India's successful moon landing elevates the country's global standing in space exploration and positions them strategically for future moon base projects.
The plane crash involving Yevgeny Prigozhin, the former head of the Wagner mercenary group, raises questions about his alleged death and the potential implications for Russia's internal politics and relationship with mercenary groups.
Deep dives
Successful landing on the moon by India's unmanned mission
India has successfully landed an unmanned mission on the moon, specifically the potentially frozen South Pole. This achievement is a significant milestone for India's space program and elevates the country's standing on the global stage. The mission, called Chandrayaan, marks a shift from India's previous focus on practical aspects of space exploration, such as communication satellites and weather observation. The landing at the lunar South Pole is particularly challenging due to rough terrain, but it strategically positions India for future moon base projects, as this region is believed to hold valuable resources like water ice and precious metals. This mission contributes to the broader goal of space exploration and establishes India as a capable player in the field.
Uncertainty and speculation surrounding the fate of Evgeny Pragosian
The podcast episode delves into the news of a private plane crash between Moscow and St. Petersburg, allegedly resulting in the death of Evgeny Pragosian, the former head of the Wagner-Mercenary group. Before the crash, Pragosian had been fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine and was rumored to have been exiled to Belarus as a result of a failed coup against Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, there is uncertainty surrounding whether Pragosian was actually on board the plane. While Russian aviation authorities initially reported his death, speculation and conspiracy theories suggest that Pragosian, known for deception and mystification, may have staged his death or evaded the crash. The episode highlights the complexities of the incident and the potential implications for Russia's internal politics and its relationship with mercenary groups like Wagner.
The significance of India's successful moon landing and the changing perception of India
The episode discusses the broader significance of India's successful moon landing and its impact on the country's global reputation. With the ability to reach the lunar South Pole, India joins a select group of countries that have achieved such a feat. This achievement signifies India's technological prowess and contributes to changing perceptions of the country as not just grappling with poverty, but also as a technologically advanced nation. The episode highlights India's investment in science and technology, which has led to remarkable advancements in space exploration and bolstered the country's presence on the world stage. Additionally, it underscores India's potential for economic growth and its role as a key player in geopolitics, particularly with regard to its relationship with China and its participation in forums like the BRICS summit.
The boss of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, is presumed dead after a plane crash north of Moscow killed all on board.
Ukrainecast’s Vitaly Shevchenko and security correspondent, Frank Gardner, join Adam to go through what we know.
Lou Osborn from the monitoring group All Eyes on Wagner also shares her expertise.
And, India has made history by landing a spacecraft near the south pole of the Moon for the first time.
Journalist and author of the book The Future of Geography: How Power and Politics in Space Will Change Our World Tim Marshall explains where it puts them in the 21st century space race.
You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere
Today's Newscast was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Chris Flynn with Miranda Slade and Joe Wilkinson. The technical producer was Rohan Madison. The editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.
01:18 - Prigozhin presumed dead in plane crash
16:36 - India’s historic moon mission
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