*x*x*
2023 Wednesday, August 30th, 2023
Officers of the Gabonese military depose president Ali Bongo and annul the results of the general election in which he was declared the winner. They also dissolve the government and close all borders. (Reuters)
Two people are killed and three others are injured in a Russian drone and missile strike on Kyiv. Ukraine says that it shot down missiles and drones during the strike. (Reuters)
Russia says its aircraft destroyed four military boats carrying up to 50 members from landing groups of the special forces of Ukraine operating in the Black Sea. (Al Jazeera)
Russia says its warplanes destroyed two Ukrainian military speedboats carrying military personnel east of Snake Island in the Black Sea. (Reuters)
Clashes in Deir ez-Zor between Arab tribal fighters and Kurdish-led fighters leaves several people dead and others wounded. (Al Jazeera)
Hurricane Idalia makes landfall in the U.S. state of Florida as a category 3 hurricane. Flooding is reported in the Tampa Bay area including Tampa and other parts of Hillsborough County. Two deaths are reported with both being due to vehicle accidents. (The Washington Post) (Spot On Florida)
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announces the Australian Indigenous Voice referendum will be held in October. (ABC News)
President of Congress Shirley Rivera dissolves the parliamentary group of Movimiento Semilla and declares them “independent“. President-elect and member of Congress Bernardo Arévalo is also affected by the decision. (La Hora)
The Kyrgyz Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy announces that Kyrgyzstan will ban the TikTok platform in an effort to protect the health of young children. (RFE/RL)
Tuesday, August 29th, 2023
The United Nations reports that at least 183 people have been killed during recent clashes between Fano militiamen and security forces in Amhara Region, Ethiopia. (Reuters)
At least four transport planes in Pskov are damaged in a drone attack. Explosions were also reported in Bryansk and Tula oblasts. (The Guardian)
The government of Kyrgyzstan says 95 wives and children of Islamic State fighters have been repatriated from internment camps in Syria. (Al Jazeera)
Tampa International Airport in Tampa, Florida, United States, closes ahead of the expected arrival of Hurricane Idalia. (WFOR-TV)
Widespread flooding and power outages are reported as Idalia makes landfall in Cuba. (Reuters)
In a study published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, Australian doctors report the removal of an eight-centimeter Ophidascaris robertsi roundworm from the brain of a 64-year-old woman. This is the first documented case of such a parasite in any mammalian brain. (AFP via Bangkok Post)
Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape announces that his country will open its Israeli embassy in Jerusalem. (RNZ)
The Islamabad High Court in Pakistan reverses a lower court‘s three-year imprisonment verdict against former prime minister Imran Khan for graft, while also granting Khan bail. (AFP via CNA)
Cyprus police arrest 21 people after violent clashes between refugees and residents of Chloraka village in the west of the island which has a large population of asylum seekers. (Al Jazeera)
Mayor of Miami Francis Suarez suspends his campaign for President of the United States, becoming the first Republican candidate to do so. (The Guardian)
The End Wednesday
Tuesday, August 29th, 2023
The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape announces that his country will open their Israel embassy in disputed Jerusalem. (RNZ)
The Islamabad High Court in Pakistan reverses a lower court‘s three-year imprisonment verdict against former prime minister Imran Khan for graft, while granting him bail. (AFP via CNA)
Monday, August 28th, 2023
Head of the Rapid Support Forces Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo publishes a 10-point plan that proposes a non-symmetrical federal system and a new apolitical Sudanese Army. (Al Jazeera)
Military forces clash with the insurgent Ta’ang National Liberation Army in northern Shan State, Myanmar, following reinforcements to the area in recent days. (The Irrawaddy)
Russia says that it shot down two aerial drones over the north and west of Crimea. (Al Jazeera)
The International Atomic Energy Agency warns that Ukraine‘s offensive in Zaporizhzhia Oblast has increased the risk of damage to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. (Al Jazeera)
Ukraine claims they retook the village of Robotyne, Zaporizhzhia Oblast from the Russian forces. Russia says they have repelled attacks in the area. (Reuters)
Russia’s Federal Security Service charges Robert Shonov, a former U.S. consulate employee, with passing information on Russia’s mobilization campaign to U.S. embassy staffers in Moscow. (Al Jazeera)
Trading of Evergrande resumes on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange after a 17-month suspension with the company confirming its compliance with financial information disclosure and listing regulations. (AFP via The Philippine Star)
Iraq announces the execution by hanging of three members of the Islamic State for the 2016 Karrada bombing which killed hundreds of people. (AFP via Barron’s)
A Chilean court upholds the prison sentences ranging from eight to 25 years for seven former soldiers involved in the 1973 murder of singer Víctor Jara, which occurred after the coup d’état that ushered in Augusto Pinochet‘s dictatorship. (AFP via CNA)
The Registry of Citizens of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal suspends the legal personality of Movimiento Semilla, the party of President-elect Bernardo Arévalo. (Prensa Libre)
Foxconn founder Terry Gou announces that he will run as an independent in next year’s presidential election on a platform of restoration of positive Cross-Strait relations and closer business ties. (Al Jazeera)
Cape Verde and South Sudan, who both make their World Cup debut, score their first-ever wins at the tournament. After first-round losses to Georgia and Puerto Rico, the African teams defeat Venezuela and China. (AP)
Sunday, August 27th, 2023
Ten Yemeni soldiers from a southern separatist faction are killed and twelve others are injured in an attack by Houthi militants at the border between Al Bayda and Lahij. (AFP via VOA)
Russia‘s Investigative Committee confirms the identities of the bodies recovered at crash site corresponds to the names on the flight list. (The Moscow Times)
Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh suspends Foreign Minister Najla El Mangoush for administrative investigation following reports of an unauthorized meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen. (AFP via France 24)
Police arrest two male Polish citizens suspected of hacking into the national railway communication system, disrupting rail traffic in Poland and issuing false signals. (AFP via Al Arabiya)
In golf, Norway‘s Viktor Hovland wins the U.S. PGA Tour‘s season-ending Tour Championship and secures the FedEx Cup championship trophy, finishing five strokes ahead of the United States‘ Xander Schauffele. (AFP via France 24)
In artistic gymnastics, Simone Biles sets a new record for the most all-around titles by a gymnast of either gender, surpassing the previous record set by Al Jochim in 1933, after winning her eighth title at the individual all-around event of this year’s USA Gymnastics National Championships. (AFP via Manila Bulletin)
The End Tuesday

