August 23, 2023 - PBS NewsHour full episode

Russia's aviation agency says Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary group, was on board a plane that crashed near Moscow. The crash comes two months after Prigozhin's attempted coup against the Kremlin. Amna Nawaz discussed the development with Angela Stent and Candace Rondeaux.

It was a historic day for India as it became the fourth country to land on the moon. It comes after a failed attempt in 2019 and just days behind a failed Russian lunar landing. Prime Minister Modi watched alongside the team at the Indian Space Research Organization as the Chandrayaan-3 touched down in the moon’s south polar region. Amna Nawaz and Miles O'Brien discussed the monumental moment.

It's been a very difficult summer in Canada as that country has battled wildfires endlessly. More than 37 million acres have burned and smoke from those fires significantly affected air quality in the U.S. A new analysis out this week found that warmer conditions from climate change made those fires more likely to break out. Dan Rivers of Independent Television News reports.

Student loan borrowers might find relief under the Biden administration’s income-driven repayment plan. Launched this week, the SAVE plan, which stands for saving on a valuable education, could help borrowers with the potential for lower or no monthly payments. But there are questions about who will benefit from the plan and who it leaves out. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Cory Turner of NPR.

In February, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake rocked northwest Syria, killing more than 7,000, injuring thousands more and destroying livelihoods. Cut off from the rest of the world by the Assad regime, survivors have struggled to rebuild. Special correspondent Leila Molana-Allen traveled to some of the worst-affected areas to speak with survivors coping with the emotional and physical scars.

Japan is expected to release treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant as soon as Thursday. The government and the utility operating the facility say it is safe and the release is being closely monitored, but nearby countries oppose the move. It's also a concern for Japanese fishermen. Miles O'Brien has his latest report in a series of stories with access to Fukushima.