the transit van new? the transit van now? it where is the transit van now? it could have gone down into the lock. there was some dna testing done and what were shown was dna of eels. it is perfectly possible that there is an eel population in loch ness. yes. an eel population in loch ness. yes, absolutely and _ an eel population in loch ness. yes, absolutely and dna _ an eel population in loch ness. 133 absolutely and dna testing again is one of the boundaries of science which has been tried, but one interesting fact is we know things float on the water but no dna showed up float on the water but no dna showed up one they were being tested. jenny, i know you do a podcast about scotland, tell me just about how much of a draw this whole idea and mythology of loch ness is for people and what it means to them, this idea that there is something they simply don't know and can't understand. it is fascinating, the messages that we

-et is fascinating, the messages that we get from _ is fascinating, the messages that we get from people all over the world asking _ get from people all over the world asking us — get from people all over the world asking us about the loch ness monster. _ asking us about the loch ness monster, asking us if we have ever seen _ monster, asking us if we have ever seen it _ monster, asking us if we have ever seen it the — monster, asking us if we have ever seen it. the mythology of the monster _ seen it. the mythology of the monster is not that old compared to the rest _ monster is not that old compared to the rest of— monster is not that old compared to the rest of scottish mythology, so it is interesting to see how the loch— it is interesting to see how the loch ness— it is interesting to see how the loch ness monster has catapulted around _ loch ness monster has catapulted around the world people from all over, _ around the world people from all over. you — around the world people from all over, you go anywhere and so you are scottish— over, you go anywhere and so you are scottish and _ over, you go anywhere and so you are scottish and they say, oh, the loch ness _ scottish and they say, oh, the loch ness monster, so it has really invaded — ness monster, so it has really invaded people's psyche. whether it is biafoot invaded people's psyche. whether it is bigfoot or— invaded people's psyche. whether it is bigfoot or the _ invaded people's psyche. whether it is bigfoot or the yeti _ invaded people's psyche. whether it is bigfoot or the yeti or— invaded people's psyche. whether it is bigfoot or the yeti or the - is bigfoot or the yeti or the unicorn, there is always this idea there is a magical thing and not just for children, that is unexplained.— just for children, that is unexplained. just for children, that is unexlained. , . . , unexplained. yes and that is the beau of unexplained. yes and that is the beauty of the — unexplained. yes and that is the beauty of the loch _ unexplained. yes and that is the beauty of the loch ness - unexplained. yes and that is the l beauty of the loch ness monster. unexplained. yes and that is the . beauty of the loch ness monster. it doesn't _ beauty of the loch ness monster. it doesn't live — beauty of the loch ness monster. it doesn't live in one specific forest like bigfoot that you can go and visit _ like bigfoot that you can go and visit the — like bigfoot that you can go and visit. the loch ness monster has a clearly— visit. the loch ness monster has a clearly defined home, in murky waters. — clearly defined home, in murky waters, and she has evaded scientists all this time and yet hundreds— scientists all this time and yet hundreds of people come to see her

and it— hundreds of people come to see her and it keeps adding to that mystery and it keeps adding to that mystery and building it overthe and it keeps adding to that mystery and building it over the decades. paul, _ and building it over the decades. paul. you — and building it over the decades. paul, you have reaffirmed the visitor centre and they have got this incredible forest around it and it has got aleister crowley's the satanist�*s old house on the hill. if nothing is shown up this we can come in a sense what happens? this nothing is shown up this we can come in a sense what happens?— in a sense what happens? this is about enthusing _ in a sense what happens? this is about enthusing the _ in a sense what happens? this is about enthusing the next - in a sense what happens? this is - about enthusing the next generation of nessie hunters and it doesn't matter right now whether you are a sceptical cynic, you are walking along the banks of loch ness and you are looking, you might be the next person to spot something, so it is inspirational, it is about getting people out and enjoying nature and in their natural surroundings. it is not about finding the ultimate, yes, we would love to find a monster in loch ness, but it is about that journey and destination and discovery. it journey and destination and discovery-— journey and destination and discove . ., ,�* ., discovery. it doesn't matter if it is not there. — discovery. it doesn't matter if it is not there, it _ discovery. it doesn't matter if it is not there, it doesn't - discovery. it doesn't matter if it is not there, it doesn't matter. discovery. it doesn't matter if itj is not there, it doesn't matter if it is not real. quite right, absolutely. that is what you have to

say to the tourists particularly, but for the question of mythology as well. thank you very much indeed. let's take a look at the front pages. they all go on the wagner chief reported dead after a jet crashed near moscow according to the guardian. mps take up a £180,000 worth of corporate giveaways is the other story. the daily mail, security sources point the finger at the russian president weeks after yevgeny prigozhin marched on moscow. was this putinrevenge? and in the daily mirror, putin's revenge. that is all from us tonight. katie is in the studio tomorrow and we will have a special report from mark in ukraine. untilthen, sleep a special report from mark in ukraine. until then, sleep well, good night.

those alternatives haven't been seriously investigated.- those alternatives haven't been seriously investigated. thank you for 'oinin: seriously investigated. thank you forioining us— seriously investigated. thank you forjoining us in _ seriously investigated. thank you forjoining us in the _ seriously investigated. thank you forjoining us in the programme. | around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. head down. arms. all i'm caring about is this insweep here. he's always been my hero, although i'm not a breaststroker, it's still great to meet him and get some tips.

slow, slow, slow, slow. insweep. working with adam, it's really motivational because you're getting taught by an olympic athlete. for these young swimmers, it's a dream come true. getting coaching from loughborough's triple olympic champion and world record holder. these kids have huge potential. i was exactly there 20 years ago. i'm an old boy now, 28 years old, but i'm trying to send as much knowledge down to that grassroots as possible. encouragement. i love doing it and it's great for the sport to grow. all right. let's get back in. adam and his team set up these training camps with the aim of inspiring these youngsters not just to swim, but to win. and they've been getting some top tips. 0nly focus on your race and just be in a positive mindset. you're live with bbc news. to the us — where on thursday, donald trump will surrender

allies and former aides of donald trump in georgia connected with attempts to overturn the 2020 us election results. chief among them was rudy giuliani the former mayor of new york city who served as trump is my personal lawyer. he has been accused of 13 crimes including racketeering. donald trump himself is due to surrender in georgia on thursday. all this sets the backdrop for the first republican primary debate taking place just a few hours in the city of milwaukee. 0ur north america editor sarah smith reports. it looks like a set from little house on the prairie. but this single room school house in wisconsin is actually where the republican party was born. while celebrating its history, the party also has to choose its future. does it include donald trump? or is there room for a new face? he made the majority of people very, very happy with what he was doing for our country.

are you disappointed trump is not taking part? yes, i am in a way, but again, also not. because if he's on it's all going to be about him. i think he's a coward, _ i think he should show up and defend himself in front of a live audience. now he's already saying he can't do the debates because of covid. donald trump considered debates essential when he was running againstjoe biden three years ago. and maybe he'll show up for an hour and a half at a debate, who the hell knows? i don't know. welcome to the dan 0'donnell show. no trump, no problem. 0n talk radio in milwaukee, dan o'donnell is conducting a debate on donald trump's no—show. but do you know what trump is going to be doing instead of the debate? he's going to court. a self—confessed trumper, he understands the former president's reasoning. why should he have to bother with small little things like debating candidates who are at 5% against him? so it looks arrogant?

a little bit. trump has literally said, you know what my policies are, why should i have to explain them to you? that does sound kind of arrogant when it's put that way, doesn't it? without even turning up here in milwaukee, donald trump will still end up dominating the proceedings. all the other candidates will inevitably be asked about him and his legal problems, will any of them dare to criticise him for anything? including his decision to skip this debate. you guys know he's not coming, don't you? of course. but we still love trump. trump's court appearance will boost his appeal, with polls suggesting he has more support than all his rivals put together. in second place, florida governor ron desantis, whose flailing campaign means he is nowhere near catching up with trump. so, donald, you need to decide. are you a chicken? his formerfriend, now foe, chris christie will be on the attack. # he opens his mouth but the words won't come out...# _ while this cringeworthy rap has not stopped vivek ramaswamy, a biotech millionaire, from enjoying

a surprising surge in the polls. donald trump, with typical bravado, will then upstage them all tomorrow when he arrives in georgia and surrenders himself to be booked at fulton county jail. let's go now to caitriona perry, who is in milwalkee. thank you forjoining us. have these arrests had any impact on the mood in milwaukee?— in milwaukee? absolutely not. the mood here is _ in milwaukee? absolutely not. the mood here is incredibly _ in milwaukee? absolutely not. the mood here is incrediblyjubilant - in milwaukee? absolutely not. the | mood here is incrediblyjubilant and joyful. this is the kick—off event for the republican party officially, looking ahead to the primary in iowa early next year. behind you might be able to hear there is a rock band playing, food trucks and grills, everyone is dressed up in their best binary so plenty of donald trump supporters here as well. posters and t—shirts. they are all aware that he

is not here but that isn't diminishing their potential enjoyment of this debate at all. this is a landmark event for the republican party, a chance for a conservative candidate to set out what their vision is for america, what their vision is for america, what they want to see in the presidential election next year. donald trump is not going to be there so how do we expect the candidates to respond to his absence on that stage? i candidates to respond to his absence on that stage?— on that stage? i think he is ossibl on that stage? i think he is possibly borrowing - on that stage? i think he is possibly borrowing a - on that stage? i think he is possibly borrowing a little l on that stage? i think he is - possibly borrowing a little from 0scar possibly borrowing a little from oscar wilde who said the only thing worse than being talked about was not being talked about. donald trump is ensuring the candidates will talk about him, hoping for some sort of circular debate with him setting out how different they are to him, ones who support and the ones who don't potentially attacking him, while at the same time he has an interview he has already typed with the former fox news host tucker carlson that will drop on x, formerly known as

twitter at the same time. donald trump is a to control all narratives but the other outcome that it's here, that is not their viewpoint, speaking to some of them ice as they will deal with the frontrunner in the race in terms of the former president and then they want to move on to discussing their policies and setting out their stall and preserve them whose national name recognition is very low, pulling very low, if this is their time to shine this is a time to essentially get a viral moment to get something that will set them apart from the others in the fields that will guarantee they will run on the breakfast show is the time to essentially get a viral moment to get something that will set them apart from the others in the field that will guarantee they will run on the breakfast shows here tomorrow morning and that they will stay in the race for the next debate. , . ., , ., ~ debate. he is certainly making headhnes debate. he is certainly making headlines and _ debate. he is certainly making headlines and is _ debate. he is certainly making headlines and is back - debate. he is certainly making headlines and is back in - debate. he is certainly making headlines and is back in the i headlines and is back in the spotlight. thank you.

explain to us more about this plane. bbc verify says there has been verification that mr prigozhin was on his train. what can you tell us? we know the plane is owned by a company linked to yevgeny prigozhin. that it crashed outside moscow. you prigozhin's name appears to be on a list of passengers registered as flying on that flight but there is no clarity as to whether he was physically on that plane. but we have got is a statement by a telegram account called grey zone which is believed to be linked to wagner and yevgeny prigozhin. it

said that mr prigozhin is dead and his death was caused and i quote, by actions by traitors of russia. what we are missing is any official confirmation by security authorities, by officers who were involved in the search operation of the crash site, any confirmation of whether yevgeny prigozhin's body was found there. as far as we know that operation is complete, and all ten bodies of people travelling aboard the ill—fated plane have been recovered. there is also rife speculation on social media, in part fuelled by accounts linked to wagner that yevgeny prigozhin's plane was shot down and i have seen a number

of video clips filmed by eyewitnesses who said that they had heard two explosions and they drew the conclusion that the aircraft had a total out of the sky but this is unconfirmed, speculative, and a lot of people are waiting to hear from russian officials tomorrow morning, whether they have been able to identify all the bodies found in the crash site and whether the body of yevgeny prigozhin is among them. what are you also hearing on telegram, unencrypted social media platform? what has been the reaction on social media? if platform? what has been the reaction on social media?— on social media? if yevgeny prigozhin — on social media? if yevgeny prigozhin has _ on social media? if yevgeny prigozhin has indeed - on social media? if yevgeny prigozhin has indeed died, i on social media? if yevgeny| prigozhin has indeed died, it on social media? if yevgeny - prigozhin has indeed died, it has come as no surprise to a lot of

people following his brief and unsuccessful mutiny against top russian military commanders injune this year. of course a lot of people drew the conclusion that after something like that you can'tjust walk away. it is something the kremlin, vladimir putin will never forgive. a lot of people said that yevgeny prigozhin was basically a dead man walking. so today's events have come as no surprise to them. and also today, thursday is independence day in ukraine and i have seen a lot ofjubilation there. thank you forjoining us. that is all we have for you now. thanks for watching.

hello. well, it has been quite warm in the last few days, but nothing compared to what's been happening south of the english channel in france and spain. temperatures recently hit 44 celsius. and for france, a record for august. this is the anomaly map, so the orange colours show temperatures higher than average, the blue colours lower than average. but watch what happens when that jet stream takes a dip. this trough develops and pushes the heat further towards the east of europe, and the temperatures tend to ease somewhat anyway. and we have cooler weather on the way over the next few days for our neck of the woods. in fact, right now, you can see the jet streams right over us, clouds circling, an area of low pressure bringing some showers. there could be some thunderstorms early in the morning. but with low pressure in charge and these northerly winds riding around this western flank of the low, the temperatures are set to drop by a few degrees by the time we get to friday

and certainly the weekend. so the outlook is things turning a little bit cooler, but there'll be some sunshine around with occasional showers. here's the forecast then for early thursday, some rain there across northern and eastern scotland, showers elsewhere and also eyes towards the south, thunderstorms could be breaking out early in the morning as well. but it's a very mild start to the day, 12 celsius in glasgow, possibly even 17 celsius on the south coast. now on these thunderstorms, really vicious storms for a time, potentially across the channel islands, crossing the channel, heading roughly to the isle of wight, and then affecting the east, the south east that is, of england. we do think that they will probably veer off towards the east—northeast, so missing most of the south east of england. and i think anyway, for many of us through the course of thursday, it is going to be a mixture of sunny spells and showers. so most of us will not get the storms on thursday. temperatures, 17 celsius in glasgow, about 18 celsius in liverpool. still holding onto some of that warmth there in the southeast, 2a celsius.

and then on friday, if you look at the wind arrows, here's the clue, the air�*s coming in from the north. sunny spells and showers, those temperatures around 16—17 celsius in scotland. in the south, 19—21 celsius, and i think we'll lose some of that humidity, so it won't feel quite as warm. and here is the outlook through the weekend and into next week — cooler. bye— bye.

this is bbc news. we will have all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour as newsday continues straight after hardtalk. welcome to hardtalk. i'm stephen sackur. what does it say about a society when its lawmakers prioritise ever tougher security laws and the authorities put bounties on the heads of political opponents in exile? that's something for the people of hong kong to reflect on as the territory's government follows beijing's lead in eliminating space for dissent. my guest is pro—beijing legislative council member dominic lee. with economic storm clouds gathering over china, are we about to see hong kong's political and economic dependence

on beijing painfully exposed?