THE PRIGOZHIN REBELLION was short-lived. Above, tanks move through Rostov (Wikipedia).

Controversial Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin is reported to have died along with nine other people in an airplane crash in Russia on Wednesday.

According to the Associated Press, the crash was north of Moscow, as reported by a civil aviation agency.

YEVGENY PRIGOZHIN

Prigozhin was the leader of  a brief rebellion against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s government, moving his forces toward the nation’s capital in protest – he said – over Russia’s alleged misuse of his troops. After several days, he called off the revolt with a promise from Putin of not being prosecuted.

There has been speculation that the crash was not accidental, or even that Prigozhin was not on the plane.

“I don’t know for a fact what happened but I’m not surprised,” said President Joe Biden.

“India is on the moon!”

India became the first nation to soft-land a spacecraft in the southern polar region of Earth’s moon. “India is on the moon,” announced  the chair of that nation’s space organization.

FLAG OF INDIA

The New York Times reports that the landing came just two days after a similar Russian craft – Luna 25  – crashed into the surface and was destroyed.

The Indian lander is Vikram and a rover is Pragyan. The area is believed to be rich in frozen water and precious metals. The nation’s space program has already orbited the Earth and Mars.

A previous moon mission ended with the lander – also named Vikram – crash-landing on the moon and destroyed in 2019.

Giuliani, others surrender in Georgia

RUDY GIULIANI

Nine defendants – including former New York City Mayor and Donald Trump attorney Rudy Guiliani – surrendered Wednesday at the Fulton County Jail.

According to United Press International, Guiliani was booked on 13 charges relating to illegal efforts to tamper with the 2020 election results and prevent Joe Biden from becoming president. He posted bond for $150,000 bail and told reporters that his prosecution “is an assault on our Constitution.”

Trump is expected to surrender on Thursday, and Mark Meadows, his former chief of staff, is facing a Friday deadline to do the same.

Ohtani hits 44th; Angels lose two

SHOHEI OHTANI

The Los Angeles Angels were swept in Wednesday’s double-header, losing 9-4 in the first game and 7-3 in the second to the Cincinnati Reds.

Shohei Ohtani hit his 44th home run of the season in the first game, best in MLB, but the Angels suffered their fourth loss in a row and fifth in six games.

They are now 61-67 and 12 games out of first in the American League West, 10.5 games behind in the AL Wild Card race.

The Halos will have Thursday off and begin a road trip on Friday in New York against the Mets.

The Los Angeles Dodgers game was suspended in the top of the third by rain with the Dodgers leading 3-1. It will be resumed as part of a double-header Thursday morning.

Weather: We’re slowly heating up

It’s one of the unique aspects of life in our West Orange County that summers begin cool and get warmer as we move toward autumn. The forecast for Thursday calls for a daytime high of 81 with an overnight low of 64, along with morning clouds and afternoon sun. The thermometer will rise slowly to 83 on Friday and 84 on Saturday with partly cloudy skies. Sunday will hit 88 (68) and all the way to 92 and sunny on Monday.