Official Russian sources say Waghner Prigozhin chief dead in jet crash

Today's headlines: Tokyo bracws for impact from Hong Kong and China's seafood import ban after Fukushima waters release began this morning; North Korea fails in second attempt to launch spy satellite; Indian bishops' applaud Chandrayaan-3 moon landing; Vietnam's famous Halong Bay kissing rocks in danger of collapsing; Burmese junta sentences a singer to 20 years for a critical video posted on social media.

RUSSIA
An Embraer business jet was shot down by an anti-aircraft missile in the Bogolov province, in the Tver region of Russia, 200 km from Moscow. Sources from the Ministry of Civil Protection report the death of 10 people on board, among whom was also the founder of the Wagner company Evgenij Prigožin. Many analysts attribute this death to a revenge planned by President Vladimir Putin, who never forgave his former friend for the attempted coup of June 24th.

JAPAN - HONG KONG - CHINA
This morning Tokyo began the release of treated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, scene of the 2011 atomic accident. In this regard, the government expects a "significant" impact from the food import ban issued by Hong Kong and Macao. Among the critical voices there is also China, the largest importer of fish products, ready to take protective measures for public health.

NORTH KOREA

Pyongyang's second attempt to send a spy satellite into space also failed, three months after the first with the carrier crashing into the sea shortly after departure. In today's launch there were problems in the third phase of the flight. Kim Jong Un considers the spy satellite strategic to monitor incoming attacks and better plan his own. Next attempt in October.

INDIA
The leaders of the Catholic Church in India joined the nation's leaders to applaud the happy outcome of the third lunar exploration mission promoted by the Indian Space Research Organization and concluded with the landing on the South Pole. Mgr. Andrews Thazhath, president of the Bishops' Conference, conveyed to ISRO the "warmest congratulations" from the whole nation for the remarkable result of the landing of Chandrayaan 3 on the moon.

VIETNAM

The Kissing Rocks of Halong Bay are at risk of collapse. This is the alarm raised by the experts, according to which the structure, in the northern province of Quang Ninh, is threatened by geological processes and by the increase in sea water levels. Covering approximately 1,553 sq km, the bay is of significant geological and geomorphological value, as well as being a primary tourist attraction.

MYANMAR

Burma's military junta has sentenced a hip-hop singer to 20 years in prison over a video posted on social media in which he complained about electricity shortages and criticized the ruling leadership. Byu Har, the son of a prominent musician in the country, also called the head of the junta an "incompetent lunatic". He finds himself locked up in the infamous Insein prison.

TURKEY - SYRIA
A Turkish travel agency aims to relaunch tourism in the areas of Syria controlled by President Bashar al-Assad by April 2024, more than 10 years after the start of a conflict that has seen Ankara support opposition and pro-Islamic extremist movements anti-Damascus. Istanbul-based Fest plans trips from Istanbul to Beirut, with land transfer to the Syrian border.

TAJIKISTAN
A year after the bloody repressed protests, President Emomali Rakhmon visited the Gorno-Badakšan region amidst imposing security measures. He avoided the province of Rušan where the policemen had killed 10 people, and intervened in the capital of Khoruǧ, inaugurating a new agency for work, migration and employment, as well as a clinic and other facilities.

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