in vladimir putin's authority. survivors of the migrant boat disaster in greece, tell the bbc that the greek authorities abandoned them to their fate. meanwhile — greece's conservative leader kyriakos mitsotakis claims a landlside victory in the country's national elections. hello i'm samantha simmons. we start in russia, where 2a hours after the end of a short—lived rebellion posed the greatest challenge yet to vladimir putin's authority, the president's whereabouts remain unknown. there's been speculation that the russian leader fled moscow during the crisis, after his presidentialjets were tracked leaving the city. the us secretary of state antony blinken says the events show

the cracks in mr putin's authority. yevgeny prigozhin, the head of the wagner mercenary group — pictured here leaving the russian city of rostov—on—don on saturday evening — is reportedly going into exile in belarus after abandoning his advance on moscow. and with wagnerforces firing their guns into the sky — and cheers from the watching public — his troops also departed the city. tensions had been building between mr prigozhin and russia's military leadership for some time, over their approach to the war in ukraine. our russia editor steve rosenberg reports. leaving as heroes. the wagnerfighters pulling out of rostov last night. you'd think they'd just won a war. the leader of the mercenary group, yevgeny prigozhin, was off, too. he'd just done a deal with the kremlin to end their mutiny. the rebellion started

here, then spread north. it was the biggest challenge to vladimir putin's authority since he came to power. vladimir vladimirovich putin. russia's commander in chief likes to project an image of strength. a mutiny on his watch is embarrassing. but is it damaging? for vladimir putin, will there be political fallout ahead of next year's election? he definitely looks weaker. all elite groups will begin to think about the presidency 202a. should they rely, as they did even one week before, this military coup, on vladimir putin? or should they think about someone new? but there's no sign yet that someone new in the kremlin is mr putin's plan. vladimir putin is determined to show

that he is in charge, in control in the kremlin, and he has the russian state media to help him paint that picture. the trouble is, the dramatic events of the last couple of days have raised questions about how in control the russian authorities are of the situation here. instability — russians can feel it. the rebel wagnerfighters may not have made it to moscow, but people here were watching nervously and waiting. "i'm a mother with three children," anna tells me. "of course i'm terrified by what has happened." "we were scared these events would spread to moscow," nastya says. "there's nothing ordinary citizens can do to influence the situation. "it's decided above our heads." many russians tell me that — they don't believe they have the power to change what is happening in their country, to make their voices heard,

to turn things around. as we've been hearing america's most senior diplomat antony blinken has been speaking following yesterday events in russia — saying the revolt exposed "real cracks" in president putin's authority. i think we're in the midst of a moving picture. we haven't seen the last act. we're watching it very closely and carefully. but just step back for a second and put this in context. 16 months ago, russian forces were on the doorstep of kyiv in ukraine, thinking they'd take the city in a matter of days, thinking they would erase ukraine from the map as an independent country. now, over this weekend, they've had to defend moscow, russia's capital, against mercenaries of putin's own making. prigozhin himself in this entire incident has raised profound questions about the very premises for russia's aggression against ukraine in the first place, saying that ukraine or nato did not pose a threat to russia, which is part of putin's narrative, and it was a direct challenge to putin's authority. so this raises profound questions. it shows real cracks.

we can't speculate or know exactly where that's going to go. we do know that putin has a lot more to answer for in the weeks and months ahead. our north america correspondent, david willis, told me from washington that antony blinken had been diplomatic in his answer he chose his words very carefully indeed. these were the first comments by an official of the biden administration since the crisis broke out in russia. and antony blinken chose those words, as i say, very carefully indeed. what stood out for me is that he clearly believes that the revolt that we've seen in russia over the last day or so presents an opportunity for the west in the same way that it presents a challenge for vladimir putin. and he also made clear, mr blinken, that there is a lot that the west and its allies still don't know. they include the whereabouts of vladimir putin himself, the whereabouts of mr prigozhin,

and also where this whole crisis might lead, what it might end with. it's a moving picture, antony blinken said, on one of the talk shows this morning. asked about president biden�*s remark last year that this man, reference to vladimir putin, cannot remain in power, mr blinken was particularly diplomatic. he said, that's a decision for the russian people. it's not our business. it's not our purpose. that's up to russia and its people. i think the united states, its allies are very keen, samantha, to make the point that they are not to be seen to be meddling in internal events in russia or seeking, of course, to inflame them. yeah. and, obviously, everybody�*s waiting to see how and what impact this could have on the war in ukraine. are there any thoughts there yet as to how this could impact on the us relationship with ukraine?

well, it's a key question, isn't it? and the president, joe biden, has been meeting before he left for camp david yesterday with members of his national security team. that includes the us defence secretary, it includes the chairman of thejoint chiefs of staff, the chairman of the cia — the very top defence and intelligence officials here. and president biden also convened a call involving the leaders of france, germany and the uk following which a statement was released affirming the unwavering support for ukraine. antony blinken separately spoke to g7 leaders. so that question that you posed, how this affects the war in ukraine, how it affects nato, key to those discussions which are ongoing and will be for the foreseeable future, i think. joining me live are leon aron, seniorfellow at aei, and author of a new book on vladimir putin,

as well asjohn lechner researcher and freelance journalist writing a book on wagner group. noted to happy with us. thank you being here. ifi noted to happy with us. thank you being here. if i can start with you leon aron, what do the events of the past 2a or 48 hours leon aron, what do the events of the past 24 or 48 hours mean for vladimir putin and his control over his country? he vladimir putin and his control over his country?— vladimir putin and his control over his count ? ., ., ., ~ his country? he looks weakened. the three constituencies _ his country? he looks weakened. the three constituencies that _ his country? he looks weakened. the three constituencies that he - his country? he looks weakened. the three constituencies that he has, - three constituencies that he has, the people, the army, and the political class, all seem to be at best, indifferent. in the case of the people, in instead of waving preteens portraits and the russian flags and rust off, which was taken by the widener group, they gave the troops water and candy and photographed with them. we have not seen a single political leader back and put in publicly and the army melted away before the wagner group.

probably, the symbolic damage to putin is the greatest. he addressed the nation, calling this a treason, and calling this without naming, calling yevgeny prigozhin a traitor. after you imply treason, and calling somebody a traitor, you do not forgive them, you do not let them go into a piece with exiled into a fraternal country next door. he looks, definitely, it deflated. let's pick up on that, john. yevgeny prigozhin has been let go, it seems, for now. it looks like he would go into exile in neighbouring belarus, but we haven't heard from him and his interviews have been actually vocal. what do you think the future holds for him? it’s vocal. what do you think the future holds for him?— holds for him? it's difficult to have a guess _ holds for him? it's difficult to have a guess at _ holds for him? it's difficult to have a guess at this - holds for him? it's difficult to | have a guess at this moment. holds for him? it's difficult to - have a guess at this moment. as your report— have a guess at this moment. as your report to _ have a guess at this moment. as your report to 17, _ have a guess at this moment. as your report to 17, the situation is

extremely fluid. we simply don't know— extremely fluid. we simply don't know where he is right now. if he does _ know where he is right now. if he does show — know where he is right now. if he does show up in belarus, i think in lots of— does show up in belarus, i think in lots of folks — does show up in belarus, i think in lots of folks are sceptical that he williust — lots of folks are sceptical that he willjust go off quietly into retirement. and, even if he does show— retirement. and, even if he does show up — retirement. and, even if he does show up in — retirement. and, even if he does show up in belarus, there will be a lot of— show up in belarus, there will be a lot of remaining questions. is he still had — lot of remaining questions. is he still had of— lot of remaining questions. is he still had of the wagner operation? with wagner continue to exist in its current— with wagner continue to exist in its current form? 0r with wagner continue to exist in its current form? or is his move to better— current form? or is his move to better was— current form? or is his move to better was significant in terms of new management for the organisation. let me _ new management for the organisation. let me ask— new management for the organisation. let me ask you some of those questions as a expert on the wagner group, because it is a creation of one man and a lot of them seem to have a to him, he created a closer on himself, almost, what you think would happen to those people who have served him, and this militia force, notjust in ukraine but are on the world, very much in africa as well? i

on the world, very much in africa as well? ~ , ., ., ., well? i think, first of all, we have to think about _ well? i think, first of all, we have to think about whether _ well? i think, first of all, we have to think about whether or - well? i think, first of all, we have to think about whether or not - well? i think, first of all, we have to think about whether or not we | to think about whether or not we will see — to think about whether or not we will see any significant changes at the top _ will see any significant changes at the top of— will see any significant changes at the top of management, and thus far we cari— the top of management, and thus far we can see _ the top of management, and thus far we can see for certainty that we with _ we can see for certainty that we with that — we can see for certainty that we will. that being said, you're right, yevgeny— will. that being said, you're right, yevgeny prigozhin has a loyal base within— yevgeny prigozhin has a loyal base within the — yevgeny prigozhin has a loyal base within the organisation but at the same _ within the organisation but at the same time it is safe to say that there _ same time it is safe to say that there are — same time it is safe to say that there are others within the organisation who are caught off guard _ organisation who are caught off guard by— organisation who are caught off guard by this move and perhaps didrrt— guard by this move and perhaps didn't necessarily agree with it, and did — didn't necessarily agree with it, and did not want to be put in this position — and did not want to be put in this position. so, if there were a change in management, i think it presents a as it pertains— in management, i think it presents a as it pertains africa and elsewhere, it's difficult — as it pertains africa and elsewhere, it's difficult to see other individuals within the russian government, or other russian institutions wanting to dismantle the infrastructure that wagner has put in _ the infrastructure that wagner has put in africa, like the central african — put in africa, like the central african republic, mali, sudan and lihye _ african republic, mali, sudan and lihye if_ african republic, mali, sudan and

libya. if there was a change in management, we wouldn't see and change _ management, we wouldn't see and change but — management, we wouldn't see and change but a slow change in personnel, ratherthan change but a slow change in personnel, rather than dismantling or withdrawal of forces. leon aron, exerts or withdrawal of forces. leon aron, exnerts on — or withdrawal of forces. leon aron, experts on vladimir _ or withdrawal of forces. leon aron, experts on vladimir putin, - or withdrawal of forces. leon aron, experts on vladimir putin, talk- experts on vladimir putin, talk about him having a playbook and a way that you erected events, when he certainty doubles down, doesn't he? do you think he saw this coming in anyway and how prepared me he have been for this question mark we haven't heard from him from quite a few hours after you address the nation. �* , ., few hours after you address the nation. ~ ,., ., ., ., ., nation. also, he waited too long. he was it for 24 — nation. also, he waited too long. he was it for 24 hours. _ nation. also, he waited too long. he was it for 24 hours. in _ nation. also, he waited too long. he was it for 24 hours. in the _ was it for 24 hours. in the authoritarian playbook, you usually address the nation after you defeat the enemy, professionally showing on video, the execution of the enemy. putin here is not looking very decisive. i think he went to the song because he was trying to gather the troops, he was trying to see if he could actually smash yevgeny

prigozhin militarily. he could not and he did not. it's interesting that in his address to the nation he no longer use the trope that she always used which is this is like the nazi invasion in 1941, he said this is like the october revolution of 1917. well, this is like the october revolution of1917. well, in this is like the october revolution of 1917. well, in the october revolution, the bolshevik took power with two regiments and four armoured vehicles, so i wonder if putin, subconsciously or consciously, try to forestall this kind of outcome. and yet, it appears that if yevgeny prigozhin and wagner had gone on to moscow, putin would've had trouble finding troops to protect them. john, which begs the question, what do the you think was done to ensure yevgeny prigozhin back down and

walked away, effectively? i yevgeny prigozhin back down and walked away, effectively?- walked away, effectively? ithink first and foremost _ walked away, effectively? ithink first and foremost it's _ walked away, effectively? ithink first and foremost it's importantl walked away, effectively? i think l first and foremost it's important to differentiate whether we think yevgeny prigozhin was trying to commit — yevgeny prigozhin was trying to commit a — yevgeny prigozhin was trying to commit a cool for power or whether he was _ commit a cool for power or whether he was trying to doing a particularly making a show of force, but one _ particularly making a show of force, but one which was in regards to his rivals— but one which was in regards to his rivals in— but one which was in regards to his rivals in term in the russian defence _ rivals in term in the russian defence ministry. i think it is a letter— defence ministry. i think it is a letter and _ defence ministry. i think it is a letter and this was a particularly bold attempt to prevent himself from bein- bold attempt to prevent himself from being subordinated to his main rivals— being subordinated to his main rivals within the russian government itseif~ _ rivals within the russian government itself i_ rivals within the russian government itself. i think that he probably saw events _ itself. i think that he probably saw events move away from him and his control as _ events move away from him and his control as well and we don't know exactly _ control as well and we don't know exactly what was in the negotiations. their speculation that there _ negotiations. their speculation that there might be some sort of

repercussions for individuals within the ministry of defence who are rivats _ the ministry of defence who are rivats of— the ministry of defence who are rivals of yevgeny prigozhin. or that yevgeny— rivals of yevgeny prigozhin. or that yevgeny prigozhin was just given and off ramp _ yevgeny prigozhin was just given and off ramp and in inability to go off and have — off ramp and in inability to go off and have retirement and see his fighters — and have retirement and see his fighters under amnesty. i think if we see _ fighters under amnesty. i think if we see significant development within— we see significant development within the russian ministry of defence — within the russian ministry of defence in the coming days, we would have a _ defence in the coming days, we would have a more _ defence in the coming days, we would have a more clear picture of what the cushions were taken place. thank oujohn the cushions were taken place. thank youjohn lechner— the cushions were taken place. thank you john lechner and _ the cushions were taken place. thank you john lechner and leon _ the cushions were taken place. thank you john lechner and leon aron - the cushions were taken place. t�*iafia; you john lechner and leon aron to get your analysis. the us coast guard has said the main goal of its investigation , into the loss of a deep—sea submersible near the wreck of the titanic, is to enhance maritime safety worldwide. the titan craft, operated by the american firm oceangate , is believed to have been crushed almost instantly by enormous water pressure last week, killing all five people on board. at a news conference in boston, the coast guard's

chief investigator, captain jason neubauer, gave this update: i am serving as the chair for that investigation. an nbi investigation is the highest level of investigation the coastguard conducts. it enables the us to fully leveraged investigative resources, coastguard wide, and capitalise on an extensive network of cooperative relationships within international maritime administrations, and organisations. the nbi is currently in its initial evidence collection phase, including debris salvage operations at the incident site, and evidence collection in coordination with canadian authorities in the port of stjohn's, newfoundland.

here's part of norma's interview. what has it been the last week, can you give us a sense, it's on front of them that what you're going through but give us a sense what it's like? , . .,, it's like? the sentence, we lost calm, i think— it's like? the sentence, we lost calm, i think that _ it's like? the sentence, we lost calm, i think that would - it's like? the sentence, we lost calm, i think that would be - it's like? the sentence, we lost calm, i think that would be a i calm, i think that would be a sentence i never want to hear in my life again. lost, as in lost communications, i was sitting downstairs, actually, having a snack or i do know, i was sitting with people talking and then somebody came down and said we lost communications. i think i didn't comprehend at that moment what that means. and then hejust went

downhill from there. so, the first day was when the communication was lost fairly early on, and then it was just waiting like, lost fairly early on, and then it wasjust waiting like, ok, are they going to come back up was to mark we werejust waiting for going to come back up was to mark we were just waiting for them to come back up. and everybody was like, oh, its not uncommon but they will come it's not uncommon but they will come up. so, beware, and then when it was confirmed they're not back, it was just yeah. . when we passed the 96 hours marked that's when i lost hope. and that's when i even sent a message to my family unsure, i said i am message to my family unsure, i said iam preparing. forthe message to my family unsure, i said i am preparing. for the worse. that's when i lost hope. taste i am preparing. for the worse. that's when i lost hope. we will be runnina that's when i lost hope. we will be running more _ that's when i lost hope. we will be running more of _ that's when i lost hope. we will be running more of that _ that's when i lost hope. we will be running more of that interview - that's when i lost hope. we will be

running more of that interview in i running more of that interview in about 30 minutes' time. the greek authorities are facing new allegations about failing to help people on board a sinking migrant boat last week. it's thought hundreds of people lost their lives. there were 104 survivors. the bbc has now heard evidence from several of them who accuse the greek coastguard of sailing away from the boat, when it was clearly in serious difficulty. the heavily overcrowded boat, which had set out from libya, went down around 50 miles south—west of the coastal town of pylos. our correspondent khalid karamat from the bbc�*s urdu service has the story. this boat left libya with around 700 people on board. more than half were pakistanis. this is haseeb rahman before he made this perilous trip. just one of the 12 pakistani men who survived. in athens, i spoke to him via video call from a greek detention centre. he told me he was thrown into the water and clambered back onto the sinking vessel. translation: i was in the water for an hour. l

i swam to the ship as it was far away. they had to put a speedboat and were rescuing, but had gone far away. i tracked down another survivor, mohamed hamza. his testimony contradicts the greek authorities account that the migrants refused assistance. he said the boat's engine had failed. it hadn't moved for hours before it sank, and their cries for help were ignored. translation: the ship that came at night. - we were telling them we don't want food or water. just rescue us. we were screaming, help, help. this neighbourhood has a large, thriving migrant community, including a large pakistani diaspora. the street could easily be confused for one in pakistan. and it is here that pakistanis from all over europe are coming, looking for information, any clue, anything that can help them find their loved ones. this man is looking for a teenager sayeed ali nadeem. he told me of huge sums his family

had paid to send nadeem to europe. the agent has taken 2.5 million rupees and isn't answering calls now. the mother is really worried and so is the father. the boy is only 15 years. for families searching for the missing relatives, there is little hope left. meanwhile, the greek authorities have rejected claims they didn't act quickly enough to the unfolding tragedy, insisting those on board told coast guards they wanted to be left alone so they could travel to italy. but the survivors testimonies continue to cast doubt on that version of events. khalid karamat, bbc news, athens. greece's conservative new democratic party appears to have secured a decisive victory in the country's second general election in five weeks. with almost all ballots counted, the party has more than 40% of the vote — well ahead of the left—wing syriza party. the leader of the new democrats, kyriakos mitsotakis, thanked voters for giving the party

a �*strong mandate' to introduce major reforms. mr mitsotakis has just completed a four year term as prime minister. he called sunday's vote after narrowly failing to secure an outright majority last month, and rejecting the prospect of a coalition. here is the leader of the new democracy party — speaking to his supporters after the polls closed. translation: today we will en'oy our victory but from tomorrow h we will roll up our sleeves and begin together to build a stronger greece, a nation with more prosperity and justice for everyone. thank you again for this honour. tomorrow will be an even better day for all. the annual hajj pilgrimage has begun in saudi arabia, and this year it's ecpected to break records with the larget hajj in history, yasmin khatun dewan has more. it's almost 40 degrees

in mecca, but the heat won't deter these crowds. the men in their seamless robes and the women in their religious garments — all in a sacred state known as the ihram. the hajj begins with the tawaf — the circling of the kaaba. a pillar of the islamic faith, taking part in the pilgrimage at least once is understood to be an obligation for those who can afford the trip and are healthy enough to carry out its rites. translation: i can't describe my feeling. l may god grant me the blessing of completing the hajj. i hope everyone is able to perform it. translation: thank god, - i was wishing to perform the hajj a long time ago and god granted it to me — the rituals carried out by muslims today date back to the prophet muhammad's farewell pilgrimage and remain unchanged. the hajj will see the pilgrims

travel to various sites. at mount arafat, pilgrims will gather for one of most important days in the islamic calendar. and this year, that gathering is expected to break records as the largest in history. more than 2.5 million muslims are expected to take part in the hajj pilgrimage, as covid—19 restrictions that were in place since 2020 have this year been fully relaxed. at the height of the pandemic, just 10,000 people were permitted to participate, with that number rising to 59,000 in 2021, and last year, that number going up to one million people. and for some of those pilgrims, this year has been especially significant. translation: here we are praying and we ask all muslims to take this| opportunity to pray for stability and safety in the muslim world| and to pray for their brothers in sudan, that the country. stabilises and people live

in safety and security. i this time next week, many of the new hajjis will make their way home, having been on one of the most significant journeys of their lives. yasmin khatun dewan, bbc news. that's it for me at the moment. i cemented ms. simmons you can reach me on bbc news. hello. we ended the weekend with some very big contrasts in our weather. across many northern parts of the uk, the heavens opened — downpours in places, with thunder and lightning, gusty winds, too. this is what it looked like earlier on on the satellite image, as that cold front swept across the country and you can see where all the lightning has been. this is now mostly out to sea

and the skies have cleared across many western areas. all the while, further south in lincolnshire, temperatures reached 32.2 celsius. and many will be pleased to hear that the week ahead is looking a lot fresher, but it will be a changeable one, with some rain at times for our parks and gardens. let's have a look at the forecast, then, as we head through monday. that weather front is now well out to sea, and behind it, we've got these fresher atlantic conditions, so in the morning, belfast, 12 celsius, 13 in birmingham and around 15 expected in norwich and london. and it's going to be a beautiful sunny morning and a fine afternoon as well, with scattered fair—weather clouds developing and, yes, a few showers will develop across northern ireland, parts of scotland and northern england, too. how about the temperatures? about average for the time of the year — 18 in glasgow, 23 expected in london. now, tuesday's weather map shows another low pressure heading our way, so cloud and rain, yes, but this one is also going to push in rather humid and warm air

from the southern climbs — subtropicalair, infact, so extensive, layered cloud across the uk. a lot of rain across northern and northwestern areas. towards the southwest, quite murky around some of the coasts, and it will feel quite close, even though the temperatures won't be that high — 22 in london, 20 in belfast. if the sun pops out, it will turn a little warmer. and it will be a slow process for this low pressure to swing by because, on wednesday, this cold front is still moving across the uk, and that will give one or two downpours, especially across the northern half of the uk. ahead of that cold front, it's still very warm on wednesday in london, and norwich, about 25 celsius. that takes us towards the end of the week, and the jet stream will push in yet another low pressure, but that one will bring rain mostly to northwestern parts of the uk — not much rainfall expected in the south. so, let's have a look at the week ahead — at a glance, quite a changeable week. i think temperatures will be pleasant. goodbye.

this is bbc news, the headlines. president fled moscow one day on from a rebellion by the wagner mercenary group in russia — the whereabouts of its leader, yevgeny prigozhin, and the russian president, are both unknown.

amid speculation the russian the vote was called after his party narrowly failed to secure