those who have been watching the wagner group in russia, ukraine, know how prigozhin has been consolidating power. he
1:06 am
has been pushing back on the russian military establishment and actually testing his power while politically —— both politically and militarily. but the speed at which he marched on moscow and how quickly he got and as to moscow was pretty shocking. got and as to moscow was pretty shockina. ., ., , ., ~' got and as to moscow was pretty shockina. ., ., ,, ~ , shocking. how do you think this could impact — shocking. how do you think this could impact the _ shocking. how do you think this could impact the us, _ shocking. how do you think this could impact the us, russia? i shocking. how do you think this | could impact the us, russia? in a couple of ways. very good and is absolutely weaker. there is no doubt about that. but the russian military and war machine is significantly weaker. you have disrupted committing control with the russian military. there have been a lot of changes in their military in the days and weeks ahead. the morale of the russian military. then there is the wagner group, a mercenary army of over 30,000, some of the most experience, battle tested soldiers that they had in their arsenal, you and you have taken off the field. this is the force that has been
1:07 am
holding the line for the russians for the last six months and laid—back mood in the south, and in the eastern provinces. —— bakhmut. they are neutralised when the ukrainians are essentially lodging a counteroffensive. so are essentially lodging a counteroffensive. ., ., counteroffensive. so how do you think the ukrainians _ counteroffensive. so how do you think the ukrainians can - counteroffensive. so how do you think the ukrainians can use i think the ukrainians can use this to their advantage on the battlefield? in this to their advantage on the battlefield?— battlefield? in war, i am a former army _ battlefield? in war, i am a former army ranger, i battlefield? in war, i am a former army ranger, so i l battlefield? in war, i am a i former army ranger, so i have been two or three times in iraq and afghanistan. the principles of war is that when there is an opening, you need to be on the move quickly, boldly, and aggressively to take advantage of that. that is what i think the ukrainians will do. they have never missed an opportunity to take advantage of an opening. being bold right now is possibly something they're looking at doing. ii they're looking at doing. if you have that situation happening there in ukraine, you have prigozhin going to belarus, we don't essentially know what his role will be
1:08 am
there, but we know that feud between vladimir putin and prigozhin has been spilling out into the open. other concerns that we could see this spill over into even more serious conflict, and if that is a case, what should the us do? —— are there concerns. than case, what should the us do? -- are there concerns.— are there concerns. an insecure vladimir putin _ are there concerns. an insecure vladimir putin is _ are there concerns. an insecure vladimir putin is not _ vladimir putin is not necessarily a good thing. i am no fan of vladimir putin and would love to see him not be the leader of russia, but we have to look at the global political element. the wagner group has arms in lots of places around the world, africa, the middle east, a number of countries and autocrats that rely on the wagner group for their insecurity and to prop up their regimes. so we need to keep a close eye on whether those mercenaries withdraw from those areas, whether command and control has destabilised, and whether other conflicts in africa and the middle east in particular be coming to the
1:09 am
surface here in the weeks ahead. �* ., , ., ahead. and how should the bud . et ahead. and how should the budget administration i ahead. and how should the i budget administration respond to that? �* to that? one thing the biden administration _ to that? one thing the biden administration is _ to that? one thing the biden administration is already i to that? one thing the biden l administration is already doing is they have been engaging over the last few months with some of the countries that had been very reluctant to take sides in this conflict and have been silent about russia's aggression in ukraine. and they have been talking with his countries and saying, look, this is a battle for freedom and can stay neutral here. russia is not a stable and reliable partner and you should come our way. it is more beneficial for you to align with democracies than it is autocracies. as a matter of fact, there are senior partners versus trajan officials in meetings of was of those countries and delegations from places in the global south, africa, and other places. places. —— senior officials from the biden administration. they are making the case that there is no future in parting with an autocratic country,
1:10 am
particularly russia, because there is no predictability and stability in that.— there is no predictability and stability in that. jason curry, who sits on _ stability in that. jason curry, who sits on the _ stability in that. jason curry, who sits on the house i stability in that. jason curry, i who sits on the house committee on foreign affairs, we thank you for being with us. thank ou. let's take a closer look at the man who called for the rebellion, yevgeny prigozhin, and the group of mercenary soldiers he leads, known as the wagner group. our security correspondent gordon corera has more details. yevgeny prigozhin outside russian military headquarters in rostov—on—don this morning, boasting his wagner group have taken it without firing a shot. butjust who is this man challenging russia's leaders? prigozhin began as a criminal from st petersburg. after leaving jail, he began selling hotdogs but then graduated to running expensive restaurants. he caught the attention of russia's leader, leading him to be known as putin's chef. he catered to world leaders
1:11 am
when they visited, even america's president, but also became rich from lucrative military contracts. about a decade ago, he began to carry out operations around the world on behalf of the kremlin, even interfering in america's 2016 election. but prigozhin became best known as head of wagner, an often—brutal private mercenary group working to the kremlin's agenda. it has been operating across the middle east and africa, including syria, libya and mali, allowing putin to project power without being directly involved. but it is in the last year in ukraine that it has really come to the fore. as putin's plans for a quick victory faded, prigozhin's forces undertook some of the heaviest fighting. some of them came from prisons. here's prigozhin recruiting them in return for an early release. laying flowers on the graves of those who died helped him cultivate an image in russia as a nationalist hero, one who would fight harder in ukraine.
1:12 am
but battles like the one in bakhmut have led to growing tension between prigozhin and the regular russian military leadership. he angrily accused its leaders, like the defence minister shoigu and military chief gerasimov, of using his men as cannon fodder and denying them vital supplies. prigozhin claimed russia's soldiers had been let down by their leaders and his attacks on them became increasingly outspoken. it was clear one side or other would have to move, bringing what had been a simmering crisis to the boil. live now to michael o'hanlon, senior fellow live now to michael o'hanlon, seniorfellow and live now to michael o'hanlon, senior fellow and director of research at the brookings institution. thank you for being with us here on bbc news. a stunning 21l hours in russia, it has to be said. is this a
1:13 am
dangerous moment in the war, do you think, or potentially a window of for ukraine? it certainly was an amazing 24 certainly was an amazing 21l hours that i didn't see coming. this was, i thought, a rhetorical duel between prigozhin and some of putin's top military leaders. i didn't think that he could come to an attempt at a coup or a civil war, but it did. i think we need to be agnostic on where this goes going forward and acknowledge that russian studies, political science theory doesn't really tell us how to think about this moment of potential revolutionary change. it appears that prigozhin has recognised that whatever he was doing before was impetuous and had no real prospects of success. i think he will probably have to flee from the scene and probably worry about his personal survival more than anything else. but the bigger question is how does putin assess this,
1:14 am
and does he decide he has to deal seriously with the russian opposition to what he is doing in ukraine or does he decide he has really ruined his number one potential challenger, and is free to go on with force? we don't have that answer. it is is free to go on with force? we don't have that answer.- don't have that answer. it is a hu . e don't have that answer. it is a huge question _ don't have that answer. it is a huge question for— don't have that answer. it is a huge question for vladimir i huge question for vladimir putin and even if prigozhin appears to be retreating for now, as you pointed out, we don't exactly know how that will continue to unfold. do you think that this could potentially be the beginning of more cracks in russia, or at least the indication of that? it is possible. putin will have to think hard about that. my gut instinct is to say no to your question, but also to quickly add i don't know, and the most important thing is how will vladimir putin assess the question and the answer to that. if he decides that he has really pushed his luck and that even though he is showing up at 60% popular in russia, even
1:15 am
though most russians of the big cities are living a pretty good life and art that overly concerned about this war, he may start to wonder how much you can sustain this going forward, and, if he does reconsider, then the question will be once the ukrainian offensive plays out and we are where we are in august or september, does putin find a clever way to sort of go for a compromise, go for a peace deal, recognising that a long war isn't in his interests? he decide, again, that prigozhin was his main potential competitor and now he has put him in his basic and focusing for three orfour orfive him in his basic and focusing for three or four or five more years, just like the world war i leaders that he referred to today, in putting down prigozhin. ijust don't today, in putting down prigozhin. i just don't think we know. that will be a question for tomorrow and the next day, whether putin decides to double down or back. it certainly is, and barbara, what i thought was interesting, michael essentially in the
1:16 am
world of academics saying essentially we don't know. everything back to the beginning of this war, 70 thought they knew what was going to happen then we saw this extraordinary ability of vladimir putin to surprise with this invasion. ——so many thought. do you think the biden administration, nato allies, have an idea of how this could unfold, or do you think that they are scratching their heads, saying that was a turnup for the books a surprise? i would be interested in your further thoughts on this michael because i think where we are right now is, look, the intelligence services across nato, the allies, the us, they are in the business of trying to find out about things they don't know. so they are very used to this. we don't know, we need to go find out. that's fine. forthe need to go find out. that's fine. for the pentagon and military services, what they hate is not knowing, not knowing what to plan against. and that may be one of the key problems right now, michael, and i would be interested in
1:17 am
your thoughts. what do you do — do you need to do something to further reinforce nato's eastern flank in case there is further instability? because right now stability may be very questionable. michael, what do you think? questionable. michael, what do ou think? , questionable. michael, what do you think?— you think? first of all, it is a privilege _ you think? first of all, it is a privilege to _ you think? first of all, it is a privilege to be _ you think? first of all, it is a privilege to be on - you think? first of all, it is a privilege to be on with i a privilege to be on with barbara _ a privilege to be on with barbara starr. i would tend to say that — barbara starr. i would tend to say that about 12 hours ago these — say that about 12 hours ago these questions would have been paramount in most people's minds — paramount in most people's minds and they could come back in 12_ minds and they could come back in 12 more — minds and they could come back in 12 more hours. but at the moment— in 12 more hours. but at the moment it _ in 12 more hours. but at the moment it looks as though prigozhin has lost. and whatever insurrection he thought he could create or, you know. _ thought he could create or, you know. sort _ thought he could create or, you know, sort of incentivise or calalyse _ know, sort of incentivise or catalyse has not happened, and he has — catalyse has not happened, and he has been persuaded that despite _ he has been persuaded that despite his frustrations and anger— despite his frustrations and anger at— despite his frustrations and anger at the way his own mercenaries have been treated, it takes— mercenaries have been treated, it takes a — mercenaries have been treated, it takes a lot for a mercenary to become cynical about the way in which — to become cynical about the way in which his people have been lrealed~ — in which his people have been treated. but despite all that
1:18 am
he realised he had nowhere to id he realised he had nowhere to go and — he realised he had nowhere to go and decided he had his columns _ go and decided he had his columns moving towards moscow was ridiculous and had no prospect of success, and he has backed — prospect of success, and he has backed off. i think at the moment it looks like prigozhin has lost, — moment it looks like prigozhin has lost, putin has won, but doesn't _ has lost, putin has won, but doesn't tell you if putin will feel— doesn't tell you if putin will feel confident and continue on the previous course. we will have — the previous course. we will have to _ the previous course. we will have to see over the next few really — have to see over the next few really weeks and months if this incident, — really weeks and months if this incident, this big incident really— incident, this big incident really makes a big difference in puiin's_ really makes a big difference in putin's thinking.— in putin's thinking. very interesting, _ in putin's thinking. very interesting, michael. i in putin's thinking. very i interesting, michael. even if there is the objects of prigozhin having lost, vladimir putin has been openly challenged on the world stage and i wonder where that leads him and how and if you think that makes them more dangerous, if he weighs his options, what that cause could be, and if he also weighs his weapons in this, too?— also weighs his weapons in this, too? we are in a funny lace. this, too? we are in a funny place- 12 — this, too? we are in a funny place. 12 hours _ this, too? we are in a funny place. 12 hours ago, - this, too? we are in a funny place. 12 hours ago, i i this, too? we are in a funny place. 12 hours ago, i was i this, too? we are in a funny i place. 12 hours ago, i was not hoping that prigozhin could have exposed some kind of a
1:19 am
major crack in russian society and politics and show a weakening that would force putin to pull back from ukraine and everything else. but also that very uncertainty raise the possibility that vladimir putin would challenge nato's eastern flank, threaten nuclear weapons use, all sorts of crazy things, or tellers that he was considering those things. now we settling back to more or less where we were before, not completely, but to some extent, in a way, it is ironic that with vladimir putin consolidating his position there is less anxiety in the united states, because he is less likely to do something crazy like threaten a nuclear strike or threaten an expansion of the war. because now he is back to having control of own country and me. but that may not last. and my head is still spinning from how much has gone back and forth like a roller—coaster in the last 21l hours. this is unlike any moment in russian politics since at least 1999, but
1:20 am
probably even 1991. it has been an amazingly momentous 21l hours. an amazingly momentous 24 hours. ., ., , hours. barbara, your thoughts on what michael _ hours. barbara, your thoughts on what michael had - hours. barbara, your thoughts on what michael had to - hours. barbara, your thoughts on what michael had to say? l hours. barbara, your thoughts on what michael had to say? i | on what michael had to say? i agree with him. and that is the crux— agree with him. and that is the crux of— agree with him. and that is the crux of it — agree with him. and that is the crux of it. we don't know. the key _ crux of it. we don't know. the key question, or at least one key question, or at least one key question, or at least one key question in all of this is what — key question in all of this is what is _ key question in all of this is what is vladimir putin going to do next? — what is vladimir putin going to do next? does he have complete control? — do next? does he have complete control? does he have power? can he — control? does he have power? can he make decisions and have the authority to carry them out across — the authority to carry them out across russia and across his forces — across russia and across his forces in _ across russia and across his forces in ukraine? is he still in complete control? the conventional wisdom would be yes, _ conventional wisdom would be yes, he — conventional wisdom would be yes, he has got rid of prigozhin, everything is cool, he is — prigozhin, everything is cool, he is going back to business as usual, — he is going back to business as usual, lrul— he is going back to business as usual, but as michael pointed out, _ usual, but as michael pointed out, this— usual, but as michael pointed out, this is constantly turning on a — out, this is constantly turning on a dime _ out, this is constantly turning on a dime every few hours in the— on a dime every few hours in the last— on a dime every few hours in the last day or so, sol on a dime every few hours in the last day or so, so i think that— the last day or so, so i think that is— the last day or so, so i think that is the _ the last day or so, so i think that is the key question. what i that is the key question. what i am _ that is the key question. what i am about to say is not an original— i am about to say is not an original thought. i am about to say is not an originalthought. i have i am about to say is not an original thought. i have said nlany— original thought. i have said many places today, and i thought, it sums up everything,
1:21 am
and it— thought, it sums up everything, and it was— thought, it sums up everything, and it was people saying who knew — and it was people saying who knew you _ and it was people saying who knew you could row back across the rubicon?— knew you could row back across the rubicon? yes, and barbara, on this point _ the rubicon? yes, and barbara, on this point that _ the rubicon? yes, and barbara, on this point that you _ the rubicon? yes, and barbara, on this point that you are i on this point that you are saying about things being changed on a dime within hours, none of this happening, of course, in a vacuum, and this recalibrate is geopolitical positions, almost, potentially, hour by hour. many countries are watching what happens here and with only a prudent apparently appearing to be weakened, how do you think countries like turkey, for example, brazil, china, all of these countries which had been navigating this tight rope of neutrality, what kind of calculations are they going through right now?- calculations are they going through right now? one of the laces to through right now? one of the places to watch _ through right now? one of the places to watch factors - through right now? one of the places to watch factors a i places to watch factors a starting point will be the locations in africa as your bbc correspondence at where prigozhin and the wagner group happen— prigozhin and the wagner group happen ever so active in recent years — happen ever so active in recent years. what will their ability
1:22 am
be years. what will their ability he to— years. what will their ability be to continue their very aggressive, verging on war crimes— aggressive, verging on war crimes operations in africa, and — crimes operations in africa, and whether if they are not doing — and whether if they are not doing that, who will move on? a lot of— doing that, who will move on? a lot of concern about terrorist groups — lot of concern about terrorist groups on _ lot of concern about terrorist groups on the rise and in several— groups on the rise and in several key places in africa where _ several key places in africa where wagner group has been operating. i think people operating. i think people operating in latin america will be watching, china, as we talked _ be watching, china, as we talked about. how will this recalculate president xi's thinking, going into taiwan one of these — thinking, going into taiwan one of these days, you know? he has seen _ of these days, you know? he has seen what — of these days, you know? he has seen what a _ of these days, you know? he has seen what a mess it is for russia _ seen what a mess it is for russia to _ seen what a mess it is for russia to go into ukraine and it may— russia to go into ukraine and it may he _ russia to go into ukraine and it may be a lesson learned for him, _ it may be a lesson learned for him. don't _ it may be a lesson learned for him, don't move so fast. so everyone _ him, don't move so fast. so everyone will be watching. i think— everyone will be watching. i think they will be watching very— think they will be watching very carefully, minute by minute, _ very carefully, minute by minute, to see what strength, what _ minute, to see what strength, what power putin is able to retain _ what power putin is able to retain i_ what power putin is able to retain. i think there is a lot of factor— retain. i think there is a lot of factor but michael, how do you think— of factor but michael, how do you think china will respond to
1:23 am
this? _ you think china will respond to this? |— you think china will respond to this? ~ ., you think china will respond to this? ~' . ., , you think china will respond to this? ~ . ., , ., this? i think china wants an end to this _ this? i think china wants an end to this mess. _ this? i think china wants an end to this mess. i - this? i think china wants an end to this mess. i am i this? i think china wants an end to this mess. i am no l this? i think china wants an l end to this mess. i am no fan of xijinping but i don't think he really sees all these great opportunities in what is going on. i don't think he really relishes the fact that the united states may be partially strategically restricted. i think he sees more downsides, i think he sees more downsides, i think he sees more downsides, i think he is in cahoots are not in bed with vladimir putin who is proving himself to be the world's number one dentist! dastardly figure 2021 to 22, 2023. gas, energy is at risk, food markets are at risk. i think the chinese mostly see this as a bad thing and i hope, i don't know but i hope they see it as a reminder of the uncertainties of war when you start an operation, and even the cia thought last year this would go quickly in putin's favour, you really don't know how this will turn out and i hope this is the fundamental lesson for the chinese and anyone else would derive from
1:24 am
this conflict.— anyone else would derive from this conflict. michael, we know the biden administration i this conflict. michael, we know| the biden administration spoke to allies today. what do you think their response should be? i don't know that we have a particular response. i think it is a reminder that if this war continues we don't really have the ability to just extrapolate week by week, month by month, and assume tomorrow will resemble yesterday. and big, bad, new things could happen, so my hope is this is one more reminder to the world that once we see the ukrainian offences of spring 2023 pay—out we need to think hard about a peace process because the more this goes on, the more uncertainties and the more potentialfor escalation continue. today was a scary day. it may, you know, it may or may not wind up in the way that we want but it was scary — when you see a nuclear armed state, 5000 nuclear weapons, potentially at civil war, that should be sobering for all of us.—
1:25 am
war, that should be sobering for all of us. michael o'hanlon there, for all of us. michael o'hanlon there. and _ for all of us. michael o'hanlon there, and barbara, _ for all of us. michael o'hanlon there, and barbara, thank- for all of us. michael o'hanlon there, and barbara, thank youj there, and barbara, thank you so much for being with us. thank you. for more information to remember you can go to the bbc news website, and of course our app news website, and of course our app where we are tracking every development. full app where we are tracking every development-— development. full background anal sis development. full background analysis on — development. full background analysis on there _ development. full background analysis on there and - development. full background analysis on there and of i development. full background | analysis on there and of course the latest reporting. we are in washington, dc, thank you for your company and remember plenty more is coming up on the top of the howieson stay with us if you can. goodbye for now. hello. a hot night out there, very humid indoors too, after what was a hot day. on saturday in the south east of england, temperatures hit 29 degrees celsius. and sunday is going to be hotter still. again, humid for many of us, and there's a chance of storms,
1:26 am
particularly across northern parts of the uk. now, some of the storms could be pretty nasty with frequent lightning, hail and gusty winds. this is what's happening right now. there is a cold frontjust to the west of our neighbourhood. it is going to sweep in some fresher conditions. but ahead of it, we've got that plume of heat and also moisture, that humidity coming in from the southern climes. so there is a change on the way. this is what it looks like early in the morning on sunday. those temperatures still holding around the high teens. this is where the weather front is, it's ready to sweep across the uk. not everybody�*s going to get the rain. the rain will fall in northern ireland during the morning. then the skies will brighten up, and it'll be a fresh afternoon. and then that rain will reach scotland and parts of northern england. there'll be a few showers in wales too, but it's across northern and eastern scotland, the north—east
1:27 am
of england and all the way down to lincolnshire. this is where we're likely to see the heaviest downpours with the hail and the gusty winds as well. south of that, that's where we'll have the heat and humidity. in london and the south east, temperatures could hit 32 degrees celsius, but for the west, it's going to be fresher, plymouth, 23 celsius, about that in cardiff, and i think a very pleasant 19 degrees celsius in belfast in the sunny spells and maybe the odd shower. and during the course of sunday evening, still some showers there across parts of scotland and northern england. but for many of us, a very pleasant end to the day. let's have a look at monday now. we're sort of in between weather systems. one weather front clears away, another one waiting in the wings out towards the west of the uk. so the morning starts off sunny on monday. through the course of the afternoon, clouds will bubble up. there'll be a few showers here and there, particularly across northern parts of the uk, but essentially a very pleasant day, a lot fresher too. you really will notice the difference across many parts of england. in london, from the 32 celsius, more like 23 degrees celsius. and if we have a look at the weather for the week ahead, you can see the weather is looking a little bit mixed every now and then, but still pretty warm in the south, temperatures
1:28 am
low or mid 20s. the high teens expected further north. bye— bye.
1:29 am
voice-over: this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour, straight after this programme.
1:30 am
naples, the noisy, they chaotic the effortless. the one in the centre of its sea, and in the dampness of its alleyways. naples. the modern, the experimental, the iridescent one. the neighbours of mount vesuvius as seen by anti—war hole. the city of the poprock and blues. the polychrome naples. the melancholic. naples. the melancholic. naples. the melancholic. naples. the popular. the naples of diego, the city owned by its
1:31 am
people. naples. which usually loses but occasionally manages to win. i made a fourth, napoli secured the european championship with a draw. a first title for at story in 33 years, the first since diego maradona. take six neapolitan scott a class of 23, and view the achievement through their eyes. the achievement through their e es. . , , the achievement through their e es, .,, , the achievement through their ees. , , eyes. naples football is everything- _ eyes. naples football is everything. it _ eyes. naples football is everything. it is - eyes. naples football is everything. it is joy, i eyes. naples football is everything. it isjoy, itl eyes. naples football is| everything. it isjoy, it is love, it is fun, it is sadness. it is important for us to win against _ it is important for us to win against teams from the north. we live — against teams from the north. we live for this moment since a long _ we live for this moment since a longtime _ we live for this moment since a longtime so _ we live for this moment since a long time. so we _ we live for this moment since a long time. so we just _ we live for this moment since a long time. so we just feel - we live for this moment since a long time. so we just feel this i long time. so we just feel this power. — long time. so we just feel this power. this— long time. so we just feel this power, this emotion. - long time. so we just feel this power, this emotion. this i long time. so we just feel this power, this emotion. this year all of the _ power, this emotion. this year all of the opponents _
1:32 am
power, this emotion. this year all of the opponents from i all of the opponents from inter— milan, juventus, they have problems. we inter- milan, juventus, they have problems.— inter- milan, juventus, they have problems. we have to think about the future. _ have problems. we have to think about the future. we _ have problems. we have to think about the future. we have i have problems. we have to think about the future. we have to i about the future. we have to about — about the future. we have to about this future on our roads. to be — about this future on our roads. to be neapolitan is a dream. where — to be neapolitan is a dream. where first— to be neapolitan is a dream. where first of— to be neapolitan is a dream. where first of all— to be neapolitan is a dream. where first of all the - to be neapolitan is a dream. | where first of all the pardons than — where first of all the pardons than italians. _ where first of all the pardons than italians.— where first of all the pardons than italians. the 22-23 season wasn't expected _ than italians. the 22-23 season wasn't expected to _ than italians. the 22-23 season wasn't expected to fan - than italians. the 22-23 season wasn't expected to fan out i than italians. the 22-23 season wasn't expected to fan out this| wasn't expected to fan out this way. napoli under their head coach had let star players. their replacements were unproven. by the end of may they were highly sought after. napoli stormed to the serie a title. but the government didn't end there. the coach ended at the end of the season, citing the need for a break from football. the total was one, but how?— one, but how? this team is passionate _ one, but how? this team is passionate because - one, but how? this team is passionate because it i one, but how? this team is passionate because it is i one, but how? this team is passionate because it is a l passionate because it is a great team. they found these
1:33 am
guys, it is incredible.- guys, it is incredible. they are a team, _ guys, it is incredible. they are a team, a _ guys, it is incredible. they are a team, a real- guys, it is incredible. they are a team, a realteam, i guys, it is incredible. they i are a team, a realteam, they collaborate and play together. when — collaborate and play together. when you see the team play, you feel there is a good connection on the field, but also outside. i think this is one of the ingredients that brings napoli to victory. ingredients that brings napoli to victo . ~ to victory. when the coach came, to victory. when the coach came. people _ to victory. when the coach came, people weren't i to victory. when the coach came, people weren't so i to victory. when the coach i came, people weren't so happy, because — came, people weren't so happy, because people felt he was a locker— because people felt he was a locker room breakup. he had problems— locker room breakup. he had problems with totti and other players. — problems with totti and other players, he had problems at inter~ — players, he had problems at inter. when he came here, napoli _ inter. when he came here, napoli fans were not so happy.
1:34 am
he is— napoli fans were not so happy. he is a — napoli fans were not so happy. he is a great manager and also makes a difference. he went around the world and brought here an important experience from everywhere. he is a winner. i like him because he is a very passionate man. he isn't from the south, but he looks from the south, because he is full of passion. spalletti was — did a great lob. — spalletti was — did a great job, lrut— spalletti was — did a great job, but a coach can only put his 20% _ job, but a coach can only put his 20% in _ job, but a coach can only put his 20% in the final result. and — his 20% in the final result. and this _ his 20% in the final result. and this is hisjob. we his 20% in the final result. and this is his job. and this is his 'ob. we love these guys, _ and this is his job. we love these guys, all _ and this is his job. we love these guys, all these i and this is his job. we love j these guys, all these guys, because _ these guys, all these guys, because they— these guys, all these guys, because they put _ these guys, all these guys, because they put all - these guys, all these guys, because they put all on i these guys, all these guys, because they put all on the j because they put all on the pitch. — because they put all on the pitch. and _ because they put all on the pitch, and for— because they put all on the pitch, and for us— because they put all on the pitch, and for us it - because they put all on the pitch, and for us it is - because they put all on the pitch, and for us it is very. pitch, and for us it is very important. _ pitch, and for us it is very important, this, - pitch, and for us it is very important, this, too- pitch, and for us it is very| important, this, too sweat pitch, and for us it is very-
1:35 am
important, this, too sweat the shirt, — important, this, too sweat the shirt, and _ important, this, too sweat the shirt, and they— important, this, too sweat the shirt, and they do _ important, this, too sweat the shirt, and they do the - important, this, too sweat the shirt, and they do the best i important, this, too sweat the shirt, and they do the best for| shirt, and they do the best for the cluh _ shirt, and they do the best for the cluh i— shirt, and they do the best for the club. ~ , the club. i think it is ten ears the club. i think it is ten years that _ the club. i think it is ten years that we _ the club. i think it is ten years that we had i the club. i think it is ten years that we had a - the club. i think it is ten | years that we had a good the club. i think it is ten - years that we had a good team, good players, good team. but every time we missed something. when do we play come up with a good manager? now feels that everything is going on the right place. we won the italian cup twice, the copa italia, twice. , , , cup twice, the copa italia, twice. ,, , ., , twice. this seems really special. _ twice. this seems really special, because - twice. this seems really special, because you . twice. this seems really| special, because you can twice. this seems really - special, because you can have a luy special, because you can have a guy from — special, because you can have a guy from nigeria, and another luy guy from nigeria, and another guy from — guy from nigeria, and another guy from south korea. —— this team — guy from south korea. —— this team is— guy from south korea. —— this team is really special. another luy team is really special. another guy from — team is really special. another guy from georgia. it is great at this— guy from georgia. it is great at this net importer people and they play— at this net importer people and they play well altogether and they play well altogether and they may be they play well altogether and they may he don't speak the same — they may he don't speak the
1:36 am
same language, but they understand very well the ball and again. understand very well the ball and again-— understand very well the ball and aaain. , .,, and again. southern people in ital , and again. southern people in italy. they _ and again. southern people in italy, they have _ and again. southern people in italy, they have so _ and again. southern people in italy, they have so much - and again. southern people in| italy, they have so much love, so much — italy, they have so much love, so much emotion, _ italy, they have so much love, so much emotion, it _ italy, they have so much love, so much emotion, it is - italy, they have so much love, so much emotion, it is so - so much emotion, it is so different_ so much emotion, it is so different to _ so much emotion, it is so different to the _ so much emotion, it is so different to the north. - so much emotion, it is so| different to the north. we so much emotion, it is so - different to the north. we are a team — different to the north. we are a team that _ different to the north. we are a team that isn't _ different to the north. we are a team that isn't used - different to the north. we are a team that isn't used to- a team that isn't used to winning, _ a team that isn't used to winning, so_ a team that isn't used to winning, so at _ a team that isn't used to winning, so at the - a team that isn't used to. winning, so at the moment a team that isn't used to- winning, so at the moment we're getting _ winning, so at the moment we're getting everything _ winning, so at the moment we're getting everything we _ winning, so at the moment we're getting everything we need. - winning, so at the moment we're getting everything we need. 30 l getting everything we need. 30 years— getting everything we need. 30 years we — getting everything we need. 30 years we have been _ getting everything we need. 30 years we have been waiting - getting everything we need. 30 years we have been waiting for| years we have been waiting for this championship. _ years we have been waiting for this championship. inte- years we have been waiting for this championship.— years we have been waiting for this championship. we feel this ener: this championship. we feel this energy and _ this championship. we feel this energy and we _ this championship. we feel this energy and we are _ this championship. we feel this energy and we are very - this championship. we feel this energy and we are very happy l energy and we are very happy people. it would be like a dream come true. and i think thatis dream come true. and i think that is the special thing in an apology and team. the sunporters _ apology and team. the supporters are - apology and team. the supporters are crazy, l apology and team. the supporters are crazy, they're crazy— supporters are crazy, they're crazy for— supporters are crazy, they're crazy for it — supporters are crazy, they're crazy for it naples. —— neapolitan team. for me, naples is more _ neapolitan team. for me, naples is more than my girlfriend, more — is more than my girlfriend, more than my wife. number one. bouaht more than my wife. number one. bought neapolitan _ more than my wife. number one. bought neapolitan is, _ more than my wife. number one. bought neapolitan is, the - more than my wife. number one. bought neapolitan is, the game | bought neapolitan is, the game is so _ bought neapolitan is, the game is so special and in this study
1:37 am
in the — is so special and in this study in the atmosphere is incredible.— in the atmosphere is incredible. we start to celebrate _ incredible. we start to celebrate and - incredible. we start to celebrate and we - incredible. we start to l celebrate and we would incredible. we start to - celebrate and we would be very proud of this. it is like 30 years ago when there was serie —— diego maradona here. it is like going against obesity from northern italy. it is also a way to escape from the daily problems, a way to have fun with the people, a party, and then this period is happiness formed in 1926, the supporters of napoli have had to be patient. of napoli have had to be atient. ., , , of napoli have had to be atient. , ., �* patient. trophies haven't arrived at _ patient. trophies haven't arrived at the _ patient. trophies haven't arrived at the same - patient. trophies haven't arrived at the same pace | patient. trophies haven't i arrived at the same pace as their main rivals from the north, into malone, at juventus. as the second division club they won the italian cup in 1962 but there was just one trophy in the 19705. was just one trophy in the 1970s. patience was rewarded with the arrival of diego maradona, then 23 years old, in
1:38 am
1984, to awaken a golden period of championships and cup wins. after diego covered the roller—coaster took a dip with bankruptcy, down to the third division by 2004. then a slow revival, and in 2023, at the crowning glory of the serie a title, 34 years of patience. naples was a great capital until a century and a half ago, then the italian union, naples became the third city, and it remained a cultural capital, but everything has moved to the north, the richer part of the country. so as people from the south, especially from naples, we're really proud of history. it is only really important and something which of course connected also with sport.
1:39 am
there is such, like, fight, in the — there is such, like, fight, in the south _ there is such, like, fight, in the south of italy with the north _ the south of italy with the north. and football is a thing that— north. and football is a thing that we — north. and football is a thing that we can demonstrate that we at the _ that we can demonstrate that we at the same value. in football there — at the same value. in football there is— at the same value. in football there is no difference. for economic— there is no difference. for economic reasons, - there is no difference. for economic reasons, social reasons, _ economic reasons, social reasons, even— economic reasons, social reasons, even now- economic reasons, social. reasons, even now people, economic reasons, social- reasons, even now people, most people, _ reasons, even now people, most peogte, young _ reasons, even now people, most people, young people, _ reasons, even now people, most people, young people, who - reasons, even now people, most people, young people, who went to the _ people, young people, who went to the north _ people, young people, who went to the north to _ people, young people, who went to the north to find _ people, young people, who went to the north to find a _ people, young people, who went to the north to find a job, - to the north to find a job, it is something _ to the north to find a job, it is something you _ to the north to find a job, it is something you really - to the north to find a job, it is something you really feltj is something you really felt from — is something you really felt from the _ is something you really felt from the city. _ is something you really felt from the city. if— is something you really felt from the city.— is something you really felt from the city. if you walk on the streets, _ from the city. if you walk on the streets, you _ from the city. if you walk on the streets, you can - from the city. if you walk on the streets, you can see - from the city. if you walk on the streets, you can see the flags, you can see the people on the balcony. maybe they can sing for you and apology and song and this is really amazing for a tourist, and when you
1:40 am
come to naples you can see theirs. i come to naples you can see theirs. ., theirs. i feel it at the stadium _ theirs. i feel it at the stadium because - theirs. i feel it at the stadium because it i theirs. i feel it at the j stadium because it is theirs. i feel it at the - stadium because it is like you are connected with all strangers all around you. and you feel— strangers all around you. and you feel like you know them since — you feel like you know them since ever and it is a magic thing — since ever and it is a magic thing that— since ever and it is a magic thing that only naples can give you _ thing that only naples can give ou. , ,, ., thing that only naples can give ou. , ,, ._ ., , you. every sunday or every time that the naples _ you. every sunday or every time that the naples club _ you. every sunday or every time that the naples club play - you. every sunday or every time that the naples club play in - that the naples club play in the city _ that the naples club play in the city there _ that the naples club play in the city there is _ that the naples club play in the city there is no- that the naples club play in. the city there is no rumours. it the city there is no rumours. it is — the city there is no rumours. it is a — the city there is no rumours. it is a very— the city there is no rumours. it is a very quiet _ the city there is no rumours. it is a very quiet city- the city there is no rumours. it is a very quiet city during i it is a very quiet city during the — it is a very quiet city during the football— it is a very quiet city during the football game. - it is a very quiet city during the football game. and - it is a very quiet city during . the football game. and then, you know. _ the football game. and then, you know. you _ the football game. and then, you know, you hear- the football game. and then, you know, you hear the - the football game. and then, l you know, you hear the scream of de _ you know, you hear the scream of de sao — you know, you hear the scream of de sao paulo _ you know, you hear the scream of de sao paulo maradona - of de sao paulo maradona stadium. _ of de sao paulo maradona stadium, and _ of de sao paulo maradona stadium, and you - of de sao paulo maradona stadium, and you see - of de sao paulo maradona stadium, and you see the| stadium, and you see the passion _ stadium, and you see the passion in _ stadium, and you see the passion in the city. - stadium, and you see the passion in the city. neapolitan --eole passion in the city. neapolitan peeple loves _ passion in the city. neapolitan people loves football - passion in the city. neapolitan people loves football and - passion in the city. neapolitan| people loves football and loves the city and love the club because we are the first big
1:41 am
city in italy with just one club. malone has two clubs, to ren has two clubs, rome has two clubs, naples hasjust one. —— milan has two clubs, turin has. all people when they are born they support naples, since the first day. {iii they support naples, since the first da . first day. of the lie. the first day. of the lie. the first time _ first day. of the lie. the first time i _ first day. of the lie. the first time i saw - first day. of the lie. the first time i saw a - first day. of the lie. the | first time i saw a football match _ first time i saw a football match i_ first time i saw a football match i was speaking with my father — match i was speaking with my father i— match i was speaking with my father. i said ok, who are we supporting? —— first day of the life _ supporting? —— first day of the life he — supporting? —— first day of the life. he said the blue guys. i asked — life. he said the blue guys. i asked why. he said firstly because this is the team of our city, _ because this is the team of our city, and — because this is the team of our city, and the second, more importantly, because in this team — importantly, because in this team plays diego maradona. diego— team plays diego maradona. diego maradona came to the club injune 1984 for a world record in june 1984 for a world record fee. injune 1984 for a world record fee. the squad was rebuilt around him, ate in his first
1:42 am
season, third in his second year. by1987 season, third in his second year. by 1987 he had worked his magic under the guidance of octavio bianchi. by 1970, cultural barriers had been broken and a year after fulfilling his dream of winning the welk of argentina, is status was lifted to an even higher claim.— status was lifted to an even higher claim. when maradona arrived in _ higher claim. when maradona arrived in naples, _ higher claim. when maradona arrived in naples, there - higher claim. when maradona arrived in naples, there was l higher claim. when maradonaj arrived in naples, there was a messiah, something that would bring justice to the people. maradona thought napoli, maybe is a god, — maradona thought napoli, maybe is a god, maybe he is a saint, maybe — is a god, maybe he is a saint, maybe he _ is a god, maybe he is a saint, maybe he is— is a god, maybe he is a saint, maybe he is a president, and maybe — maybe he is a president, and maybe is— maybe he is a president, and maybe is everything. he represented _ maybe is everything. he represented a lot, because he gave _ represented a lot, because he gave beobte _ represented a lot, because he gave people hope _ represented a lot, because he gave people hope. and - represented a lot, because he gave people hope. and hope i represented a lot, because hei gave people hope. and hope is an important— gave people hope. and hope is an important thing. _ gave people hope. and hope is an important thing. it - gave people hope. and hope is an important thing. it is - gave people hope. and hope is an important thing. it is a - an important thing. it is a powerful— an important thing. it is a powerful one. _ an important thing. it is a powerful one.— an important thing. it is a powerful one. an important thing. it is a owerfulone. ., ., ., powerful one. maradona here was a demigod- _ powerful one. maradona here was a demigod- he — powerful one. maradona here was a demigod. he could _ powerful one. maradona here was a demigod. he could not- powerful one. maradona here was a demigod. he could not walk - powerful one. maradona here was a demigod. he could not walk in l a demigod. he could not walk in the city daytime. there were, i
1:43 am
don't know, a mother with her child, walking in the street, and see maradona, the first order the mother was here, take my son and give him a kiss. it was like the pope.— my son and give him a kiss. it was like the pope. maradona was somethina was like the pope. maradona was something incredibly _ was like the pope. maradona was something incredibly special - something incredibly special because right now we have an incredible team. at that time we were _ incredible team. at that time we were a good team, but maradona was something like a god and — maradona was something like a god and he carried on his shoulders the team and bring naples — shoulders the team and bring naples the victory. he shoulders the team and bring naples the victory.— naples the victory. he is a man, naples the victory. he is a man. a — naples the victory. he is a man, a conqueror. - naples the victory. he is a man, a conqueror. in - naples the victory. he is a man, a conqueror. in the. naples the victory. he is a - man, a conqueror. in the south, we have — man, a conqueror. in the south, we have the _ man, a conqueror. in the south, we have the wind _ man, a conqueror. in the south, we have the wind against - man, a conqueror. in the south, we have the wind against the . we have the wind against the north — we have the wind against the north for— we have the wind against the north. for maradona - we have the wind against the north. for maradona to - we have the wind against the north. for maradona to do i we have the wind against the . north. for maradona to do this, it is att~ — north. for maradona to do this, it is att~ he— north. for maradona to do this, it is all. ., ,., .,, north. for maradona to do this, it is all. ., .,, ., north. for maradona to do this, it is all. ., ., ., it is all. he also was from a oor it is all. he also was from a poor country- _ it is all. he also was from a poor country. he _ it is all. he also was from a poor country. he was - it is all. he also was from a poor country. he was from | poor country. he was from argentina. they had nothing like most of the neapolitans at that time. but in each of the objectives, he came here and he had nothing, but he took
1:44 am
everything. and i think that is the point, yes. neapolitans and maradona, i think they see themselves.— maradona, i think they see themselves. maradona really . ave themselves. maradona really ave us themselves. maradona really gave us a _ themselves. maradona really gave us a lot _ themselves. maradona really gave us a lot of _ themselves. maradona really gave us a lot of energy, - themselves. maradona really gave us a lot of energy, a - themselves. maradona really gave us a lot of energy, a lotj gave us a lot of energy, a lot of power. _ gave us a lot of energy, a lot of power, a lot of meanings. so we develop a really strong relationship between south america, especially naples, we have _ america, especially naples, we have a — america, especially naples, we have a strong relationship with argentinians, and for them, soccer— argentinians, and for them, soccer and football is very important, too, so i don't know. _ important, too, so i don't know. i_ important, too, so i don't know, i think it is like a cultural— know, i think it is like a cultural or social thing, it is particular— cultural or social thing, it is particular and unique. nowadays, maradona is still present— nowadays, maradona is still present in— nowadays, maradona is still present in the _ nowadays, maradona is still present in the city, - nowadays, maradona is still present in the city, you - nowadays, maradona is still. present in the city, you know? you _ present in the city, you know? you just— present in the city, you know? you just have _ present in the city, you know? you just have to _ present in the city, you know? you just have to walk - present in the city, you know? you just have to walk in - present in the city, you know? you just have to walk in the i you just have to walk in the street— you just have to walk in the street and _ you just have to walk in the street and you _ you just have to walk in the street and you can - you just have to walk in the street and you can find - you just have to walk in the street and you can find a i street and you can find a painter— street and you can find a painter of— street and you can find a painter of diego- street and you can find a i painter of diego maradona virtually— painter of diego maradona
1:45 am
virtually everywhere. - painter of diego maradona virtually everywhere. you i painter of diego maradona i virtually everywhere. you can find _ virtually everywhere. you can find one — virtually everywhere. you can find one of— virtually everywhere. you can find one of his _ virtually everywhere. you can find one of his hair— virtually everywhere. you can find one of his hair in - virtually everywhere. you can find one of his hair in a - virtually everywhere. you can find one of his hair in a bar, l find one of his hair in a bar, the— find one of his hair in a bar, the owner— find one of his hair in a bar, the ownerof_ find one of his hair in a bar, the owner of this _ find one of his hair in a bar, the owner of this bar- find one of his hair in a bar, the owner of this bar had i find one of his hair in a bar, i the owner of this bar had the grace. — the owner of this bar had the grace. had _ the owner of this bar had the grace, had the _ the owner of this bar had the grace, had the luck- the owner of this bar had the grace, had the luck of- the owner of this bar had the grace, had the luck of having the owner of this bar had the i grace, had the luck of having a meeting — grace, had the luck of having a meeting with _ grace, had the luck of having a meeting with diego— grace, had the luck of having a meeting with diego maradonal grace, had the luck of having a i meeting with diego maradona and the owner— meeting with diego maradona and the owner put _ meeting with diego maradona and the owner put it— meeting with diego maradona and the owner put it into _ meeting with diego maradona and the owner put it into this- the owner put it into this wall, _ the owner put it into this wall, saying _ the owner put it into this wall, saying this - the owner put it into this wall, saying this is- the owner put it into this wall, saying this is the l wall, saying this is the miraculous— wall, saying this is the miraculous hair- wall, saying this is the miraculous hair of- wall, saying this is the - miraculous hair of maradona, so now everyone _ miraculous hair of maradona, so now everyone is _ miraculous hair of maradona, so now everyone is going _ miraculous hair of maradona, so now everyone is going they - miraculous hair of maradona, so now everyone is going theyjustl now everyone is going theyjust to see — now everyone is going theyjust to see and _ now everyone is going theyjust to see and may— now everyone is going theyjust to see and may be _ now everyone is going theyjust to see and may be to _ now everyone is going theyjust to see and may be to touch - now everyone is going theyjust to see and may be to touch his| to see and may be to touch his hair— to see and may be to touch his hair and — to see and may be to touch his hair and to— to see and may be to touch his hair and to have _ to see and may be to touch his hair and to have a _ to see and may be to touch his hair and to have a copy- to see and may be to touch his hair and to have a copy there. i hair and to have a copy there. now— hair and to have a copy there. now that _ hair and to have a copy there. now that he _ hair and to have a copy there. now that he is _ hair and to have a copy there. now that he is dead _ hair and to have a copy there. now that he is dead he - hair and to have a copy there. now that he is dead he has. hair and to have a copy there. i now that he is dead he has not 'ust now that he is dead he has not “us . , �* , now that he is dead he has not 'us. �* , �* , ., just inaudible with his hair, if ou ao just inaudible with his hair, if you go and _ just inaudible with his hair, if you go and walk _ just inaudible with his hair, if you go and walk around . just inaudible with his hair, | if you go and walk around that you can find like a century. now that demigod has a church. maradona is part of the people, he is like a common man, not like the —— like the most of us. it enables we only remember
1:46 am
him for thejoy. for us. it enables we only remember him for the joy-— him for the 'oy. for him, the ci him for the 'oy. for him, the city was — him for the joy. for him, the city was incredible. - him for the joy. for him, the city was incredible. he - him for the joy. for him, the city was incredible. he lived| him for the joy. for him, the | city was incredible. he lived a very— city was incredible. he lived a very good _ city was incredible. he lived a very good moment career in naples _ very good moment career in naples. naples loved him since the first— naples. naples loved him since the first day. naples. naples loved him since the first day-— the first day. maradona led naturally — the first day. maradona led naturally to _ the first day. maradona led naturally to uefa _ the first day. maradona led naturally to uefa success i the first day. maradona led j naturally to uefa success in 1989 and a second serie a title, but he got a 15 month banner of the positive drug test. congo basin. star players came about long—term decline in on the cob were relegated in 1998. �* ., ., ., 1998. after maradona there was some big problem. _ 1998. after maradona there was some big problem. it— 1998. after maradona there was some big problem. it was- 1998. after maradona there was some big problem. it was a - 1998. after maradona there was | some big problem. it was a hard time for young _ some big problem. it was a hard time for young neapolitan. - some big problem. it was a hard time for young neapolitan. we l time for young neapolitan. we were _ time for young neapolitan. we were still thinking, 0k, time for young neapolitan. we were stillthinking, ok, now time for young neapolitan. we were still thinking, ok, now we are were still thinking, 0k, now we are not— were still thinking, 0k, now we are not so— were still thinking, ok, now we are not so good but we are still— are not so good but we are still the _ are not so good but we are still the team of maradona. and suddenly— still the team of maradona. and suddenly we were not a team
1:47 am
anymore _ suddenly we were not a team anymore because natalie went into bankruptcy. we anymore because natalie went into bankruptcy.— anymore because natalie went into bankruptcy. we don't have money so _ into bankruptcy. we don't have money so we — into bankruptcy. we don't have money so we have _ into bankruptcy. we don't have money so we have to _ into bankruptcy. we don't have money so we have to sell - into bankruptcy. we don't have money so we have to sell all i money so we have to sell all the players, the players we had to, ferrara, many good players, we sell everybody to keep the balance but it was no good. it was a really difficult moment for the city and, for e>
1:48 am
have a really complicated relationship with the city, with the supporter because the supporter doesn't like the power and he represented the power. he'd never be so popular because he always follow his idea of the team as a brand, and industry. we like to have a president that ba fan are not a manager was dubbed he is a manager, not a fan. i manager was dubbed he is a manager, not a fan.- manager, not a fan. i think aurelio de _ manager, not a fan. i think aurelio de laurentiis - manager, not a fan. i think aurelio de laurentiis came| aurelio de laurentiis came because it was really cheap to buy naples at that time, so he took an economic advantage because in that time he was able to buy napoli with an amount of money which was maybe not worth the impression of the people. he was very clever, let's say because you say,,
1:49 am
"ok, we don't have the team but "0k, we don't have the team but we still have the people, we have the fans." loyal fans still can, over50,000 have the fans." loyal fans still can, over 50,000 for their aurelio de laurentiis. there was a promotion in 2007, than six years later they were runners—up tojuventus, runners—up to juventus, masterminded runners—up tojuventus, masterminded by coaches like rafael benitez and mauricio. he started like slow but constant growth~ — started like slow but constant growth. he was in serie b and then— growth. he was in serie b and then he — growth. he was in serie b and then he was serie a, and he was really— then he was serie a, and he was really able — then he was serie a, and he was really able to understand that for w — really able to understand that for it electors football —— for wadbilliga is, it was the training. wadbilliga is, it was the training-— wadbilliga is, it was the training. wadbilliga is, it was the trainina. ., ,�* ,, ., training. he doesn't like to send training. he doesn't like to spend money _ spend money laughs - spend money laughs. - laughs. he preferred to get good
1:50 am
players _ he preferred to get good players are _ he preferred to get good players are not _ he preferred to get good players are not spent - he preferred to get good players are not spent so| he preferred to get good - players are not spent so much money — players are not spent so much mone . ., ., ., y players are not spent so much mone . ., ., ., , ., money. he had not the money of most national _ money. he had not the money of most national society, _ money. he had not the money of most national society, so - money. he had not the money of most national society, so he - most national society, so he had — most national society, so he had to— most national society, so he had to do— most national society, so he had to do this, by young players _ had to do this, by young players and try to sell them at triple — players and try to sell them at triple what he paid. he did this— triple what he paid. he did this with czabania, wayne. wayne, _ this with czabania, wayne. wayne, he was already famous but he — wayne, he was already famous but he paid 45 million euros then— but he paid 45 million euros then sold at 90 million so double _ then sold at 90 million so double. would this way he'd do his business he could be strong society, — his business he could be strong society, then he just had to wait — society, then he just had to wait because when you build a strong — wait because when you build a strong house or a strong think you just — strong house or a strong think you just have to wait. not alwa s you just have to wait. not always was _ you just have to wait. not always was he _ you just have to wait. not always was he could - you just have to wait. iifrii always was he could but at some moment everyone need to clap hands to him to be the very
1:51 am
good team. the decision to remove some of the most popular players prompted heavy protest. the president was urged to sell the club, the policy came to an outstanding conclusion on the long—awaited championship, first without maradona, was secured. if that fans in a state of delirium. applause. —— now we have the top players but it is more for the team. this is different between now and then. i think it was lucky to find to find — i think it was lucky to find to find a — i think it was lucky to find to find a good coach like spalletti. | find a good coach like spalletti.—
1:52 am
find a good coach like salletti. ~ ., , find a good coach like salletti. ~' ., , ., spalletti. i think he has a treat spalletti. i think he has a great personality - spalletti. i think he has a great personality and - spalletti. i think he has a i great personality and when spalletti. i think he has a - great personality and when you on that — great personality and when you on that level _ great personality and when you on that level you _ great personality and when you on that level you have - great personality and when you on that level you have to - great personality and when you on that level you have to be - on that level you have to be like — on that level you have to be like this, _ on that level you have to be like this, in— on that level you have to be like this, in positive - on that level you have to be like this, in positive and - like this, in positive and negative _ like this, in positive and negative point - like this, in positive and negative point becausel like this, in positive and i negative point because if like this, in positive and - negative point because if you don't — negative point because if you don't reach _ negative point because if you don't reach - _ negative point because if you don't reach — how— negative point because if you don't reach — how you - negative point because if you don't reach — how you can . negative point because if you i don't reach — how you can reach that— don't reach — how you can reach that kind — don't reach — how you can reach that kind of— don't reach — how you can reach that kind of level— don't reach — how you can reach that kind of level if— don't reach — how you can reach that kind of level if you - don't reach — how you can reach that kind of level if you don't i that kind of level if you don't io that kind of level if you don't go past — that kind of level if you don't go past different _ that kind of level if you don't go past different problems, i that kind of level if you don't i go past different problems, you know? — go past different problems, you know? different _ go past different problems, you know? different kind _ go past different problems, you know? different kind of- go past different problems, you know? different kind of things. | know? different kind of things. when _ know? different kind of things. when the — know? different kind of things. when the club _ know? different kind of things. when the club sold _ know? different kind of things. when the club sold matens - know? different kind of things. j when the club sold matens and lorenzo, the other people are a little, not happy for this. now... now, we love these players. they are in my heart. forever we will remember what they do to be here now but the new team, then you guys are very strong, strong players, we are happy, we are happy to have them in ourteam.
1:53 am
are happy, we are happy to have them in our team.— them in our team. inaudible i think it will _ them in our team. inaudible i think it will be _ them in our team. inaudible i think it will be a _ them in our team. inaudible i think it will be a good - them in our team. inaudible i think it will be a good thing - think it will be a good thing in football. he think it will be a good thing in football.— think it will be a good thing in football. , ., ., ., ., in football. he is doing a good 'ob for in football. he is doing a good job for naples. _ in football. he is doing a good job for naples. we _ in football. he is doing a good job for naples. we 0-0 - in football. he is doing a good job for naples. we 0-0 the i job for naples. we 0—0 the players. _ job for naples. we 0—0 the players, that is the truth. we 0-0 — players, that is the truth. we 0-0 of— players, that is the truth. we 0—0 of them because they tried to do— 0—0 of them because they tried to do their— 0—0 of them because they tried to do their best, they are all and — to do their best, they are all and we _ to do their best, they are all and we enjoy that.— to do their best, they are all and we enjoy that. and we en'oy that. this player, and we en'oy that. this player, a bi and we enjoy that. this player, a big surprise. _ and we enjoy that. this player, a big surprise. he _ and we enjoy that. this player, a big surprise. he is _ and we enjoy that. this player, a big surprise. he is a - a big surprise. he is a wonderful player. everybody led to compare him to other older players. some people say he remind of george best. some people say maradona. osimhen is
1:54 am
another secret _ people say maradona. osimhen is another secret of _ people say maradona. osimhen is another secret of his _ people say maradona. osimhen is another secret of his team, - people say maradona. osimhen is another secret of his team, he - another secret of his team, he can create _ another secret of his team, he can create something just with this aggressive, just with attitude. i think osimhen will do a — attitude. i think osimhen will do a greatjob in attitude. i think osimhen will do a great job in the attitude. i think osimhen will do a greatjob in the premier league _ do a great 'ob in the premier leaiue. , , ., league. osimhen is like... spalletti — league. osimhen is like... spalletti said _ league. osimhen is like... spalletti said is _ league. osimhen is like... spalletti said is like - league. osimhen is like... spalletti said is like a - league. osimhen is like... i spalletti said is like a dragon with— spalletti said is like a dragon with two— spalletti said is like a dragon with two ads. _ spalletti said is like a dragon with two ads.— spalletti said is like a dragon with two ads. everybody wishes for it and naples _ with two ads. everybody wishes for it and naples is _ with two ads. everybody wishes for it and naples is a _ with two ads. everybody wishes for it and naples is a city - for it and naples is a city really connected with faith, many people asked to st jenairo, the local patron of the city to win this championship, and finally it arrives, so we are enjoying it.
1:55 am
spalletti said he was leaving after the title, saying he needed time away from the football. ,., needed time away from the football. ,. , football. he said it is right that this _ football. he said it is right that this player _ football. he said it is right that this player does - football. he said it is right that this player does what| football. he said it is right i that this player does what he wants. the former roma boss cassie had to go with the squad to repeat the title win and achieve success in europe if star assets could be kept. supporting napoli was never meant to be easy. it is something that goes beyond winning titles and trophies. the furphy —— perfect fit for a city that after it loses chance, we love you, even if we win.
1:56 am
hello. a hot night out there, very humid indoors too, after what was a hot day. on saturday in the south east of england, temperatures hit 29 degrees celsius. and sunday is going to be hotter still. again, humid for many of us, and there's a chance of storms, particularly across northern parts of the uk. now, some of the storms could be pretty nasty with frequent lightning, hail and gusty winds. this is what's happening right now. there is a cold frontjust to the west of our neighbourhood. it is going to sweep in some fresher conditions. but ahead of it, we've got that plume of heat and also moisture, that humidity coming in from the southern climes. so there is a change on the way. this is what it looks like early in the morning on sunday. those temperatures still holding around the high teens. this is where the weather front is, it's ready to sweep across the uk. not everybody�*s going to get the rain. the rain will fall in northern ireland during the morning. then the skies will brighten up, and it'll be a fresh afternoon.
1:57 am
and then that rain will reach scotland and parts of northern england. there'll be a few showers in wales too, but it's across northern and eastern scotland, the north—east of england and all the way down to lincolnshire. this is where we're likely to see the heaviest downpours with the hail and the gusty winds as well. south of that, that's where we'll have the heat and humidity. in london and the south east, temperatures could hit 32 degrees celsius, but for the west, it's going to be fresher, plymouth, 23 celsius, about that in cardiff, and i think a very pleasant 19 degrees celsius in belfast in the sunny spells and maybe the odd shower. and during the course of sunday evening, still some showers there across parts of scotland and northern england. but for many of us, a very pleasant end to the day. let's have a look at monday now. we're sort of in between weather systems. one weather front clears away, another one waiting in the wings out towards the west of the uk. so the morning starts off sunny on monday. through the course of the afternoon, clouds will bubble up. there'll be a few showers here and there, particularly across northern parts of the uk, but essentially a very pleasant
1:58 am
day, a lot fresher too. you really will notice the difference across many parts of england. in london, from the 32 celsius, more like 23 degrees celsius. and if we have a look at the weather for the week ahead, you can see the weather is looking a little bit mixed every now and then, but still pretty warm in the south, temperatures low or mid 20s. the high teens expected further north. bye— bye.
1:59 am
cultural or social thing, it is cultural or social thing, it is particular and unique. particular and unique. live from washington, this is bbc news. a dramatic day in russia — from rebellion to retreat, after wagner's
2:00 am
boss goes rogue. we have the latest.

72 Views

info Stream Only

Uploaded by TV Archive on