August 8, 2023

UKRAINE | Today is day 530 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates:

• Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs reports that seven people were killed, and at least 67 others were injured, overnight when Russian missiles struck multiple residential buildings and businesses in the Donetsk-region city of Pokrovsk. [more]
• Reports say U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to announce a new $200 million military aid package to Ukraine later today. [more]

GLOBAL TEMPERATURES | The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service announced today that July was officially the Earth’s hottest month on record, with a global average temperature of 16.95 degrees Celsius (62.51 degrees Fahrenheit) — a third of a degree Celsius (six tenths of a degree Fahrenheit) higher than the previous record set in 2019. [more]

U.S. EAST COAST WEATHER | Reports say at least two people were killed, more than 1.1 million homes and businesses were left without power, and thousands of flights were cancelled as severe storms moved across large parts of the U.S. east coast yesterday evening. [more]

TRUMP ELECTION TRIAL | U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan said yesterday she would schedule a related hearing after attorneys for former U.S. President Donald Trump filed a response yesterday to a prosecution request that limits be placed on the public disclosure of evidence ahead of Trump’s trial for alleged actions taken to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. [more]

OHIO | Ahead of a planned November public vote on enshrining abortion rights in the state’s constitution, residents of Ohio are voting today on “Issue 1” — a ballot initiative that would raise the threshold for approving future changes to Ohio’s constitution from a simple majority to 60%. [more]

MONTANA | The U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command said yesterday that unsafe levels of likely carcinogenic PCBs have been found at two missile launch facilities at Montana’s Malmstrom Air Force Base. The findings are part of an investigation that followed reports of unusually high rates of some cancers among military service members who served at some missile facilities. [more]

CALIFORNIA | An estimated 11,000 employees of the City of Los Angeles, including sanitation workers, lifeguards, traffic officers, airport workers, and others, are expected to take part in a 24-hour strike today over what their union says are unfair labor practices. [more]

ARIZONA | President Joe Biden is expected to formally announce plans today for a national monument designation for some 1,500 square miles surrounding the Grand Canyon. Native American tribes and environmental activists have been pushing for a such a designation for years amidst objections by sporting and outdoor groups, landowners, and mining companies. [more]

U.S. BANKING | Rating company Moody’s lowered its credit rating for 10 small and mid-sized U.S. banks yesterday, warning that the U.S. banking sector is likely to face continued funding risks and weak profitability. Moody’s also said several larger banks are under review for possible downgrades. [more]

NIGER | Reports say representatives of the West African regional bloc ECOWAS, the United Nations, and the African Union are scheduled to join talks today in the capital of Niger, Niamey, aimed at reaching a negotiated solution to the military coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum nearly two weeks ago. [more]

ISRAEL | Citing crime and safety concerns, the Israeli Finance Ministry has ordered funds for Arab towns and Palestinian education programs in East Jerusalem frozen, prompting criticism and charges of racism from supporters and organizers of Israel’s Arab citizens. [more]

PORTUGAL | Reports say an estimated 1,400 people have been forced to evacuate in southern Portugal’s municipality of Odemira as firefighters battle a wildfire that started on Saturday and has since burned about 6,700 hectares (approximately 16,550 acres). [more]

ITALY | Amidst record profits in Italy’s banking sector, the Italian government has announced a one-time 40% windfall tax on bank profits in 2023. Estimates for treasury gains from the move range from 2-3 billion euros. [more]

CHINESE ECONOMY | Chinese customs data released today shows that China’s exports fell 14.5% in July, compared to the year-ago period, while imports declined 12.4% for the same period. The country’s global trade surplus fell by 20.4% in the month to $80.6 billion. [more]

PUBLISHING BUSINESS | Paramount Global has agreed to sell publishing house Simon & Schuster — one of the “Big 5” U.S. publishers — to private equity firm KKR for $1.62 billion. A previous proposed sale of Simon & Schuster to Penguin Random House was blocked over government concerns of harm to competition. [more]

R.I.P. | Oscar-winning director William Friedkin, best known for “The French Connection,” “The Exorcist,” and “To Live and Die in L.A.,” died Monday in Los Angeles at the age of 87, according to a statement released by his executive assistant on behalf of Friedkin’s family. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1974, faced with the near-certain prospect of impeachment for his role in the Watergate scandal, U.S. President Richard M. Nixon announced his resignation. He was succeeded by Gerald Ford the following day.  [more history]