August 4, 2023

UKRAINE | Today is day 526 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates:

• Officials in the Russia-annexed Crimea region say Ukrainian sea drone attacks on the Russian naval base at Novorossiysk and air drone attacks on Crimea were thwarted overnight, with all drones having been destroyed. Ukrainian officials, however, say a Russian naval ship was damaged in the Novorossiysk port attack. [more]
• The Ukrainian Security Service today accused Russia of planning to stage a false-flag attack on an oil refinery in Belarus with the aim of blaming Ukraine and drawing Belarus into Russia’s war on Ukraine. [more]

TRUMP INDICTMENT | At his arraignment yesterday in Washington, DC, former U.S. President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to four felony charges related to alleged actions and conspiracies aimed at overturning the results of the 2020 election. A pre-trial hearing was set for August 28, during which the presiding judge has indicated she intends to set a start date for the trial. [more]

U.S. IMMIGRATION | The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday allowed a Biden administration restriction requiring asylum seekers along the country’s southern border to first seek protection in a country through which they pass or apply online to stand while court cases surrounding the policy play out. [more]

NAVY SPIES | Authorities say two California-based U.S. Navy sailors, in separate, but similar, cases were charged yesterday with providing sensitive military information to China in exchange for monetary payments. The suspects, Jinchao Wei and Wenheng Zhao, both pleaded not guilty to the charges against them. [more]

TENNESSEE | In special elections yesterday, Justin Pearson and Justin Jones — two members of the so-called “Tennessee Three” who were expelled from the Tennessee House of Representatives earlier this year after joining gun-control protests on the House floor — regained their legislative seats. [more]

U.S. AND IRAN | The Associated Press cites unnamed U.S. government sources as saying the Pentagon is considering a plan to put armed personnel on commercial ships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz in response to Iran harassing, and sometimes seizing, civilian vessels. The report notes that no final decision on the policy has been made and that such moves would be made only at the request of the ships involved. [more]

CHINA | China’s Xinhua News Agency reports that as many as 200,000 people in northeastern China have been evacuated from low-lying areas due to widespread flooding caused by heavy summer rains. At least 20 people are reported to have died in recent flooding, and another 27 people remain missing. [more]

NIGER | Niger’s military junta, which took control of the country in a coup last week, has severed military agreements with France, its former colonial ruler. The country is facing international calls for the reinstatement of deposed President Mohamed Bazoum and a warning of possible military intervention by the ECOWAS West African regional bloc. [more]

INDIA | Indian opposition Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi’s conviction on charges of insulting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surname was suspended by the country’s Supreme Court today, clearing the way for Gandhi to return to his role in Parliament. [more]

ETHIOPIA | Amidst ongoing violence between local militias and the country’s military in Ethiopia’s Amhara region, the prime minister’s Council of Ministers has declared a state of emergency for the region. The declaration, which allows for restrictions on movement and increased powers of detention in the affected area, must still be approved by the legislature. [more]

SOUTH KOREA | South Korean officials have proposed spending up to $5.2 million to support safety measures including water trucks, air conditioning, and medics at the World Scout Jamboree being held in the country after some 600 people attending the event were treated for heat-related medical conditions this week. [more]

DENMARK | Amidst heightened fears of possible revenge attacks over recent Koran burnings during public demonstrations, the government of Denmark has announced the tightening of border controls, following a similar move by Sweden earlier this week. [more]

SLOVENIA | Reports from Slovenia say heavy rains over the past day have caused flooding and landslides across much of the Central European country, prompting widespread road and school closures, as well as evacuations. Slovenia’s environmental agency says a month’s amount of rain fell over a 24-hour period in the country’s northern, northwestern, and central regions. [more]

VEHICLE RECALLS | South Korean auto makers Hyundai and Kia have announced the recall of some 92,000 2023 model year vehicles due to the risk of fire caused by issues with an electrical component in a transmission oil pump. [more]

SOCCER | With the conclusion of the group stages, the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup moves on to the win-or-go-home round of 16 this weekend. The teams that have reached the knockout stage are: Australia, Colombia, Denmark, England, France, Jamaica, Japan, Morocco, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States of America. [more]

BASKETBALL | With a 42-point performance in last night's victory over the Atlanta Dream, Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi became the first player in WNBA history to reach 10,000 career points. [more]

COUNTRY MUSIC | Country superstars Keith Urban and Kix Brooks of the duo Brooks & Dunn are among this year’s inductees into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Other inductees announced by the organization include Casey Beathard, David Lee Murphy, and Rafe Van Hoy. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1704, during the War of the Spanish Succession, Britain took control of Gibraltar after Spanish forces surrendered. "The Rock” subsequently became a British colony and a symbol of British naval strength.  [more history]