August 24 top stories
It is August 24. Here are today’s top stories.
Wagner group chief likely dead in plane crash
In Russia, the chief of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, was likely killed in a plane crash. The plane had 10 people on board and there were no survivors. Prigozhin’s name was on the passenger list.
The Wagner mercenary group is known for battling Ukrainian troops along the front lines of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. More recently, the group revolted against Russian President Putin by marching inwards in Russia and seizing local government offices in a major Russian city because Prigozhin was, among other reasons, angry about not receiving enough support from Russia in the war.
U.S. President Biden said he wouldn’t be surprised if Prigozhin’s death was a result of an order from Putin.
Russian media said the plane was seen falling out of the sky with one wing missing. CNN said Russians in St. Petersburg set up memorials and gave tributes mourning Prigozhin.
Giuliani arrested in Georgia election case
Rudy Giuliani surrendered himself to the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office to be arrested and receive a mug shot over his 13 charges of trying to interfere with the 2020 election. Giuliani was Trump’s former lawyer and is best known for being the New York City mayor who led the city during and after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He was released on a $150,000 bond.
There were two other former Trump attorneys who were arrested. A total of 18 people, including Donald Trump, were charged. Trump said he would turn himself in on Thursday (today).
India lands spacecraft on Moon
India successfully landed a spacecraft near the moon’s south pole on Wednesday. India is the first country to land a spacecraft in that area on the Moon, but India is the fourth country to achieve a Moon landing.
AP News said scientists believe the Moon’s south pole may hold vital reserves of frozen water. There were celebrations across India over the landing.
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Supermarket shooting suspect determined competent
Reuters said the suspected shooter who killed 10 people in a supermarket in Colorado in 2021, Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, has been determined competent to stand trial. This means the court agrees that he understands his murder charges and can assist his defense attorneys.
He is accused of opening fire at a King Soopers grocery store in Boulder with his legally-bought firearm. Police have not said what could be a motive for the attack.
Several months after the 2021 shooting, Alissa was found incompetent to stand trial after two psychological evaluations. But now a recent re-evaluation found him “restored to competency.” So he will face a trial in the future.
GOP debate highlights
According to Axios, during last night’s GOP presidential debate, the most attention was on businessman Vivek Ramaswamy because he would praise Donald Trump and share similar viewpoints as him. Some of the other GOP candidates tried to blast Ramaswamy as inexperienced or as robotic.
He is a 38-year-old businessman who may be worth almost $1 billion from his biotech and financial businesses.
Ramaswamy said he believes that U.S. military aid to Ukraine should end and criticized U.S. politicians who visited Ukraine.
Nikki Haley said this means Ramaswamy is on the side of Russian President Putin.
Axios said Mike Pence received support from his opponents during the debate for refusing to stop the certification of electoral votes on Jan 6, 2021.
That is all the top stories for today. See you tomorrow and stay with the light.
Russia: https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-08-23-23/index.html
Giuliani: https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-indictment-georgia-election-08-23-23/index.html
Debate: https://www.axios.com/2023/08/24/trump-ramaswamy-gop-debate