live from london, this is bbc news. the mercenary group leader who led a failed mutiny in russia is presumed dead. thousands of baby pink have died in antarctica after a major sea ice loss. the backlog of the seven cases in the uk rises to a record high. and will live in atlanta were donald trump is expected to report to a georgia jailfor donald trump is expected to report to a georgia jail for the latest legal proceedings of the charges of election interference. welcome to verified life. three i was breaking stories and checking out the truth behind them. let's start with the where the founder of

the wagner mercenary group is presumed dead after his plane crashed in the northwest of the country. one agency said it has been told by us officials that they believe that the plane is likely to have been shot down. surface—to—air missile was fired from inside russia. the bbc cannot verify at the stage and wait or save the official stress that the information is preliminary and under review. have a look at these pictures. these have been confirmed by the verified team and the remains of the plaintiff field of the region. mr prigozhin led a failed mutiny injune. widely seen as a challenge to the authority of vladimir putin. two months later, mr prigozhin is not presumed dead. russian aviation officials say he was on board the plane with his right hand man and it is believed that all ten passengers and crew died immediately. ukraine has denied

any involvement. the crash site today and rushes region. investigators say they recovered the bodies of all ten people on board. the key question now is what caused the crash. officials say they are examining a number of theories, including the possibility of external actions in leading to mr prigozhin�*s jet to crash yesterday. all eyes are on vladimir putin who was attending a summit today by video link. and unsurprisingly, he made no reply to prigozhin�*s demise. a former convict, his mercenary group took pardon some of the most brutal fighting in ukraine. mr prigozhin

became increasingly critical of russia's military leadership and eventually launched a mutiny in june. his forces seized the major russian city and even marched on moscow before abandoning their insurrection. prigozhin had a lot of powerful enemies here in moscow, not just in the military but also in the kremlin. when his wagner group mercenary is marched on the capitol injune, thousand direct challenge to president putin. that is why yesterday's news about the plane crash surprised almost nobody here in russia. , ., , �* crash surprised almost nobody here in russia. , �* . , crash surprised almost nobody here in russia. , �* ., in russia. this wasn't really a shock, bearing _ in russia. this wasn't really a shock, bearing in _ in russia. this wasn't really a shock, bearing in mind - in russia. this wasn't really a shock, bearing in mind the i in russia. this wasn't really a - shock, bearing in mind the whole situation. i almost expected something like this to happen. alexander said it is quite right would have been. you cannot go against the russian leader. bad things will happen if you do. the russian and peace that those responsible for the plane crash will

be held responsible. it’s responsible for the plane crash will be held responsible.— be held responsible. it's hard to cive a be held responsible. it's hard to give a precise — be held responsible. it's hard to give a precise commons - be held responsible. it's hard to | give a precise commons because there's an investigation ongoing. i believe that those guilty in an accident will be punished by our law and punish strictly.— accident will be punished by our law and punish strictly. would happen to mr prigozhin — and punish strictly. would happen to mr prigozhin is _ and punish strictly. would happen to mr prigozhin is still _ and punish strictly. would happen to mr prigozhin is still not _ and punish strictly. would happen to mr prigozhin is still not clear - and punish strictly. would happen to mr prigozhin is still not clear but - mr prigozhin is still not clear but many russians believe that the wagner group boss broken the golden rule in russia, do not cross vladimir putin. breaking news to bring you. president putin appears to have broken his silence on the apparent death of prigozhin and the plane crash because we are hearing from reuters that putin sends his condolences to prigozhin, the founder of russia's wagner group and

prigozhin�*s family and saying that this is what we're hearing from reuters and the reports going to say that vladimir putin says i have known prigozhin since the 90s and will begin at what investigators say and prigozhin was a talented businessman and an expertise would take time. saying that it would take time to establish, based on that investigator to reiterate, this is coming from reuters who are reporting that this is what putin is saying after he made no mention of prigozhin or the plane crash when he spoke to the summit by a video link. the first mention that russian president vladimir putin has made of the plane crash and of prigozhin and putin has sent his condolences to

prigozhin�*s family. speaking to our correspondent, the suggestion that it was a missile reported by reuters when it broke a little while ago, thatis when it broke a little while ago, that is apparently from the us source. , , ., ., that is apparently from the us source. , ., source. this is an unnamed official that is set this _ source. this is an unnamed official that is set this and _ source. this is an unnamed official that is set this and i _ source. this is an unnamed official that is set this and i think- source. this is an unnamed official that is set this and i think british l that is set this and i think british defence sources that he spoke to earlier this morning and some hours ago thought it was more likely to have been a device on board the plane and i don't think there's any question that it was an accident. modern plane simply do not fall out of the air. and if it was a surface to air missile, the idea that it would have been blown apart for this disintegrate high up in the air as

it was, we start spiralling out of control and trailing smoking that video. but we see that it is, i'm not sure of the idea there was shutdown by missile but we never know because if you agree the assumption that is sold in most western capitals that this was an act of assassination, then the very state, russian that is carrying out the investigation are those suspected of being behind us but there is no proof of that and so, president putin is a gift with the investigation but it is their investigation. it is not a neutral independent one coming in from outside, we're not talking about investigators crawling over the black box looking for forensic details and what happened on its own site as it is entitled to do. speculation continues and other

theories on how the plane fell out or been ruled out in a bomb being on board. at or been ruled out in a bomb being on board. �* . , , ., board. a device being put on board, i think board. a device being put on board, ithinkthat — board. a device being put on board, i think that is _ board. a device being put on board, i think that is far _ board. a device being put on board, i think that is far more _ board. a device being put on board, i think that is far more likely - i think that is far more likely because whatever it was, it was not strong enough or powerful enough to blow it out of the air. russia has powerful air defences, not invincible but very powerful. this was halfway between moscow and st. petersburg were was flying too. there were two planes linked to prigozhin that were in play, this one was brought down at the second one was brought down at the second one is recently landed but there is no suggestion that prigozhin was on board that. russia has not produced any visible proof of prigozhin�*s death but they say he was definitely on board as was dmitry utkin who is

the co—founder of the wagner group backin the co—founder of the wagner group back in 2014. just the co-founder of the wagner group back in 2014-— back in 2014. just to reiterate some ofthe back in 2014. just to reiterate some of the information, _ back in 2014. just to reiterate some of the information, that _ back in 2014. just to reiterate some of the information, that broke - back in 2014. just to reiterate some of the information, that broke in . of the information, that broke in the last few minutes that's been verified by the bbc, comments made by to the first time on the plane crash that appears to have killed prigozhin and he said prigozhin was a talented person and expressed his condolences to the families of everyone killed. as we been hearing over the past few minutes and hours, beenin over the past few minutes and hours, been in the speculation on social media about the crash and robinson from bbc verifies been sifting through many of posts. prigozhin, the wagner group mercenary chief is presumed dead after his plane

crashed. prigozhin and the co—founder dmitry utkin were both on this list of passengers on the plane. that did not stop speculation on social media that he might have been on another plane of the time. what we know about the crash? radar tracking service shows that the plane linked to prigozhin kicked off somewhere yesterday afternoon was flying toward st. petersburg and then disappeared over the region 300 km northwest of moscow and the data also shows around this, there was a sudden drop of altitude. this is collaborated by video from eyewitnesses that we looked at earlier and you can see the plane falling from the sky quite rapidly and in the plane crashed not far from the village. the satellite image shows the aftermath and you can see bits of wreckage intends as

well. so, what caused the crash? they said they heard the sound of explosions before it started falling and this led to speculation that the plane may have been shut down by russian air defence. these unverified pictures showing small holes of the plane have been used by some on social media is evidence to support this theory. but the pictures are not afraid quality and that makes it really difficult to conclude what they actually show. another theory that has been gaining traction suggests there was an explosion on board the plane and here's a post from a telegram channel saying the explosive device on the plane was placed in the landing gear department and this is why the theories being looked at by the investigation. it so far, there is no convincing evidence to support this and that means we'll continue investigating and bringing you updates when we can.

some breaking news to bring you in the police investigation over the crooked avenue and staffordshire which was burned to the ground and two men had been arrested on suspicion of arson. detectives investigating this have arrested two men, 66 short man from dudley and at 33—year—old man from milton keynes arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to damage life. they are iconic species of the antarctic but for how much longer. emperor penguin colonies have experienced almost total breeding failure. study from the british antarctic survey and published in nature communications

support predictions that the current warming trends over 90% of emperor penguin colonies will be all but extinct by the end of the century. our science editor reports. they live in the most from remote re m ote pa rt remote pa rt of remote part of the they live in the most remote part of the planet, adapted to survive the harshest conditions. but for emperor penguins, the sea ice that they depend on is vanishing. and this year has seen a record melt, leading to a catastrophic loss of chicks. this is really a sign of things to come. we expect that emperor penguins are going to really suffer with climate change. and this is really poignant because most of these penguins will never have seen a human being in their life. but it's human—induced climate change which is driving their futures and a future which is looking really bleak at the moment. to breed successfully, emperor penguins need nine months of solid sea ice. the chicks are cared for by their parents as they develop and grow. they need to stay on the ice

until they replace their fluffy down for waterproof feathers. the problem is the ice is melting much earlier in the season, and if the chicks enter the water before they're ready, they don't survive. the red line on this map shows where the sea ice used to reach at the end of antarctica's summer. 2023 has seen a record low. only the white and light blue areas are ice. this area lost all of its sea ice. five emperor penguin colonies are located there, and four lost all of their chicks. that's an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 birds. out of 66 colonies across the continent, 19 failed either partially or totally to breed. and scientists say if this trend continues, over 90% will be doomed to extinction by the end of this century. this graph shows the area of antarctica's sea ice as it melts and grows between summer and winter. each line represents a year, and 2023, in red, has been far

lower than any other. we had a record annual minimum low in february of this year, and also what's happening right now, so in antarctic winter, as the ice freezes up is that the ice is not freezing as fast as it normally would because it's so far outside what we've observed previously. we expected change, but we didn't i don't think expect change this rapidly and this much. antarctica's entering into uncharted territory, and for emperor penguins, it's leading to losses on an unprecedented scale. scientists say if we reduce our carbon emissions, we have a chance to save this iconic, unique and beautiful species. they say their future is in our hands. rebecca morelle, bbc news. jonathan, how concerned are people in the science community about the results of the survey? bier? results of the survey? very concerned. _ results of the survey? very concerned. emperor- results of the survey? very i concerned. emperor penguins results of the survey? - concerned. emperor penguins the been looking out for a while now and they

know most of the colonies, and the antarctic, but 66 with the understand is that the penguins are really dependent on the sea ice and his rebecca was explaining, the sea ice has become unreliable in recent years. i have a satellite image of one of the locations of the scientists are looking at and it was cold :—) island and they need about eight or nine months of solid sea ice in which to bring up the chicks and towards the end of that period, which is around december and january, that ice will still be there to enable the chicks to flee. the feathers and slick waterproof feathers and as you can see, by satellite, you cannot see the individual penguins but you can see the white icing as we move into october, the ice is starting to be

in no way and moved into the beginning of december, the chicks are changing those feathers of the ice is gone and i'm afraid to say that in this location where there would be around two or 3006, they've lost it. they're all gone, probably. they buy they frozen to death. it is quite a tragic tale. the they buy they frozen to death. it is quite a tragic tale.— quite a tragic tale. the numbers around this _ quite a tragic tale. the numbers around this are _ quite a tragic tale. the numbers around this are bleak. _ quite a tragic tale. the numbers around this are bleak. 9096 - quite a tragic tale. the numbers around this are bleak. 9096 in i quite a tragic tale. the numbers - around this are bleak. 9096 in terms around this are bleak. 90% in terms of the extinction but how reversible is this? , , ., ., is this? the studies done at the end ofthe is this? the studies done at the end of the planet _ is this? the studies done at the end of the planet in _ is this? the studies done at the end of the planet in the _ is this? the studies done at the end of the planet in the arctic— is this? the studies done at the end of the planet in the arctic have - of the planet in the arctic have suggested that if you can reduce temperatures and stop the warning, then the ice will recover we have seenin then the ice will recover we have seen in the arctic, a decades long production of sea ice in the antarctic, it's been a little bit different in the recent decades. the ice is been more robust and in 2016, thatis

ice is been more robust and in 2016, that is changed in the arctic and if you can reduce temperatures on earth and stop this warming, may be the ice will recover but if that does not happen than the outlook for the emperor penguin is certainly bleak. that is our science correspondent. more breaking news now. additional comments from president putin about prigozhin who is believed to be dead after the plane crash. putin said on the news agency that prigozhin had returned from a visit to africa on the previous day. that is an additional comment that vladimir putin is made and if i can reiterate some of the other comments that have come through from him in the past few minutes, he says that he brings

his condolences to prigozhin�*s family and i'm that he was informed by russia's investigations committee and said the investigation will be investigated to the fullest extent and what we're looking at now is pictures from the kremlin. these are pictures from the kremlin. these are pictures that have come through from the past hour when vladimir putin was making these comments in the past hour and to reiterate, that is the first time that putin actually made any comment of the plane crash of prigozhin because originally, he had said nothing about it even though he was at the summit and made a speech but without mentioning either prigozhin or the plane crash and is the first plane

comments that he is made about this the day before and in addition, to remind you, if you are not here if we brought the other breaking news the united states believes that a surface—to—air missile originating from inside russia likely shut down the plane and that coming from reuters and they say that came from two us officials who were speaking on the condition of anonymity and they stressed that the information was preliminary and under review and just a little bit more that i can bring you, that's just come through from plane reproved in on what he said about prigozhin, he said what investigators say soon and investigations are ongoing and technical and dna tests. you are watching bbc news.

let's look at some of the other stories making the news now. the watchdog has seen the prime minister failed to directly declare, does standard say this arose out of confusion and rishi sunak has accepted the ruling and apologised. the citizens advice bureau once thousands of people will be behind on the start of winter in the sun will require loans to pay them. an increase for advice compared to last year. the administrators of the high street chain say that jobs will year. the administrators of the high street chain say thatjobs will be lost in the stores will close after it failed to find a flyer for the whole business. —— buyer. he is going into administration putting 12,500 jobs at risk. england fans will be able to buy replica

goalkeeper shirts after limited quantities would go on sale —— mary earps. britain's backlog of asylum—seekers visited a record high and that is according to new home—office figures. 35,000 people were waiting for a decision on whether or not they will be granted refugee status on the end ofjune 2023. that is more than 40% on the same time last year. so, why is the situation come about? let's ask mark easton, can you explain? the situation come about? let's ask mark easton, can you explain?— easton, can you explain? the reason he does come _ easton, can you explain? the reason he does come about _ easton, can you explain? the reason he does come about this _ easton, can you explain? the reason he does come about this because - easton, can you explain? the reason i he does come about this because more people arejoining the he does come about this because more people are joining the asylum system that are leaving it that is basically the problem and has been for some considerable time. the home office is desperately trying to do something about it not least because the prime minister rishi sunak his promise to get rid of the backlog by the end of this year and by which

technique which he means the backlog when he made the promise and before june of last year. nevertheless, huge efforts being applied to sort out this problem which is been building upforyears, out this problem which is been building up for years, even before the rise in small boats. this is a problem of the home office is on making in a system that is unable to deal with the claims in a timely way 975,000 people in the system now an 80% of them have been in the system more than six months, some of the people have been there for years and while they are claiming asylum, they are not allowed to work and claim benefits may need somewhere to live and we have that many in the system, thatis and we have that many in the system, that is why the usual dispersal accommodation is not merely been enoughin accommodation is not merely been enough in the home offices at these other types of accommodation in the hotels, we know there is a record

number of asylum—seekers and hotel rooms which is been commissioned by the home office and that is costing £6 million a day and we have seen an effort to put some on the barge and that hasn't worked out so well so far and the government looking at all possible ways of trying to find all possible ways of trying to find a reasonably inexpensive way of housing these people until such time that their claims to be sorted out. the overall effect of all this is that asylum system is hugely expensive and in the last financial year, these figures published today, it costs almost £4 billion in most of that is a significant quantity on hotels and masters bill was a little bit over 2 billion in if you go back ten years ago, was only 500 million. exhibit a significant cost and a huge embarrassment for a government thatis huge embarrassment for a government that is placed dealing with asylum, dealing with illegal migration in dealing with illegal migration in dealing with illegal migration in dealing with small boats as a top

priority. in dealing with small boats as a top riori . , ., ., ,~ priority. in the figures are masked by applications — priority. in the figures are masked by applications being _ priority. in the figures are masked by applications being withdrawn. l by applications being withdrawn. that is correct. when decision—makers concluded case, normally, they will say yes to a granted asylum or know you are not and you need to leave. but we have seen this year is a huge increase in the number of withdrawals in over 15,000 people have fled their claims withdrawn the previous year it was only about 4000 and so, the thought is that the home offices using withdrawals is a quick way to get the numbers done in the labour party among those who were being accused of cooking the books. stay with us on bbc news. stay with us on bbc news.

it's the final week of summer 2023 and it seems the season is determined to go out on unsettled night. on an unsettled note. that doesn't mean it will always be raining. low pressure is in charge at the moment. in the coming days, it will producing downpours which could be heavy and thundery but not always. there will be sunshine to enjoy, as well. through this evening, we have an area of low pressure still in charge towards the north—west and will bring rain to western areas of scotland and some for northern ireland. elsewhere, it's a largely dry picture and for many of us tonight, clear skies and cooler. last night, temperatures stayed in the low teens but some spots tonight will dip into single digits. a cooler start to tomorrow but because of the clear skies, a largely dry start first thing and a good amount of sunshine to enjoy

during the first part of the day. northerly winds will development, keeping it cooler and fresher towards the north. and outbreaks of rain here. some scattered showers elsewhere throughout the day and the potential of some of those being heavy with thunder and lightning. in the south—east, temperatures start to fall back to normal for the time of year. 21 degrees in london, down from today by 5 degrees. and on saturday, the pressure stays with us. a few spots of rain as the day gets going, scattered showers popping up and when they do, they could well be very heavy, some thunder and lightning likely to be in the mix but there will be sunshine in between those showers so it won't always be raining throughout the day on saturday. into sunday, another weather system in the atlantic and that will move in slowly and bring in a lot of cloud and a good bit of rain coming into northern ireland. as that system nudges eastwards, it will fizzle out

but bringing lots of cloud to other areas of the uk. bank holiday monday, it looks like a fairly decent day for many. largely dry, some sunshine. into sunday, it's a bit unsettled and into monday, a lot of dry weather and sunshine for quite a few of us.

finally this is bbc news, the headlines. there's happiness for some but gcse he said mr prigozhin was a talented man who made serious mistakes for that police investigating the fire at the cricket house pub have arrested two men on suspicion of arson. there is happiness for some by gcs e pass rates fall into northern england and northern ireland. now for sport and for a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre. hello. rugby union and another day another hammer blow for england. deputy watson has been ruled out at the world cup with a calf injury. british and irish in line with a turbulent

build—up