welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore, i'm monica miller. the headlines: yevgeny prigozhin, head of russia's wagner mercenary group, is presumed dead after a plane that crashed — killing all those on board. it's two months since prigozhin challenged president putin, with a short—lived mutiny against the regime in moscow. we'll have full analysis. and despite regional opposition, japan prepares to release treated radioactive water from the fukushima nuclear plant into the pacific ocean. trump ally rudy giuliani is arrested and then bailed over alleged election interference. it comes as republican presidential candidates face off for the first

televised debate. live from our studio in singapore, this is bbc news — it's newsday. hello and welcome to the programme. the man who led a mutiny against president putin — and played a key role with his wagner mercenaries in the war in ukraine, yevgeny prigozhin, appears to have died in a plane crash in russia. this image has been confirmed by bbc verify as being from the crash scene near moscow. it's been confirmed that yevgeny prigozhin was on board the private jet. there's much we still don't know about this story. the uk government says it is monitoring the situation. in the us, president biden has said "there's not much that "happens in russia that putin's not behind." our russia editor steve rosenberg has this report.

caught on camera, the final seconds of a private jet. on board, reportedly, the head of a private mercenary group, yevgeny prigozhin. "look over there by the farm, it is burning," the eyewitness can be heard saying. in the distance, a giant cloud of smoke. the plane had crashed north of moscow. yevgeny prigozhin�*s right hand man, the wagner commander, was also thought to have been on board. later, a wagner—linked telegram channel confirmed that yevgeny prigozhin had been killed. it claimed it was the result of the actions of traitors of russia. it is two months to the day since the wagner chief launched what he called his march ofjustice, his mutiny, the insurrection by wagner forces who had been fighting on the kremlin�*s side in ukraine.

they rolled unopposed into the city of rostov. their demands, the removal of russia's senior military leadership, who they blamed for setbacks on the battlefield. there were these extraordinary scenes as the paramilitary chief admonished russian generals. and then they marched on in the direction of moscow in a direct challenge to the authority of president putin. the kremlin leader called it treachery. russia he said had been stabbed in the back, the mutineers would be punished. but by evening a deal had been done to end the insurrection. even though russian servicemen had been killed, there would be no charges against yevgeny prigozhin and his wagner troops. they would have to leave russia but the agreement left the kremlin looking weak. this was vladimir putin today, commemorating the soviet victory in a famous world war ii battle.

there has been no comment yet from the president on the plane crash. on the streets of moscow tonight there was a mixed reaction. "i couldn't care less", he says. "this was to be expected," says another. "some of the things prigozhin did "or didn't do needed to be punished, "he had lots of enemies." so, little surprise, but much speculation, about why the jet crashed, who had targeted the plane and its controversial passenger. was this an act of revenge against the man who had dared to humiliate those in power in russia? steve rosenberg, bbc news. so how did yevgeny prigozhin rise to such influence in russia and to lead a mercenary group with a presence in many countries? our analysis editor ros atkins has more on his story. in 1981, he was sent to prison for robbery and theft.

and when released in 1990, he became a hot dog salesman in st petersburg. but by 1997 he was running a top restaurant and winning lucrative catering contracts. those brought connections to the top. prigozhin even served food to world leaders. and to putin himself. and prigozhin�*s role was becoming about much more than food. in 2014 russia annexed crimea and launched an insurgency in eastern ukraine. prigozhin was involved. of that time, he's said "a group of patriots was born", which later acquired the name wagner battalion. and soon the wagner group reached far beyond ukraine. the fbi accused prigozhin of interfering in the 2016 us election. in syria, wagner fighters supported pro—government forces. more recently there are multiple reports of wagner's military and commercial activity in africa. with the eu accusing the group of committing... "torture and extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings". and then came the war.

when putin wanted to give his invasion of ukraine impetus, prigozhin and his fighters were called in. but as wagner's death toll grew, so did prigozhin�*s fury. expressed first in video rants. and then in a short—lived mutiny. in the aftermath, putin condemned the "the mutineers and traitors". but for prigozhin, charges were dropped, no arrest followed. and we asked why wasn't putin punishing prigozhin? perhaps he was biding his time. for more on this i have been speaking to the founder and president of the political risk consultant of the political risk consultants, a lot of people have been assassinated for taking farm more minor steps against the kremlin and against britain personally. kremlin and against britain personally-— personally. the fact that goshen _ personally. the fact that goshen was _ personally. the fact that goshen was allowed - personally. the fact that goshen was allowed to l personally. the fact that. goshen was allowed to walk personally. the fact that - goshen was allowed to walk away free after being called a

traitor directly on state airwaves by president putin, a traitor to the russian nation. it is pretty clear at the time to deal that was cut with putin was not worth the paper it was not printed on. and he was not going to be allowed to walk for long. there is one very important point here. that is that none of us in the world democracies have ever seen how putin would behave. the master strategist, the great chess player. he would behave when he was truly pushed against the wall. that is what happened when prigozhin forces motored towards my scalp. and putin did not act with sudden immediate escalation and take these guys out because he was in a tough position at that point. extremely calculated, took his time and he waited until he

could get prigozhin in a much weaker position. he allowed him to walk for about two months and now he is dead. i think that sounds a very chilling message to anyone that would go after him in russia. it sends a more stabilising message to those in nato but have to think about how this conflict in ukraine might eventually wind down and end.— down and end. ian, vladimir putin really _ down and end. ian, vladimir putin really relies _ down and end. ian, vladimir putin really relies on - down and end. ian, vladimir putin really relies on the - putin really relies on the wagner group to fight his wars, particularly when it comes to ukraine. what can we expect next? particularly in this conflict in ukraine? it next? particularly in this conflict in ukraine?- conflict in ukraine? it is really not _ conflict in ukraine? it is really not true - conflict in ukraine? it is really not true in - conflict in ukraine? it is really not true in terms | conflict in ukraine? it is. really not true in terms of ukraine. the wagner group played a significant role in one particular battle. they were getting really torn up. they were pulling many of their troops out and by the time the second ukraine counteroffensive

started by the ukrainians, the wagner forces really were not fighting on the ground. your point is relevant because it is when wagner turned against putin the counteroffensive by ukraine which many believed were going to be quite successful was just about to begin. the idea putin would go after wagner and have to pull other troops out, regular forces come out from ukraine in their defensive positions would need to be fighting an insurrection at home at the same time could be on the back footin same time could be on the back foot in ukraine was exactly the time you would not want to do that. that is no longer something putin has to worry about. there is the question of how wagner is going to behave underground in africa. there they are very significant and putin has allowed the wagner leadership to be meeting with

african leaders over the last several weeks. african leaders over the last severalweeks. now african leaders over the last several weeks. now that he has been killed, likely directly by the kremlin, there are going to be a number of leaders in africa that are wondering how much they can trust the kremlin going forward. what is going to happen in those countries in the chair for example, happen in those countries in the chairfor example, in mali, libya, those are interesting questions. in russia and ukraine, i don't think very much is changing. on tojapan on to japan that will start to release treated radioactive water. the nuclear watchdog approved a plan and what will be released over 30 years. a tsunami in 2011 destroyed the plant, triggering what is regarded as the world �*s worst nuclear disaster since sure noble. the decision to validity what has faced heavy criticism from its neighbouring

countries. amanda's reaction, we have correspondence in seoul and beijing. what cross to our colleague, thanks forjoining colleague, thanks for joining us colleague, thanks forjoining us on the programme. we had been seeing a mixed reaction from korea. the government says they are in favour of this but there have been public protests. what is behind the differences?— differences? this issue has been fiercely _ differences? this issue has been fiercely politicised - differences? this issue has been fiercely politicised in | been fiercely politicised in south korea. as so many issues are. especially those that relate to japan. the government has all but endorsed this plan. while the opposition here are strongly against it. we have had the slightly bizarre situation over the last month where the opposition has been out on streets protesting and the government have been holding these conferences and make youtube videos to try and convince the public as water is safe. the public need convincing because the last polling done on this back in june showed 80% of people, more

than 80% actually, did not want the water to be released. the wider political context to all those that is driving it is the south korean president over the past year has pushed really hard to improve relations with japan and made considerable progress. look at that meeting the two leaders had in washington last week with joe biden at camp david. he desperately does not want all that hard work to be undone by this one issue. to this end, the government here is promising to monitor the situation incredibly closely. they are going to be testing seafood for radiation every day. going to be monitoring water in real time for more than 200 locations. none of this is going to stop the opposition seizing on this in the coming days. the language the coming days. the language the opposition are using around this is incredibly inflammatory. the leader of the opposition yesterday referred this as water terrorism. the interesting thing to watch would be how much momentum from the public and they built behind them in the coming days? the loudest critic in all of

this has been china. stephen mcdonald is elevating correspondent. stephen, what have they been saying there? the chinese government has been very vocally and publicly criticising this move from the japanese _ criticising this move from the japanese government for months now _ japanese government for months now i_ japanese government for months now i will— japanese government for months now. i will give you a bit of flavour _ now. i will give you a bit of flavour from some of the rhetoric _ flavour from some of the rhetoric of the foreign ministry spokesman this week. for example, he said this move from _ for example, he said this move from tokyo— for example, he said this move from tokyo represents the disregard of the serious concerns of the international community. he said it was an extremely— community. he said it was an extremely selfish and irresponsible act from japan. and — irresponsible act from japan. and posed the question, if nuclear— and posed the question, if nuclear contaminated water is so safe, — nuclear contaminated water is so safe, why is there a need to discharge — so safe, why is there a need to discharge it into the sea? and said _ discharge it into the sea? and said tokyo should... that

discharge it into the sea? and said tokyo should. . ._ said tokyo should... that was ste - hen said tokyo should... that was stephen mcdonald. _ said tokyo should... that was stephen mcdonald. we - said tokyo should... that was stephen mcdonald. we had . said tokyo should... that was l stephen mcdonald. we had just lost him. here he is talking about they had been protests and anger towards his neighbour japan for letting this water back into the pacific ocean. we had heard from jim mckenzie about some of the protests that were going on in korea. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. head down, arms. he has always been my her0- — head down, arms. he has always been my hero. it— head down, arms. he has always been my hero. it is— head down, arms. he has always been my hero. it is great - head down, arms. he has always been my hero. it is great to - been my hero. it is great to meet — been my hero. it is great to meet him _ been my hero. it is great to meet him and get some tips. slow — meet him and get some tips. slow and _ meet him and get some tips. slow. and sweet.— slow. and sweet. really motivational. _ slow. and sweet. really motivational. you - slow. and sweet. really motivational. you are i slow. and sweet. really - motivational. you are getting laughi— motivational. you are getting taught by an olympic athlete. for these young swimmers, it is a dream come true. getting coaching by a trip olympic champion and world record

holder. i champion and world record holder. ., , champion and world record holder. , :: holder. i was exactly there 20 ears holder. i was exactly there 20 years age — holder. i was exactly there 20 years age 28 _ holder. i was exactly there 20 years ago. 28 years _ holder. i was exactly there 20 years ago. 28 years old, - holder. i was exactly there 20 | years ago. 28 years old, trying to set as much knowledge down to set as much knowledge down to the grassroots as possible for the encouragement, love doing it. it is great for the sport to grow. let's get back in. �* ., sport to grow. let's get back in. �* . . , sport to grow. let's get back in. ~ . ., , ., sport to grow. let's get back in. ~ . . , ., , , in. adam and his team set up these training _ in. adam and his team set up these training camps - in. adam and his team set up these training camps with - in. adam and his team set upj these training camps with the aim of inspiring youngsters not just to swim, but to win. and they have been getting some top tips. they have been getting some top ti s. , , they have been getting some top tis. , , ., they have been getting some top tis. , ,., tips. only focus on your race and have _ tips. only focus on your race and have a _ tips. only focus on your race and have a positive - tips. only focus on your race | and have a positive mindset. you're live with bbc news. to the united states, where allies and former aides of former president donald trump have surrendered in georgia on charges 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 trumpeters make lawyer. he is accused of 13 crimes including racketeering. donald trump himself is due to surrender in georgia on

thursday. all this it's the back for the first republican primary debate which is taking place injust a primary debate which is taking place in just a few hours in the city of milwaukee. our 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 stage 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 alreadyl saying he can't do the debates because of covid. do you believe it? 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 o'donnell show. no trump, no problem. on 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 appearances all 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 now go to katrina perry who was in milwaukee ahead of

that debate. as this had an impact on the mood before the debate? i impact on the mood before the debate? ., ~ impact on the mood before the debate? . ,, , debate? i mean, i think it is the tonic— debate? i mean, i think it is the tonic of— debate? i mean, i think it is the topic of conversation - debate? i mean, i think it is the topic of conversation is. the topic of conversation is that the front runner in this republican race is not here, has not, some people said, bothered to conquer mother said that he doesn't need to come, nevertheless there is a god is going on with eight individuals on the stage in the frontrunner to the contest is not there. as sarah alluded to in herpes that there will be some questions we are expecting or at least replies that will relate to donald trump, that will relate to his policies, and his four indictments, four arraignments he is facing. so he will be present here and the candidates themselves are trying to deal with them, but at the same time focus also on their own campaigns and focus on their own platforms and get their message across to the voters who tune in. he message across to the voters who tune in— who tune in. he may not be there on — who tune in. he may not be there on the _ who tune in. he may not be there on the stage - who tune in. he may not be there on the stage tonight i who tune in. he may not be . there on the stage tonight with there on the stage tonight with

the other candidates but he is getting his message out. wattimena to hear from getting his message out. wattimena to hearfrom mr trump later on? 50 wattimena to hear from mr trump later on? .,, , .., later on? so he has prerecord an interview _ later on? so he has prerecord an interview with _ later on? so he has prerecord an interview with former - later on? so he has prerecord an interview with former fox | an interview with former fox news host tucker carlson, that will be broadcast on social media platforms on x. at the same time this debate starts. we were speaking to his senior advisorjason mueller a little earlier and he said donald trump will make some news in that interview, it is about an hour or so, that interview, it is about an hour orso, and he will that interview, it is about an hour or so, and he will use that time to set out his policies, to reaffirm what a trump presidency will look like, and to reaffirm his case of taking onjoe biden as he has already moved to trump v biden as the contest, notwithstanding that the republican primary contest itself officially kicks off here tonight with the eight individuals on the stage. and we can't say it will now be eight comment that was in doubt a little earlier when the north dakota governor, doug burgum, had an accident be —— playing a

bigger basketball game last night and he injured his achilles tendon last night. but he is here on crutches, he is here, he will take part in the debate. we don't know whether he will be sitting or standing with the damage to his leg for the two hours or so this debate will be on for.— will be on for. very briefly before we _ will be on for. very briefly before we go, _ will be on for. very briefly before we go, who - will be on for. very briefly before we go, who are - will be on for. very briefly i before we go, who are some will be on for. very briefly - before we go, who are some of the top candidates we should expect to see tonight?- expect to see tonight? well, obviously — expect to see tonight? well, obviously the _ expect to see tonight? well, obviously the kind _ expect to see tonight? well, obviously the kind of - expect to see tonight? well, j obviously the kind of number two in the race is ron desantis. there will be a lot of focus on the other candidates on him. and vivek ramaswamy will be in the crosshairs of the others as well. anyone that candidates can take a hot shot at, have some kind of exchange, and make a moment that is clickable, is terrible, and will translate beyond the debate stage and put them in high—profile news media tomorrow. them in high-profile news media tomorrow. ., ., ., them in high-profile news media tomorrow. ., ., . , tomorrow. caitriona perry, thank you _ tomorrow. caitriona perry, thank you very _ tomorrow. caitriona perry, thank you very much -

tomorrow. caitriona perry, thank you very much for i tomorrow. caitriona perry, l thank you very much for that update. let's move onto north korea, its latest attempt lodge a space at late has failed. according to state media in the country. —— launch. warning sirens are triggered in the japanese prefetch of okinawa after the wanted term. the state news agency of north korea is of the mission failed during its third stage fly because of an error in the emergency system. for the first time, a lunar ladder has touched down on the south pole of the moon. the rover will now be deployed on previously unexplored parts of the moon's service where it is thought there might deposits of ice. that feat was carried out by indian scientists making india only the fourth country to achieve a learner —— lunar landing. samira hussain reports. landing. samira hussain reports-— landing. samira hussain re orts. ., ., reports. soft landing on the moon. india _ reports. soft landing on the moon. india is— reports. soft landing on the moon. india is on _

reports. soft landing on the moon. india is on the - reports. soft landing on the| moon. india is on the moon. reports. soft landing on the i moon. india is on the moon. it was a moment several decades in the making. and on its third attempt, india stuck the landing. as mission control celebrated, so to did an entire nation. at railway stations and even on the street. nearly 7 million people watched the live stream on youtube, including these space enthusiasts who are feeling all the feelings. this is an incredible moment for india and even for the people in this room. india is now in an elite class of space explorers, getting to the south pole of the moon, something that no other country in the world has managed to achieve. take a look at these grainy photographs. they were taken

just as it made its final descent onto the surface of the moon. speaking via video link from south africa, india's prime minister narendra modi said the landing was more than just a victory for his country. this success belongs to all our humanity. and it will help more missions by other countries in the future. missions by other countries in the future-— the future. just achieving this scientific feet _ the future. just achieving this scientific feet is _ the future. just achieving this scientific feet is inspiring - scientific feet is inspiring the next generation. what was it like when you saw the ladder make it to the moon?- make it to the moon? eight shared for _ make it to the moon? eight shared for its. _ make it to the moon? eight shared for its. it _ make it to the moon? eight shared for its. it was - make it to the moon? eight shared for its. it was a - make it to the moon? eight shared for its. it was a very | shared for its. it was a very roud shared for its. it was a very proud moment _ shared for its. it was a very proud moment for - shared for its. it was a very proud moment for me, - shared for its. it was a very proud moment for me, in l shared for its. it was a very i proud moment for me, in fact. shared for its. it was a very - proud moment for me, in fact. i really— proud moment for me, in fact. i really felt — proud moment for me, in fact. i really felt the pride of being an indian. really felt the pride of being an indian-_ an indian. india's ambitious sace an indian. india's ambitious space programme -

an indian. india's ambitious space programme has - an indian. india's ambitious - space programme has delivered the country a win and has emerged as a major player in the global space race. samira hussain, bbc news, bengaluru. well done, india. a reminder of our top story that the man who had led the mutiny a great —— against vladimir putin in russia and played a role in the vulgar mercenary role in ukraine, he has apparently died in a plane crash in russia. images that have been confirmed by the bbc verify team from that crash says it is confirmed that crash says it is confirmed that yevgeny prigozhin was aboard the private jet. that yevgeny prigozhin was aboard the privatejet. there is still much we don't know about that, but we are getting about that, but we are getting a response from the uk government that says they are monitoring the situation and us president biden has said there was not much that happens in russia that putin is not behind. that is all we have you on newsday. i'm monica miller. thanks forjoining us on the programme.

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

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

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

central bankers meet injackson hole wyoming with the focus on the future of what the that interest rates might look like. while some business districts are empty, one region has seen people return to the office more than most. hello and welcome to asia business report, i am monica millerfor the officials from central banks around the world are gathering at an annual three—day conference injackson hole wyoming in the united states. much of the focus will be on what federal reserve chairmanjerome be on what federal reserve chairman jerome powell be on what federal reserve chairmanjerome powell says chairman jerome powell says when chairmanjerome powell says when he delivers his speech on friday. investors will be looking for signs the us central bank is nearing the end of its push to raise interest rates which are at their highest level in 16 years. by

making borrowing more expensive,