Friday,  August 19th, 2022 

Temperatures in Chongqing and Sichuan, China reach 45°C (113°F) during a historic drought. It is the highest temperature ever recorded in China outside of the Xinjiang desert. (AP News) 

Explosions are reported at military facilities in Crimea and Belgorod Oblast, Russia, and are believed to have been launched by Ukraine. An explosion and large fire occur at an arms depot near Timonovo. Explosions are also reported at Stary Oskol Airport and in Russian-occupied Nova Kakhovka, Kherson Oblast. (Forbes) 

Overnight, explosions are reported in Crimea and Belgorod Oblast, Russia, with two villages evacuated. (Reuters) 

Explosions are reported at Sevastopol International Airport. The Governor of Sevastopol Mikhail Razvozhayev says that Russian air defences have shot down a Ukrainian Air Force drone near the airport. (Reuters) 

Residents of Kerch and nearby villages in eastern Crimea report multiple explosions. Crimean officials say that air defences were activated near the city but that “there is no danger to the town or the Crimean Bridge“. (Yahoo! News) 

Russia appoints former Krasnodar mayor Andrei Alekseyenko as the head of its Kharkiv military–civilian administration. (Reuters) 

Islamic State and “Beatles” cell member El Shafee Elsheikh is sentenced to eight life sentences by a United States district court for his role in the kidnapping and deaths of hostages James Foley, Steven Sotloff, Peter Kassig, and Kayla Mueller. (AP) 

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau nominates judge Michelle O’Bonsawin to the Supreme Court of Canada. An Abenaki member, O’Bonsawin would be the first Indigenous Canadian to sit on the country’s highest court. (Deutsche Welle) 

The government of Prime Minister of Montenegro Dritan Abazović collapses after the Parliament passes a vote of no-confidence following dispute within the coalition over an agreement the government signed with the Serbian Orthodox Church. (Reuters) 

Police in Nicaragua confirm that they have arrested an anti-Ortega Roman Catholic bishop in Managua and warned against further “provocative and destabilizing” activities amongst the clergy. (Infobae) 

Nine people are killed and 28 others are injured by a rocket attack on a market in Al-Bab, Aleppo Governorate, Syria. (Reuters) 

Thursday, August 18th, 2022 

Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Sarah Bianchi and Taiwanese minister John Deng announce that Taiwan and the United States will seek formal trade relations with each other, including cooperation on agricultural and digital trade, harmonizing anti-corruption standards, and addressing “significant distortions” caused by state-owned enterprises. (BBC News) 

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin says that China will oppose any trade deals with the Taiwanese government and also told the U.S. government to “stop making misjudgements”. Commerce Ministry spokesperson Shu Jueting also says that China will take steps to safeguard its interests.  (Reuters) 

As the trial against 47 pro-democracy activists begins in Hong Kong, it is announced that 29 activists, including Joshua Wong and Benny Tai, will plead guilty and 18 activists, including Leung Kwok-hung, will plead not guilty. (Time) 

Mali accuses its former ally France of arming jihadist terrorist groups in order to destabilize the country. Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop tells the United Nations that French aircraft are violating the country’s airspace and dropping “arms and ammunition” to terrorist groups on the ground. France denies the accusations. (DW) 

Timane Erdimi, leader of the Chadian rebel group Rally of Forces for Change and nephew of slain Chadian president Idriss Déby, returns to the country from his 17-year exile in Qatar to participate in a peace process between the government and numerous rebel groups. (Reuters) 

The European Union statistics office reports that inflation in the Eurozone increased to a record 8.9% in July. (Reuters) 

The death toll from wildfires in Algeria increases to 38 with 200 others suffering from burns and respiratory problems. Firefighters are still trying to contain 39 forest fires in the north of the country, according to officials. (BBC News) 

Sixteen people are killed and 36 others are reported missing after heavy rain causes flooding in Datong Hui and Tu Autonomous County, Qinghai, China. (Reuters) 

A political organization in Guinea accuses military president Mamady Doumbouya of being behind the killings of two youths during anti-government protests yesterday. (Guinee28) 

President of Vanuatu Nikenike Vurobaravu dissolves the Parliament to prevent a no-confidence motion being debated against Prime Minister Bob Loughman. A snap election is expected to be called. (The Guardian) 

The End